Travis’s eyes fluttered open to the sight of Josie’s tear-streaked face, her brown eyes puffy and red. Glistening tears clung to her cheeks, and his heart tightened at the worry etched into her features.
“Jo,” he whispered hoarsely.
Josie touched his forehead, her expression melting into a happy grin. “Your fever has broken.”
Josie adjusted pillows behind him and assisted him up. Travis groaned as she guided his body upward like a bag of feed. She was infinitely stronger than he thought, or maybe he was the weak one. Then his heart drummed against his chest as Josie unexpectedly leaned into him, her arms wrapping around him. He paused for a moment, then carefully lifted a hand, resting it behind her head. He threaded his fingers through her soft hair while she sobbed against him.
“I thought I lost you. You were growing worse by the minute.”
Travis caressed her neck, tracing the skin with his fingertips. Sophie was right; Josie was exactly who his family needed. Here she was, devoting her time to him and Jonas and now showing how much she cared for him as her tears hit his shirt. Seeing Sophie had to be delirium, but why did it feel so real? Whatever it was, he experienced a wave of peace, coming over him like a warm blanket. He missed having Sophie in his arms, but wakingup to Josie, a woman who risked her life and motherhood to care for him and his son, made him respect her more.
She had risked everything to care for him and Jonas. Nathan needed his mother, but Josie was at their side, her eyes baggy and red from exhaustion.
“Thank you, Jo,” he muttered, his eyelids heavy. “Thank you . . . for everything.”
Josie wiped her tears and smiled. “Jonas’s fever broke. Yesterday he sat up and started drinking broth. He’s asleep now, but he’s going to be all right.”
Travis tilted his head, his gaze shifting to Jonas, who was sleeping soundly in the bed beside him. The boy’s color had returned, giving Travis relief. With a deep exhalation, he closed his eyes and whispered a quiet prayer. “Thank you, Lord.”
“The children are still at the parsonage. After I burn these blankets and get the extras from the barn storage, we can all live together again.”
“Good.” Travis cleared his throat and winced. “I’m ready to get out of this bed and put myself to use.”
Josie chuckled softly, her hand resting on his chest. “You will in time, but first we must get your strength back up.” She stood. “I’ll fetch you some broth.”
When Josie left the room, Travis closed his eyes. After waking with Josie there, new feelings swelled through him—more than gratitude and stronger than before. Was this love—or was he just trying too hard? Love was supposed to come naturally and unquestioned. If he genuinely loved her, wouldn’t he have loved her from first sight like he did with Sophie? He had only loved one woman, so this was an entirely new experience.
But one thing bothered him—Josie had a hard life in the past, being married to a cruel man. Had she ever known love? Did she trust Travis enough to give him her heart?
Chapter Thirty-Six
Montana Territory; Early January 1873
Generalwatchedasthefire crackled, pulling his newly bought buffalo coat tighter around his shoulders. The frigid cold was far worse than he had imagined, and he endured harsh winters during his military career. Yet this Rocky Mountain chill was something else entirely. Even though his anger simmered just beneath the surface, it wasn’t enough to chase away the deep, aching cold that seeped into his bones.
If Josephine wanted revenge, she was getting it, all right. General had to admit her plan was clever—but not clever enough. Only a hundred miles separated him from the endgame. She would lose, and he would win. He could hardly wait for that prize.
Buck Hanson smacked and took another bite of canned beans. “Ya got any family, General?”
“Sadly.”
Buck’s eyebrows arched for a moment before he burst into chuckles. “That there’s a good one. Sometimes they’re blessin’s, but other times, they’re nightmares.”
General huffed and looked up at the night sky, folding his arms over his body. One thing the newspapers got right was that Montana truly was the land of the big sky. However, with the many clouds above, he could hardly see the stars.
“You meetin’ family out there?”
“Something like that.”
Buck swirled his spoon around in his can. “Ya never told me much 'bout your mission. I just assumed it was family. Didn’t know for sure. Ya seem mighty anxious to get there.”
“I’m going to fetch my wife and my heir.”
“Heir?” Buck snorted. “Guess that’s what you bigwigs call ‘em. Boy or gal?”
“Don’t know.”
“Hope it’s a lad?”
