CHAPTER NINE

Though exhausted, sleep still eluded Jess. He had just stirred the fire when he heard the sound. He moved quietly to the window and looked out, but there was no one. His eyes carefully traveled the length of the yard, but he saw no one lurking in the darkness. Again he listened, and it was then and only then that he understood what he was hearing. He thought about ignoring it but it was one of the few sounds that could tear him up inside. He remembered how awful that sound had been the night his parents had died. He moved to the bedroom door and listened again. Now what should he do? But he had already made up his mind before he even struggled with the question.

He opened the bedroom door, calling out, “Laura?”

She quickly wiped her eyes as she turned facing him. She pulled the quilt to her chin, to hide her nightgown from his view as she sat up in bed.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing.”

He moved to the bed. “You’ve been crying.”

“No…”

“No more lies between us, remember?” He wiped away a tear that she had missed. “Now what’s got you spooked? I ain’t backing down from buying you the horses. You got my word on that.”

She swallowed back a sob.

“You hurting from the fire? You get burned somewhere I don’t know about?”

She only shook her head.

“Then tell me? We need to get some sleep, so let’s get this settled. The hour’s late.”

“I’m fine. Please go back to bed.” She laid back down, her back to him.

His lips pressed tightly together. He turned and started back towards the living room. Women! He’d never understand them. So why try now? He needed sleep. His body was now aching from not having rest.

“Jess, will they come back tonight?”

He stopped in his tracks. “I should have known, a lily like you,” he mumbled. And he chastened himself for he should have known for the fight had left him restless. He walked back to the bed, in three easy strides. “Tell you what, just for tonight...” he eased himself onto the bed beside her.

She sat up startled. “We can’t....”

“Just for tonight,” he mumbled as he eased her back down on the bed and slid his arm under her neck. He expected another fight, and would not have been surprised if she had gotten physical. After all she had slapped him once, but again she astonished him as she snuggled against his body.

He was all muscle, with no even an ounce of fat. As her head rested on his chest, she could hear the steady beat of his heart pounding.

“Now go to sleep,” he whispered, “and don’t fret. You’re safe.”

“But I’m a lady, Jess. What would people say if they knew you and I...?”

“Who’s to know? ‘Sides they think we’re engaged, and I ain’t going to tell them different.”

“You’re not?”

“Nope. Ain’t no need for the time being. Be to our advantage to let the town keep thinking you and I are planning to...well…”

“Marry?”

He nodded.

She sounded very worried as she said, “But still, us being here, in bed...together...”

“Laura, you got to know that even gunslingers can be gentlemen, once in a blue moon, I reckon. So just for tonight, you pretend that you’re not a lady and I’ll pretend to be a gentleman, and all we’ll do is sleep, I promise. ‘Sides I’m too tired to do anything else, even if I got a pretty girl next to me.”

“You think I’m pretty?”

He nodded.

“That’s the first complement you’ve paid me.” She dug her body even more into his chest.

He tightened his arm around her. “Try to get some sleep,” he advised. “Morning is going to be here before we know it, and we need to start early if we’re going to get back before the stage arrives.”

“Jess, can I trust you?”

Her words angered him.

She felt his body tense, his heart quicken. He rapidly drew in his breath then let it out slowly.

“I already told you that you got my word on it. Though I’m not sure if my word means anything to you.”

“I guess we got no choice but to trust each other, Jess. We don’t have anybody else.”

“Not in this town at least,” he added.

Jess thought of Slim. Should he ask Slim for help? This was going to be more of a battle than a fight. Jess knew that Slim would be willing; he had already proved that yesterday on the trail. But...No, Jess decided Slim needed to be out of this because this just might be one war that Jess would loose. He only prayed that Laura would not be a casualty.

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Chapter Ten