Lenna tugged at his arm, but he pulled away from her. She needed to get away before she got hurt. She always wanted to be in the middle of men’s issues. The woman had no clue why he wanted to end this man. Heck, neither did he really. This man stayed liquored up most of the time, and when he hurt women he either didn’t know or didn’t care.
“Stop! Both of you!” Esther yelled. It was the one voice he heard through the fog in his head.
The crazy woman jumped in between them. His eyes widened when he saw James throw back his arm to hit her. He jerked her behind him and made sure she didn’t get the punch meant for him. One hand held her to his back and his other blocked the punch. She wiggled away from him, and ducked under his arms and in between them again. She pressed her hand to his chest and it burned him to his core. He turned his attention to the blonde-haired beauty that was his wife. “Stop.” Esther pressed her hands to his face making him look at her and only her. It wasn’t hard to keep his eyes there. He found himself staring at her even when she was not aware of it. He loved the way she leaned against a tree as she closed her eyes while he drew. Her face soft, light, and with no worries. Or the way she pulled her dress a little higher than was acceptable for a woman as she walked in the water to cool off from the heat of the day.
He took a deep breath in, trying hard not to let out the beast lying under the surface. The one who wanted to rip the other man apart in vengeance. Each time this man touched his wife, it tore at his chest and caused violent scenes to burst in his mind. The only man whose wife hadn’t come with them. He did not blame the poor woman but something wasn’t right about this, as it had been stated in the contract.
“Look at me.”
“Move. I don’t want to hurt you.” He was short with her. Let him handle this and they’d be on their way.
“No.” Her hands tightened on his face. He picked her up to move her from harm. Didn’t get she understand that he was trying to protect her and the others here?
Esther pressed her lips against his. He blinked in surprise. She’d done this in front of everyone. She had fought him so hard when he first kissed her. Now, Obadiah pressed her against him, loving the feel of her in his arms. The burn she stirred deep within in and how she calmed his temper. Her hands on his chest caused him to break the kiss and pull away. Pain seared through him now that the adrenalin faded from the injury he had incurred.
Her lips formed an O as she dropped her hands to her side. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. He kneaded the back of his neck and tried to get himself under control when all he wanted to do was to drag her away, to kiss her senseless, and finally consummate the marriage.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
He nodded. The lump in his throat wouldn’t allow him to speak for mere seconds. “Don’t worry about it.”
“But, I am worried. You’re upset and hurt.”
“I promise I’m okay.” The others had already moved away to give them space including James. He leaned with his back against a tree, arms folded and stared at the couple. So far it didn’t seem James knew who he was and so at least Obadiah hadn’t blown his cover. The other man tipped a flask to his lips. Gotta hurry and get more booze inside.
“I’m sorry for getting so upset.” Obadiah ran a hand through his hair, scrubbing his face. Not once had he ever felt bad for losing his temper before…one look at her and he wanted to change. He didn’t understand why and right now trying to figure out the answer wasn’t first on his list of things to do.
“I forgive you. Please try and relax around him.”
“I can’t”
“Why?” She cupped his cheek. This one small gesture touched his heart deep and made him ache to know her more. To make their relationship work.
“Nothing for you to worry your pretty head about.” Telling her about his Ma was too deep and personal. All she knew was she had passed. He turned away from his wife and started to get their belongings together so they all could head out again.
Chapter Seven
Esther went to the river to wash the dishes they’d used to eat that afternoon. She submerged them into the water scrubbing with a towel she’d ripped earlier from a bigger one. Each swipe of the rag became soothing for her. A time for her to reflect on the day and her life. Her husband still hadn’t shared why he had a problem with the one man in their crew. She didn’t press him…let it go. It had been weeks ago and she wanted to forget the whole incident.
For a few days, he stayed clear of her, and but now she swore he was watching her. Like now...the hair on her arms stood on end. They were deep in the woods in Montana getting closer to completing the mapping out of the land and still she felt like he might be there watching around a tree. Slowly,
