Unlikely Partners by SQ Eads

Author:SQ Eads
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, adventure, action, western, christian, texas ranger, clean, gunslinger
Publisher: SQ Eads

Chapter Seven

Drawing her protective armor around her, Dru battled the nausea still pulsing inside. She pushed upright forcing some steel into her backbone. The rough tree bark snagged the fabric of her coat like a million tiny fingers pulling and picking at her sanity. Darkness threatened to pull her under. That dark cloud called the past encompassed her. Could she survive if she surrendered to it?

“Here, just take a few sips,” commanded Colt as he gently folded her fingers around the sides of a tin cup half-full of clear water.

With shaking hands that threatened to dump more water than deliver it to her parched mouth, Dru was both frustrated and thankful when Colt wrapped his big hand around hers to steady the cup.

“You’re still mighty shaky.”

Dru took another sip and kept her eyes focused on their combined hands.

“Want to tell me what happened?”

Colt’s voice wrapped like a warm, comforting blanket around her but she didn’t want to put words to the nightmare memories.

“No.”

“Hurmph!” With a familiar grunt, Colt sank to the ground tugging on their joined hands until she dropped down beside him. He scooted around as if settling in for the long haul.

Dru glared at him, suddenly resenting the security and protection he unknowingly flung about her. Swallowing another mouthful of the cold water, she tried to ignore the tremor that shook her like a young aspen in a strong wind. She faked a laugh, hoping it would fool Colt. Then she blew the whole thing by babbling like a brook. “You’re right. It was probably the fish. Maybe a little underdone. Or it could be all the leathery rabbit. Just one of those things. Better watch it, you may be next.”

“Hurmph!”

Dru sighed and dropped her head back against the tree. He could say more with one grunt than most men if you gave them a dictionary. She hadn’t fooled him a bit. She only succeeded in sounding like an idiot.

Closing her eyes, she fought the memories that threatened to overtake her once again. She didn’t want to remember. She didn’t want to review the events of that horrible night. Two years had passed. She should be over it by now.

“You gonna tell me the truth?” Colt leaned back against the tree, stretching out his long legs. “A burden shared is a burden halved.”

“Hurmph.” Goodness, he had her doing it now…speaking in grunts. Despite their heavy coats, Dru could feel the warmth of Colt’s muscular shoulder and arm running alongside hers. It almost melted her drive and determination to carry through this crazy plan of hers. Almost. She wanted to snuggle closer to his strong body and forget the past, forget the Palmer gang, forget her plans. But she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t simply let it go. Her father’s blood cried out from the ground for vengeance. Jake’s death demanded justice. Her own pain…yes, her own pain screamed for release. Forget? Not a chance.

Colt’s gentle jab in the ribs pulled her from her wonderings.

“Well?” His voice was husky with understanding.

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