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"But you need the bed until you are healed," She insisted.
"I am healed enough," he said. "You are the one who needs to rest."
His eyes narrowed when she would have protested and she shut her mouth. Good at least she knew when not to argue. Perhaps there was hope for the woman after all.
He turned and after securing the doors and windows he laid down on her quilt. The smell of her lingered and he found it strangely pleasant. He snuggled into the covers and watched the darkness come.
"You have a woman, Mr. Rivers?" Joshua asked.
Chase did not answer at first. Why did the boy ask such a thing? Did he not know when to be quiet either?
But Chase answered him. "No, no longer."
"She's dead?"
"Yes."
As though that was enough information, Joshua hushed and soon snored lightly.
Chase lay awake, listening to the night sounds. In an unfamiliar place he knew he had to keep a keen eye. These two were innocent and naive and he must protect them.
At dawn Katherine was making breakfast when Chase Rivers took her by the waist and carried her to a corner of the room. As he set her down, their eyes met once more, and he nearly shook himself to get away from her. He saw too much when he looked at her. He could see the purity of her soul, the innocence…and something even more shocking…the love.
"Get down and stay down."
"What is it? What's wrong?" She asked crouching into the corner, her eyes wide and fear decorating her face.
"Comanches."
Katherine nodded woodenly, "What do they want?"
"The horses."
"No!" She nearly screamed.
He cast her a quick frown and pushed her. "Would you rather die?"
"If I have to...those horses are the only thing keeping the station operating."
"They may be the only thing keeping you alive right now."
"I can't give them up."
"You don't have a choice," Chase said and didn't glance back at her. He was watching.
For a moment she was still, but then as though it dawned on her, she crawled to the chest in the far corner and lifted out a rifle. She loaded it and scrambled to Chase's side.
"I'll help!" She announced.
Chase Rivers eyed her, and then grabbed the gun. "You will stay in the corner where I put you. These are Comanche and you don't want to be caught by one."
He stood straight and walked to the door. He stopped and turned to look at her. His gaze lingered on her. His loin tightened. "If I do not come back, use the rifle..."
She grabbed her mouth to keep from gasping aloud.
The coldness of his words ran through her and she went to the corner of the room again. She watched as Chase bolted all but one window then motioned to Joshua in the barn. Obviously Joshua saw and heard too for he closed the barn door.
Chase nodded, a smart young man.
