Her First Love

TEN

Caleb stood by the hearth, watching the fire lick the walls as it grew, heating his office. After standing in the snow, trying to convince those foolish people to go home, he'd gotten damp since he hadn't taken a coat. He might be the one to catch a chill. But once he walked back into the saloon and shut the door, Nicole collapsed. Everyone ran to help her, but Caleb pushed them aside to assist. Her face was pale, and her skin was cold.

At first, he'd panicked, thinking that maybe the unknown killer had targeted her with poison. Then, when his brain started working, he realized she'd been with him this whole day. There was no way she could have been poisoned.

After lifting her in his arms and carrying her to his office to lie her on the couch, he'd started adding more wood to the fireplace. He didn't like the coolness of her skin, and the thin blanket over her wasn't warming her fast enough.

Nicole had been unconscious for a good fifteen minutes already. He glanced at her and his gut twisted. Why had she collapsed? If this had happened at his ranch, he would have had some smelling salts to bring her awake. But now, all he could do was wait to see if she'd open her eyes on her own.

Timothy had brought a cup of warm tea in for Nicole about five minutes ago. The piano player was as worried as the rest of them. Caleb had thanked his friend and told him to go back out to comfort the girls.

Caleb moved to the couch and squatted beside it. He touched his hand to her cheek. It wasn't as cold as before. That was a good sign.

He brushed a lock of hair away from her face as he studied her lovely features. She was one beautiful woman, and as much as he had tried to stop it, his heart was getting involved. He didn't want her to be his saloon girl any longer. Just thinking about other men touching her or having her sit on their lap... or kicking up her heels as they watched her shapely legs dance to the Can-Can, anger rose inside Caleb. He was possessive, and he wouldn't have any other man looking at her with lust-filled eyes.

Yet, had he known her long enough to make her his wife? Really, he still didn't know much about her or where she grew up. Before he offered a proposal, he wanted to know everything. No secrets could be between them. He'd already told her most of his secrets, and the other things in his life that he didn't want to say to her wasn't worth the pain of reliving, anyway.

Moaning, she turned her head toward his hand that continued to stroke her hair. He smiled, happy to know that even asleep, she still searched for his touch.

"Nicole? Can you hear me?"

Her eyelids fluttered, and soon she had opened her eyes. She groaned again as her forehead creased. "What happened?"

"That's what I'd like to know, my sweet Nicole. You passed out."

"I did?" She lifted her hand and rubbed her forehead. "Why?"

He chuckled lightly. "I was hoping you'd tell me. As soon as I walked back inside after talking to Reverend Higley, you fell to the floor."

Confusion stayed on her face, but then seconds later, she gasped and sprang to an upright position. She clutched Caleb's arm and looked at him with wide eyes.

"Nicole? What is it?" He shifted and sat on the couch, pulling her against him. "Your face is pale again."

Her breaths were ragged at first, but then soon she breathed slower, and her body relaxed. She licked her lips and met his gaze.

"Nicole? Are you going to tell me what that was all about?"

She shrugged. "It was nothing."

Caleb huffed and rolled his eyes. "Nicole, my sweet darling, the panic I saw on your face a second ago was not nothing. Please tell me."