Page 75 of More Than Meets the Eye

“No.” The pinch in his side didn’t count. He slammed the door closed behind him then grabbed her arms. “Are you?” He scanned her body from head to toe with a critical eye. Disheveled and dirty she might be, but all her pieces were where they belonged, thank the Lord.

Though there was one addition he hadn’t expected. A rifle. She was the one standing guard? Where was Seth?

Her lower lip trembled as she nodded. “I’m fine. But Christie . . .” A sob caught in her throat as if she’d been holding it in too long. “Oh, Logan. Someone shot her!”

He reached for her, and she came with no hesitation. The rifle fell from her hand to clatter onto the floor as she dove into his embrace. Slender arms wrapped around his waist, stinging his sore side, but he didn’t care. She was back in his arms, her beautiful face burrowing into his chest.

All the unresolved issues between them vanished as he held her to him, stroking her back and laying kisses on her hair. This was where he belonged. With her. Forever.

Footsteps pounded outside. Logan thrust Eva behind him and snatched his revolver from its holster. The scrape of metal on wood told him she’d retrieved her rifle and stood ready to meet whatever trouble was headed their way.

Logan eased the door open. “That you, Hamilton?” he called.

“Stand aside, Fowler!” Zacharias Hamilton barreled up the steps at full steam, as if intending to stampede his way inside, regardless of who or what stood in his way.

Logan pulled the door wide and shifted backward to ensure Hamilton didn’t trample his sister in his haste.

Zacharias careened to a halt, his heavy breathing filling the tense stillness of the room. His gaze immediately found Eva’s. “You all right?”

She nodded.

“Where’s Seth?” He scanned the kitchen, his urgency only slightly ameliorated by the evidence of Eva’s well-being.

“In my room, tending to Christie. She was the only one hurt. I . . .” Eva’s bottom lip quivered, but she pressed her mouth closed and willed it into submission. “I’m not sure how badly. I had to stay out here and keep watch.”

Logan holstered his revolver, then reached for the rifle she held. His eyes met hers. “Go to her. Zach and I can manage out here.”

Relief and gratitude warmed her eyes, but a hint of uncertainty flared as well when she glanced at her brother then back to him.

Logan winked at her. “We’ll behave. I promise.”

She hesitated only a moment, then bounced up on tiptoes to place a kiss on his cheek. “I love you,” she whispered before dashing off to the room that had once been his.

She loved him. He stared after her, stunned. How could she love him when she still believed he intended to harm her brother? He hadn’t had the chance to tell her about his change of heart. Yet she said she loved him. Now. In spite of everything he’d told her.

His heart swelled to near painful proportions. He didn’t deserve a woman like her—one determined to see the best in him, to bring out the best in him. He didn’t deserve her, but he’d fight to his very last breath to keep her.

And considering the threat closing in on them, he might have to do just that.

Logan turned to Hamilton, who was winded but hiding it well. He grabbed a napkin from the table and ran it over his forehead and face to clear away the sweat.

“Whoever took a shot at Miss Gilliam took a handful of shots at me as well,” Logan said casually as he pulled out a chair and took a seat. “From a spot along the road about half a mile northwest. I think it’s safe to assume this particular attack is finished for the moment. The schoolmaster’s probably halfway to Ben Franklin by now.”

“So you think it was Benson.”

Logan pivoted at Seth’s voice. The other Hamilton walked into the room, his face grim.

“How’s the girl?” Zacharias asked.

Seth blew out a heavy breath. “Christie’s fine. The bullet took a chunk out of her right arm, but we got the bleeding stopped. She might need a couple stitches though, so if you really think the coast is clear, I’d like to drive her to town and get the doc to take a look.”

Logan pushed up to his feet. “I’ll ride with you, help keep an eye out.”

“I’ll do it,” Zacharias insisted. “The girl’s living under my roof. She’s my responsibility.”

Logan glared at him. “You’ve got another girl living under your roof, and unless you prefer that I stay here alone with her, you’d best rethink your stance. Even though I doubt Benson still poses an immediate threat, there’s no way I’ll risk Eva’s safety by leaving her here alone.”

“He’s right.” Seth crossed the room to stand between his brother and Logan. “In fact, I think we should all go.”