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He’d had dreams of marrying since he was old enough to think about what he wanted out of life and even though the current circumstances weren’t his idea of a perfect union, he wouldn’t deny the fact he was still pleased.
She said it was in name only, and he was sure she meant it, but he’d change her mind if it was the last thing he did. Before they made it back to Willow Creek, she’d be his wife in every sense of the word.
She was helping Isaac when he rode into camp. The newly purchased trousers he’d bought her fit a little too well. They hugged the curve of her hips, made her waist look too small and the way she had her shirttail tucked in made him all too aware of how nicely shaped her breasts were. If the looks being cast her way by those sitting around the campfire were any indication, he wasn’t the only one to notice.
He jumped to the ground and unsaddled his horse, taking his saddlebags and stowing them under the back of the wagon. Alex glanced his way briefly before looking away.
He took his time seeing to his horse, brushing him down before walking him over to where the other horses were being hobbled.
Heading back to the camp he saw Alex headed his way. She didn’t say anything and when she tried to walk past him, he took her by the arm. “Where are you going?”
“You said I could go watch the herd when Lewis got back. He just got back.” She glanced to the campfire. “See? In another five minutes, he’ll be busy filling his stomach and telling a whole pack of lies to anyone who will listen.”
Jesse glanced to the fire. Lewis and his crew were all there, glee etched into every line on their faces. If anything, they knew how to have a good time. Maybe he’d been wrong about them.
Alex shifted, his gaze being drawn back to her. Visions of her being tossed back and forth between Lewis and the others flashed in his mind’s eye. No, his first impression of them was right. He was sure of it. They were trouble. Before this trip was over, they’d prove it. “I don’t want you out there without me or Ben with you.”
Her face turned red, her mouth open to protest, he was sure, but he cut off whatever it was she was about to say. “I’m not arguing about this one, Alex. I don’t trust Lewis and the others any further than I can see them. You stay with Isaac, Ben or me at all times, is that clear?”
“You can’t order me around, Jesse.”
He blew out a frustrated breath. “I’m not ordering you around, Alex. I’m trying to keep you safe, that’s all.” He rubbed his free hand over his face. “Get some sleep. You can head out with me in the morning. My next shift is at four. Can you wait that long?”
The anger on her face slowly faded away, then she nodded. “All right. I’ll wait.”
“Good. Now go rest up. Four a.m. comes early.”
He left her standing and made his way to the campfire. Isaac was there, as usual, dishing up whatever he’d made to eat.
“You look like a week’s worth of bad news. Anything wrong?”
Jesse took the bowl Isaac offered him and settled down on one of the vacant log’s. “Just tired. It’s been a long day.”
“That it has.”
Movement to his left drew his attention. Alex was walking back to the wagon. She’d been sleeping underneath it, protected from the weather whenever it turned bad. She looked his way, then pulled the canvas Isaac used to cover the back of the wagon down over the side providing her a bit of privacy. You could still see her under there if you looked hard enough but it wasn’t like she was laying there for all to see.
He turned back to his supper and noticed the conversation around the fire had died. He glanced up and saw everyone staring at him. From the looks on their faces, he wasn’t going to enjoy this conversation at all.
Alex triedto hear the whispered conversation going on around the fire but couldn’t make out anything but who was talking. She peeked under the canvas and saw Jesse stand. She watched his booted feet near the wagon, his voice soft as he thanked Isaac for the meal.
Dropping the canvas, she laid down, watching the firelight flicker across the ground.
The sun hadn’t been down long but the day was wearing on her as if it were past midnight.
Being forced onto a stagecoach only to be held up by bandits, rescued, then fighting with Jesse left her exhausted. Ending up trapped underneath him while they shared a kiss so hot it made her heart flutter even now left her confused.
She still had a hard time processing everything that took place over the past two days, especially the fact that she was married.
Her, a married woman.
A woman married to Jesse Samuels.
“Alexandra Samuels.” She whispered the words quietly to herself as she had earlier in the day, listening to how they sounded together then shook her head.
The corner of her mouth tugged into a half smile. Who would ever believe that one? No one who knew them, that’s for sure. They fought too much and could barely carry on a civil conversation. How were they supposed to stay married and not kill each other?
Alex rolled over onto her back, staring up at the bottom of the wagon. She closed her eyes, Jesse’s image filling her head until there wasn’t room for anything else. As much as she voiced her displeasure at him and fought him at every turn she could, she wasn’t fool enough to not admit that she did enjoy their verbal sparring matches. Getting under his skin was fun in some sick twisted little way. Watching that vein in his neck bulge and the freckles time had seemed to erase pop back out on his face were a delight she hadn’t known before.
