“Indy, she told me about you and Braxton, how you both met her, how much she cares for you. I’m pleased to see how much you both obviously care for her.”
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. She told him all that? Fuck, I love her. She hadn’t said as much, but this makes me think she might feel the same way. “Yeah, she’s amazing. It’d be hard not to love her.”
“I know what you mean,” he replies, making my gaze shoot to his in confusion.What was he saying?
He gives me a sideways glance, smiling before we see the village start to appear through the trees.
“What exactly happened between you two out there?” I ask him. Is she taking him as a third mate? I barely knew the guy, but he seemed decent so far, and I knew Penny would need more men to help take care of her.
“How about I tell you and Braxton the whole story when you’re together? So I don’t have to do it twice?”
“Okay, but answer one question for me now?” he asks, looking at me with a raised eyebrow.
“Do you want her?” His eyes search mine for a moment before he gives me a single nod. I return it as we step onto the main street and see Penny finally standing on her own two feet, Braxton cradling her face with his giant hands.
He glances at me as we approach, giving me a small nod to indicate she’s okay.
“Red, are you alright?” I ask, pressing my hand to the small of her back. She turns to me, wiping her tears away and smiling softly.
“Yeah, I’m just glad to be out of there, sorry I freaked out.”
Immediately, I pull her into a hug. “Penny, no, don’t apologize for being who you are.” I whisper the next words into her ear. “Besides, I think Brax loved playing mountain man and carrying you away from danger like that.” She chuckles and I kiss the top of her head, pleased I’ve alleviated some of her tension.
She pulls back and glances around, a small look of surprise crosses her face. “Oh, who are all these people?” I glance aroundto see Indy, Silver and about eight other men still lingering around, all watching her with varied expressions. None of them seemed angry or upset. More curious or wistful, or maybe… envious?
“Penny, this is Silver and his friends, they helped us find you. When we got to this village and you weren’t here, we weren’t sure what we were going to do. Luckily, they stepped in to help us search for you.” I smile down at her, trying to hide any sign of the fear I had at not being able to find her. I had been terrified that I would never see her again.
“Oh, thank you, Silver, and friends.” She offers him a small smile while keeping one arm around me. Her eyes move to Indy and I see an array of emotion cross her face. Surprise, relief and something else I can’t name.
“And I think you already know Indy here.” I motion to the man as she nods, biting her lip, which causes him to smile.
“Yes, we are well acquainted,” he says, not breaking eye contact with her.
“Howwell acquainted?” Braxton grumbles from behind her.
“Nothing happened, I swear!” she blurts out as she spins to face him.
“Perhaps you guys would like some privacy? My room is above the tavern. Just take the stairs inside at the back and turn right at the top. First door on the left.”
“Thanks, Silver,” I say, giving him a tight-lipped smile as Braxton scoops up Penny and turns to head into the tavern with me right behind him. As I get to the door, I turn to see Indy still standing in the street. “Well, are you coming or not?”
A brief moment of shock registers on his face before he schools his expression and follows me inside. I don’t see his horse anywhere, so he must have had someone stable it for him already.
The men in the tavern all watch as we silently move to the stairs at the back. Nobody says anything as we head up and find Silver’s room.
I’m pleased to see he has a double bed, not huge, but better than a single.
Brax sits with her still clinging to him and she slowly pulls back to look up at him. Her head shoots in our direction as Indy closes the door.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
PENNY
“Do you want to tell us what happened?” Brax asks me calmly as he grips my hips, his thumbs rubbing small circles on my skin.
“Well… I… We didn’t…”
“I think he means when you fell down the mountain, Penny.”
