To Trust An Outlaw by Rhonda Gibson

Author:Rhonda Gibson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2012-11-19T00:00:00+00:00

Ten

Jonathan smiled as Elizabeth’s big green eyes stared at him in wonder. “You’re going to let me go?”

“That’s right.” He slowly backed away from her. “Go ahead and cast on your own.”

She dropped the fishing rod and sank to the ground. Tears filled her beautiful eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“When you said you were going to let me go, I thought. . .” Her whisper was barely loud enough for him to hear.

Understanding dawned, and he felt like a worm. He moved closer to her. “I wish I could. I really do. But too much rides on keeping you captive.”

“But the men are all gone. I could escape, and no one would blame you.”

“It’s not that easy, Princess.”

“Stop calling me that.” Elizabeth spat the words out.

“I know you don’t believe me. But I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you.”

“I believe you will try not to let anything bad happen to me.” Her words came out soft. “Only God knows what will really happen.” Her chin quivered, and tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

Jonathan wanted to assure her, but she was right. His sister had trusted him to take care of her and she was dead. The thought of letting Elizabeth escape pulled at him. If he let her go, Red would never trust him again. That meant he might never get the proof he needed to convict Red.

Elizabeth drew a circle in the dirt beside her. “How long have you been an outlaw?”

Jonathan sighed. “Too long.”

“When I was a little girl, the only thing I wanted to do was be a teacher. Now all I want is to be free. What about you? What do you want?” She turned her clear gaze on him.

“I want to buy a farm and live in peace.” He pulled at his fishing line. It tugged back. Just like Elizabeth was tugging at his heart right now.

❧

Elizabeth couldn’t believe the ease with which Jonathan landed his fish.

He took the fish off the hook. “I have to go dig up another worm. That fish ate my bait.” Jonathan headed for the woods.

Elizabeth sat on the shore and listened to the birds in the trees. The river appeared peaceful, even as its waters gurgled noisily over the rocks. Despite its powerful currents, it seemed tranquil, as if it knew it belonged here.

Unlike her.

Movement across the river caught her attention. A mother deer and her fawn approached the water’s edge. The doe stood watch while the baby drank deeply. She looked across the river at Elizabeth. They stared at each other. The mother nodded as if to say hello. Elizabeth smiled.

“Looks like a late birth,” Jonathan whispered close to her ear.

She felt his warmth at her back as he knelt behind her. “How do you know?”

“The fawn is very young.” He rested his hands on her shoulders. “See its spots?”

She nodded, afraid to speak as the little deer raised its head and looked to its mother. The doe lowered her head and drank.

“Only young fawns have spots.”

The mother raised her head and looked both ways.

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