'Yeah, maybe I would have, ' he allowed. 'If I had had a gun, but I
would have died. I couldn't have gotten all of them.'
'But you would have tried. I didn't.'
'Did you have a weapon to use against all of them? ' 'No, butt' 'There
wasn't a damned thing you could do, and somewhere in that head of yours
you know that's true.' Trembling, she wrapped her arms around him and
held tight. 'I want . .
. ' 'What, sweetheart? ' he asked as he leaned down and kissed the top
of her head.
She tucked her head under his chin and closed her eyes. She needed his
strength tonight, and she desperately needed his comfort . . . and his
love.
'You should get some sleep, ' he told her as he gently lifted her into
his arms and carried her back to the campfire. He laid her down and
knelt beside her, frowning at her with worry.
'You're going to be all right.' He said the words, not so much to
convince her, but to convince himself.
He started to turn away then, but she grabbed hold of his hand. 'Sleep
with me, ' she whispered.
Outwardly he didn't show any reaction to her plea. Inwardly his heart
felt as though it had just fallen to the pit of his stomach.
'No, ' he answered, his voice harsh, his need to touch her almost
overwhelming.
In the firelight, her hair had turned a vibrant red, and all he could
think about was threading his fingers through the silky mass and coming
down on top of her sweet, soft body. . . .
'It's out of the question.'
'Just for a little while, ' she begged.
'I don't want to be alone.'
'You're not alone. I'm two feet away.
I'm telling you it's not a good idea.'
'Why not? ' 'You want me to spell it out for you? Fine. I want to
stay with you, but I sure don't want to sleep.'
