'No.'
'It'll be a fair fight,' he promised. 'I'll make him draw.'
She frantically shook her head at him. 'Stop being so stubborn. Boyle won't be drawn into a fight. The man's a coward, Douglas. There isn't time to argue about this. You can protect me just fine from the front window. If he looks like he's going to hurt me, then you can come outside and make him leave. You aren't going to kill him though. Do you understand me?' The set of his jaw told her he didn't understand. 'Please? Restrain yourself for my sake. All right?'
'Honest to God, I sure would like to-'
She stopped him cold by touching his cheek. 'But you won't.'
He wouldn't agree or disagree. 'Maybe,' was all he would allow.
She rolled her eyes heavenward. 'The belt, please. Get the belt.'
He took his own off and handed it to her. 'You're not wearing anything that belonged to Parker.'
The issue seemed to matter to him, and since his pants stayed put on the tilt of his hips, she didn't waste time arguing.
As soon as he went back to the window to check Boyle's progress, she got ready. She was still swollen around the middle, but not nearly enough to look as though she were drawing close to the delivery date she and Dr. Simpson had given Boyle.
She joined Douglas as Boyle was just reaching the flat at the base of the hill.
'Do I look as pregnant as I'm supposed to be?'
'I guess so.'
She put her hand on his arm. 'You're supposed to look at me before you decide.'
He finally gave her a quick once-over. He didn't like what he saw and frowned to let her know exactly how he felt. Isabel was dressed in a white blouse and a dark blue jersey jumper that ballooned out around her middle, and in his opinion, she was too attractive for the bastard to see. Was she deliberately trying to entice him? No, of course she wasn't. She couldn't help being pretty, and unfortunately, he couldn't come up with any ideas to radically change her appearance… unless she was willing to wear a burlap bag over her head. He didn't bother to suggest it though, because he knew she wouldn't do it.
'Button up your blouse.'
'It is buttoned.'
'Not the top two,' he said. He put his gun back in his holster and took over the chore. 'He isn't going to see any more of you than he has to,' he told her.
His fingers rubbed against the bottom of her chin. How in heaven's name could any woman have such silky skin?
'He won't hurt me,' she whispered.
His gaze moved to hers. 'I'll make certain he doesn't hurt you. If I have to kill him, I don't want to hear any argument. Agreed?'
'Yes.'
'Come on then. He's coming up to the cabin.'
She reached for the doorknob, her attention on Douglas while she waited for him to get into position by the window. She didn't wait for him to give her permission to go outside because she knew she'd stand there the rest of the day if she wanted the stubborn man to give her his approval.
'I'm going out now.'
'Isabel?'
'Yes?'
'Don't you dare smile at him.'
Chapter Six
Boyle was as ugly as sin. His face was covered with pockmarks, his eyes were set too close together, and his lips all but disappeared when he closed his mouth. The man looked like a chicken. Douglas wasn't surprised by his appearance though. The fact that he had to resort to terrorizing a woman in order to get married indicated the bastard had a serious problem attracting the fairer sex, and most women who had learned to look deeper would have been sickened by the evil lurking inside.
Douglas willed the man to move his hand toward his gun. Boyle wouldn't accommodate him. He didn't even bother to glance toward the window, but kept his gaze firmly directed on his prey.
Isabel held her own against him. 'I told you to get off of my land. Now, get…'
'Is that any way to talk to your future husband, girl? And me planning a real party wedding for you. You're looking worried today. Are you getting scared about birthing that thing all alone?'
'You've got ten seconds to leave or I'll use this rifle.'
'You'd go to prison if you did.'
'No jury would ever convict me. Everyone in Sweet Creek hates you as much as I do. Now, leave me alone.'
He pointed his finger at her. 'You watch your tongue around me, girl. I don't like sass. You've still got your fire inside you, and I'm going to have to do something about that after we're hitched. You will beg me to marry you, you know. It's only a matter of time.'
She was cocking the rifle when he dug the spurs into his horse and rode away.
'I'll be back,' he shouted. The threat was followed by his grating laughter.
Douglas kept Boyle in his sights until he was halfway across the field. Isabel came inside, shut the door softly behind her, and sagged against it.
'Damn, he's ugly,' he muttered.
She nodded agreement. 'He won't come back for another two weeks.'
'Maybe,' he allowed. 'We're still going to be prepared for anything. Dr. Simpson told me Boyle will be leaving for some kind of family get-together.'
'He's going away? Oh, Douglas, that's wonderful news.'
'Simpson said he usually stays a month to six weeks with his family in the Dakotas. We aren't going to let our guard down or get lackadaisical.'
'No, of course not. May I ask you something?'
He kept his gaze on the shadow starting up the path. 'Sure.'
'Won't you look at me?' she asked.
'Not until Boyle goes over the rise.'
'I don't understand what's come over you. You told me you didn't want to let Boyle see you and that as long as he continues to think I'm all alone, he'll be content to wait…'
'That was before I knew you always went outside to speak to him.'
'But-'
'I don't like it.'
She rolled her eyes heavenward. 'Obviously not,' she replied. 'I'm still going to continue to go out every time he comes here, like it or not.'
'We'll discuss it later. You shouldn't get upset, Isabel. The doctor said it isn't good for you.'
'For heaven's sake, I'm not sick. Surely you've noticed I'm getting much stronger every hour. So is my son.'
'Eight weeks from the minute Parker arrived,' he announced with authority. 'That's how long it will take him to get stronger.'
'Surely not.'
'Eight weeks,' he stubbornly insisted.
'When will you be leaving?'
He smiled. 'In eight weeks, unless you or Parker gets into trouble. Maybe longer. And by the way, Isabel, you and your son are going with me. I'm getting you out of here.'
