Obadiah tilted her chin until she looked up at him. Soft and warm, inviting. She saw past his outlaw ways. Past the hardness that he showed everyone else. Pulling at her bottom lip, he ran his thumb over her lips and causing her to release it. Her breath caught.
“Yes, my little dove. When you chew on your bottom lip, you make me want to kiss you.” Leaning towards her, he pressed his lips against her forehead.
If he kept this up, she might melt in front of him. She cherished the times they were alone and his sweetness came through. When they were with the group, he was focused on James and making sure they were safe. She loved his protection, but hated how that man got him riled up.
***
Obadiah wanted to pull away from his wife. The fire had almost become too much, but he couldn’t. Something about her wouldn’t allow him to move. The trust in her eyes almost knocked him over. How she didn’t see the beauty that he saw made him want to try harder to show her. To make her see herself the way he saw her. Even though she’d had a rough start in life, she had a giving heart.
At times she went to the other ladies in camp to help them cook or patch holes in their clothes. She might be lost on how to do some things and in others, her heart shone through. The deepest part of her soul wanted to help others and see the good in everyone. She should have married his brother, Jeremiah, and not him. The good boy. The one who followed the Good Word as their parents had taught them.
He’d not given up everything they had instilled in him. Except it was hard for him to understand why God would allow his Ma to be murdered. If He was a good God like they said, then why? This thought played over and over in his mind and he’d do anything to make it stop. Spending time with Esther helped to ease the pain a little bit.
“I wish you saw the beauty I saw.”
Her cheeks flushed. A tress of hair fell against her cheek and he pushed it behind her ear gently.
“Obadiah, don’t say such frank things.”
If she said his name one more time, he thought he might not be able to hold back anymore. Each time they went to sleep, he wanted to roll over and take her in his arms. Kiss her. Make the marriage even more. Never before had he stopped himself from being with a woman and honoring her. She was different. He wanted to do better. Wanted to work hard not to be in trouble all the time. First, he had to take care of James, and then they’d be able to move on. His Ma could rest, finally.
“You’re my wife. I’m sure this is allowed.”
Esther pulled away, starting down the trail. This crazy woman. Any time he tried to get close to her, she pulled away. He wanted to know why and yet didn’t want to push her. He saw how frightened she looked at times. Shaking his head, he grabbed the bags and set out after her. He smiled and replayed the moments before in his mind. Took some deep breaths to try to get his body under control.
They walked a while before she even looked in his direction. The sun shone through the trees, radiating off the water making an arch of color. The rough terrain made it hard for him to talk to her as they traveled upward. . He wanted to move up the mountain a little ways to get over the small cliff and make sure she was protected from anything ahead. He ran ahead somewhat in order to get to the area before she did.
He held his hand out for her and tried not to pull her in and kiss her. She woke desires in him and it frightened him somewhat at their strength. She smiled at him, placing her hand in his. He led her over the steep area. She didn’t pull away from him like at the beginning of the journey. He pressed a hand against the small of her back as she passed by him.
“Thank you. I’m not used to a man being so forward with me.”
If he’d not been right beside her, he wouldn’t have heard her as she whispered the words to him. Good. He hated the thought of another man saying these things or other things either. His. She was his and he didn’t want to let go. Unlike when they started. He was ready to throw her away and get on with his life back then. Now. Never.
“Good. A man shouldn’t unless he means it and is married to her. I meant every word.”
Esther glanced over her shoulder with a shocked expression. She looked at him through her lashes. This might be one of his favorite ways that she looked at him. Innocent and pure. As if she liked him and didn’t hate him. The thought of her hating him caused his heart to rip. He never wanted her to be upset with him. She nursed him back from the wounds he got from the bear.
The time together where he needed to rely on her to help was good for them both. He had never relied on anyone as he felt it made him look bad or helpless, and he was a man and could not look helpless. She didn’t make him feel this way. Made him feel loved and cared for. As if he was smart and strong, even when he took on the much stronger bear.
“Um…thank you.”
He chuckled. “No need to thank me. Just
