Unexpected Romance

Chapter Fifteen

"She doesn't want to talk to you right now." Richard said matter-of-factly. This man had abandoned Catherine. He had abandoned her and still she had remained faithful to him for all these months. Her love had never wavered or faded. Emmett did not deserve Catherine though Richard knew deep down that she would take him back.

Richard knew his time in Catherine's life was coming to an end. She would accept Emmett back in her life and then Richard would have to leave. He loved Catherine enough to accept her love for Emmett but too much to stay and watch her love another man.

"Richard was it?" Emmett asked and Richard nodded. "I don't know who you are or what your relationship is with Catherine but I want to thank you for taking care of her while I could not." Everyone looked at Emmett with shock.

"Since when are you the calm understanding type?" Bianca snorted Emmett turned his head to look at her.

"Keep your mouth shut. I have some things to talk to you about later." he growled out. Bianca couldn't help but smile as he turned back around. She had missed Emmett and how easily she could get him riled up.

"But Richard." Emmett continued. "I want to talk to Catherine alone." Richard was about to say something else when suddenly Sophia began to cry. Bianca tried to shush her but it was no use.

Her cries broke through Catherine's shock and she shook her head and went to her. She pulled her out of Bianca's arms.

"She's hungry." Catherine said matter-of-factly. Then she looked at everyone in the room. "I want to be alone." she said and quickly went back upstairs.

Emmett stared after her until he could no longer see her then looked at Bianca and Edward with narrowed eyes.

"Why would Catherine be taking your baby upstairs to feed it?" he asked. Bianca rolled her eyes.

"Because Emmett darling, you big idiot, that baby is hers." she said. Emmett grabbed onto the stair railing for support as the meaning of her words hit him.

"My baby…." he said. The words were a statement and not a question but Richard didn't realize that.

"If you have to ask that question then you don't really know Catherine." he said. Emmett whirled around to face him. He didn't know this damn cowboy, who was a sheriff judging by the star on his vest, but he didn't like him.

"You don't have a clue what you are talking about!" Emmett shouted angrily. "I know that woman better than anyone. I have loved her since before I even knew what love was." Richard stood his ground and squared his shoulders.

"You have a funny way of showing that by abandoning her and your child." he said. Emmett saw red. He had never been accused of having very much in the way of patience, had been in a fair number of brawls and right now all he could think of was how badly he wanted to knock this sheriffs head clean off his shoulders.

Emmett's fist swung out and caught Richard hard across the jaw. Richard stumbled backward and spit out a mouthful of blood. Before he had time get his bearings Emmett was on him in a fury of angry fists.

Bianca screamed in shock as the two men wrestled right out the open door, off of the porch and onto the dusty ground outside. Richard had always prided himself on being a good fighter but Emmett Masters was more than he could handle. Just when Richard thought for sure he was going to pass out if Emmett landed one more punch, Edward intervened and pulled Emmett off of him.

"That's enough. You don't want to kill a lawman, Emmett. They'd hang you for sure." he said. Emmett looked down at Richard who was currently holding his broken nose and trying to stop the flow of blood. Edward reached out a hand and helped Richard to his feet.