“Careful.”
She pulled away, ashamed she had acted in such a way. Hurting him wasn’t what she meant to do. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
He grunted as he laid back down. Sweat ran down his face. His brows scrunched together tightly. Crimson red oozed through his shirt. She began unbuttoning it…nothing to indicate a wound so far. One button later, and there was the blood. A huge scratch stretched across his chest. Deep and blood oozing fast. She leapt to her feet to get one of their bags and ran back to his side. She scrambled to get the whiskey, and tipped the container to his lips.
Muscles outlined his chest, just as the other night when she had gotten a glimpse of them, except now it was daylight and she could see every groove and curve. Swallowing hard, she resisted the urge to touch them and see if they were as delicious to the touch as they looked. Clearing her throat, she looked up at him. He watched her from under hooded eyes. He threaded his hands through her hair which had fallen during the struggle. Proper women don’t let their hair down in public. She had to get it back up, but the feel of his hands in her hair made butterflies dance in her stomach.
“It’s ok.” He closed his eyes and pulled her down to him as if he would kiss her. Obadiah rested his head against her forehead and took in a sharp breath. “Can you sew?”
She had expected his lips on hers. Did she hear him right? Pulling back to reality, she blinked several times as she backed away in order to look at his wound once again. A four to five-inch gash, red and angry was between them. “Yes.” Esther opened the bag looking for the needle and thread. She poured whiskey on the needle, then handed him the flask.
***
Obadiah closed his eyes tight and tried not to scream from the pain. He knew the moment he had made the mistake when he fought the bear off. He couldn’t let it hurt her. He had to protect her at all costs and his chest was the cost. It wasn’t like he wasn’t used to injuries and scars, but this was his first for a woman. His wife. The frightened look on her face had driven him faster and harder to protect her. She had her claws in him and he wasn’t sure he would not come out injured again.
He took another deep drink from the flask. It burned his throat as it went down…not as bad as his chest hurt, but close. The first prick of the needle made him tense his body. Her sweet voice cut through the pain.
“Sorry.”
He opened his eyes, she turned to look at him with concern showing in her gaze. At times, she acted so brave and tough, and then at other times, she showed her caring side. He wasn’t at all sure that she showed many people that caring side. Her abandonment as a baby may be the reason she was closed off to others. She reached over and brushed some hair away from his face which was plastered by the sweat running down his forehead.
As long as he lived, he’d cherish this moment, her. He might not be able to repay her for taking care of him, but he’d do his best to keep her safe. She turned and continued to sew the wound. Pain shattered his thoughts. Every stick of the needle sent searing explosions of pain through his body. His arms began shaking and he tried to hold still.
His Ma would have been horrified that he’d taken on a bear for someone. Not because she would want anyone hurt but because she wanted to protect her children. He blinked hard and his Ma came into his vision, sitting next to Esther. She shook her head at him, her lips pursed together in a tight line. She threw her hands in the air. She didn’t need to say anything at all to him. He’d scared her.
This wasn’t normal…seeing someone who had passed on as if they were alive. It sure wasn’t how he and his brother Jeremiah had been taught He wanted to cry out to God in anger. A loving God wouldn’t take his Ma away. It had happened and now they all lived with the emptiness.
Darkness closed around him, took him under it and he welcomed the quietness.
Chapter Six
As Esther finished sewing his wound up, she glanced over at him. His eyes were closed, he lay limp on the ground. Sweat ran down his face. She nudged him. “Obadiah.”
Silence. He didn’t move. She chewed on her bottom lip trying to think of what to do next. She hoped and prayed he’d only passed out and not…she couldn’t bring herself to say what her mind thought. Sure, when they first met, it would not have seemed so bad if she was widowed. Now, there was more at stake. Now she wanted this husband to keep her safe.
She didn’t want to shake him and cause more pain to his injury. She brushed her hand against his cheek to rouse him. The sparks this man ignited in her want to run into the woods and never come out again. To hide away for the rest of her life. It didn’t make sense. Why?
“Please answer me. I can’t take it if you died because of me. I’m not worth someone dying.” Her heart ached as the words came rushing out of her mouth. Words she hadn’t even known she wanted to say in the first place. The wind brushed against her skin and a cool breeze washed over
