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Xander approached, but watched as Ralph walked off toward the center of town, most likely to the saloon.
“Is he our competition?” Xander asked, stroking his beard.
I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped. The sudden burst of energy from the argument bled away and I felt weary. Ralph was nothing like the two men before me. He had a paunch and was overweight. Jowls hid the line of his neck. He was also ruthlessly cruel. Nothing about the man was appealing, not one greasy hair on his head.
Mr. Xander and Mr. Tyler, however, they were sheer perfection. Even with one being fair and the other dark, both of them were attractive to my feminine nature. They were tall and broad and brawny. Their size alone should have made them seem domineering and dangerous. Instead, they were dominant and powerful. I longed to be held in their arms, to be protected with their defined muscles.
“You do not need to fear of that,” I told him.
The picnic was ending. Families were either walking home or riding in their wagons, small children napped on blankets in the back. No one was near us. I didn’t even see the Bridgewater families any longer. The sun had moved across the sky, but it was still warm.
“Olivia had us tell you goodbye. Her men took her home with some haste after the meal.”
I could infer what that meant and my cheeks flushed. I was pleased for my friend, that she had men so doting and so eager for her. I felt a pang of envy at what she had and what I’d longed for with Frank, but never had.
I gave a small nod in response, for what could I say?
“I hope you will accept our escort home,” Xander added. By the tone of his voice and the way he didn’t word it as a question, I had to assume he was just being courteous to allow me to even think I could deny them.
“You must know we wouldn’t allow you to go the distance alone,” Mr. Tyler added.
They were both gentlemen and while their presence was unnerving, it felt good to know they were concerned for me. I’d taken the route to town many times on my own. Frank hadn’t cared.
“Very well.”
“Xander told me about your conversation.” I didn’t know to what Tyler spoke. When I didn’t reply, he continued. “About marrying us. You have my word—”
“Our word,” Mr. Xander cut in.
“Our word, that no man would bother you again.” He tilted his chin to indicate where I’d stood with Ralph.
I couldn’t hold his gaze for I saw that he was earnest. Both of them were quite earnest in their words.
“You don’t even know me!” I replied, stepping around him and walking away.
“I don’t have to know you, I just have to know,” Tyler called.
I shook my head and kept walking. I felt the truth of his words, for the men—crazily enough—called to something deep inside of me. I believed them when they said they’d protect me, and I could only imagine how it would feel to be sheltered in a man’s embrace. In two men’s holds.
I walked past the open field where the picnic had been held and headed south toward home. Well, home for the next few days before the man from the bank came to remove me. I heard their footsteps behind me.
“You’re running because you’re scared,” Tyler said.
His words stopped me and I spun on my heel.
“Scared? You’re damn right I’m scared!” I shouted, placing my hands on my hips.
Xander did as well, mimicking my stance. “Language like that should not come from your mouth. If you were mine, I’d spank you.”
I narrowed my eyes at Xander. I was reacting to him on a visceral level. I wanted to strangle the man for being so presumptuous while my nipples tightened beneath my corset at the idea of him tossing me over his knee.
“Scared of us,” Tyler clarified. “There’s no reason to be scared of anything else. We’ll protect you.”
Protect me from Ralph? From being a whore? From jail or even worse, a noose around my neck?
Was that even possible? Could they save me? Protect me like a well-muscled shield against that evil man?
“We’d pleasure you, Emily.” It was the first time either of them had used my given name. When Mr. Xander said it, it was like the rough tumble of rocks. Dark and deep as his personality.
