Fugitive Hearts by E.E. Burke

Author:E.E. Burke
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: E.E. Burke

Chapter 19

Claire woke with a start at a thump outside her door. She blinked in the darkness.

She didn’t remember falling asleep. Actually, she didn’t even remember lying down. She’d sat on the bed to comb out her hair after washing up.

Someone could be here to retrieve the wooden tub with two inches of lukewarm water. It wasn’t enough for a bath, even if one happened to be a duck.

Another knock.

She fumbled around for matches, lit the wick in an oil lamp and went to the door. With all those cowboys around, she wasn’t about to open it.

“Hello? Who is it?” she called out.

“You all right?” came the reply.

She recognized the voice, and it made her far too happy. The sheriff had walked out on her after informing her—again—that he wasn’t the marrying type.

Although Frank had promised to return, she hadn’t expected to see him until morning. With some hesitation, she cracked open the door. “I’m fine. I was asleep.”

He held his hat in his hand. He hair was mussed, his face etched with fatigue, and his eyes were bloodshot. He hadn’t slept. Or perhaps he’d just woken up.

“What time is it?” she asked.

“Not sure.” He fumbled with a pocket watch then turned the crystal toward the light in the hall. “Eleven.”

“You didn’t stay out all night.”

“Didn’t say I planned to.”

Relief trickled through her. Given his protective streak, he might’ve gotten worried about her. Or, he’d changed his mind and decided a willing woman was preferable to one he had to pay. If so, that was too bad for him. She wouldn’t issue an invitation.

Her conscience pricked. He’d done nothing to offend her other than leave, which didn’t make him a scoundrel. In fact, he’d given her fair warning. If he had bruised her pride, it was her own fault.

She opened the door to allow him to enter. “Have you had dinner?”

“Steak. All those cows are good for something. And you?”

“I’m not sure what it was. They covered it up with gravy.”

He lifted her satchel off the chair, tossed her coat and jacket on the bed. “You can go back to sleep. I’ll be right outside if you need anything.”

While she slept, he would sit in the hall for the remainder of the night. Truly, she was ashamed of her earlier suspicions. She stopped him before he’d reached the door. “That’s honorable, but unnecessary.”

“It is necessary.”

“Why, because you’ve been drinking?” She smelled whiskey on his breath. He’d been more inebriated the night she’d tracked him down in the saloon, and he’d treated her with utmost respect. Even if he took advantage, she still wouldn’t fear him. Foolishly, she would welcome him with open arms.

“You can’t sit up all night and keep going tomorrow. We both need rest.” She put her hand on his vest. “I trust you, Frank. You’ll need to trust me, too.”

Without waiting for a response, she locked the door. After she’d crawled onto the bed, she scooted to the far side to make room for him. “Turn down

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.