“One day, you’ll kiss me.”
She gasped. How dare he! “You’ll be waiting a long time. You repel me.”
Chapter Four
After the previous night and his boldness, he left Esther alone to get dressed. She came out from the tent and shielded her eyes from the sun coming up over the mountains. She placed the black cast iron pot back over the fire to warm up the stew from last night. Obadiah was over with the other men talking in a huddle. Maybe planning out the day but she did not know.
The other women in the camp worked on breakfast or tore down tents. At least she wasn’t alone out here with a bunch of men. It would have been a little off putting if they didn’t have their wives with them. Except for the one man. He was alone. Tall, with salt and pepper hair and a small beard. She didn’t trust him but didn’t know why. Her husband had a bad boy aura around him. This man though…he was danger. The hair on her arms stood on end when he glanced her way.
A shiver of unease ran over her body once again as he stared at her while her husband spoke to the other men. She tried hard not to show any emotion, as she didn’t want him to think she was interested in him. Far from it. Obadiah looked over the other man’s head, and locked eyes on her. His eyes narrowed, cold and dark, then he turned his attention to James. He excused himself and came to her.
He leaned in close and whispered, “Are you okay?”
She handed him a bowl of stew, avoiding his eyes. There was no way to explain her unease with the older man, and she didn’t want to worry him over nothing. After all, she didn’t trust older men as a rule. Where she came from, they wanted only one thing and she wasn’t one of those girls. “I’m fine.”
“Look at me.”
She shook her head no, holding her bowl tightly. He didn’t need to act as if he cared. Their marriage was on paper only and she was fine with the arrangement, so he could let her handle any other situation that came along.
He tugged her chin until she looked up at him. Okay, she thought, she’d be alright if he’d stop touching her. Making her burn something fierce. Something she didn’t understand and didn’t want to understand either. Esther tried pulling away, but his grip wouldn’t allow it. “Please, talk to me. I know the way we got married was unusual, but I’m responsible for you. What’s wrong?”
Looked up through her lashes at him, she debated on speaking or keeping her concern quiet. He seemed to be a man to rely on and so different. She’d never had parents or a man to help her. She and Ruth together made it through whatever came up. Except now Ruth was back in town and Esther had no way of getting word to her. The person she relied on most…gone. Glancing over she saw the man named James as he moved away from her and her husband. Turning his back to the others, she wondered if she’d imagined it all in her mind.
“Nothing.” She shrugged her shoulders and tried playto the feelings off as no big deal.
“I’m not buying this. Something upset you and I want to know what.” The concern in his voice stirred her heart deep inside. Taking a deep breath, she looked at him. She couldn’t help but tell him now. How he made her feel safe and at ease at the same time, which took her by surprise.
“The man named James, he…I’m not sure. I feel uneasy around him. He was staring at me and I’m not sure why.”
Thunder crossed his face. Lips pursed together in a hard line. His pulse throbbing in his cheek. Rigid all over his body except the hand holding her chin. He pulled her into his arms as one hand anchored her by the waist. She gasped from the sudden movement. Hands splayed on his chest. It was hard as she thought it would be. “Listen to me, and listen good. He’s trouble. Stay away from him.”
She shivered in his arms. The warning came strong from his lips. He didn’t glance at her. No, his attention on James. Deep in her soul, she felt he wanted to hurt him or worse. Why? Did they have a past she knew nothing about? She’d have to find out from him soon.
“I will.”
Looking down at her. His brown eyes softened, golden flecks reflecting in them. He brushed his thumb on her cheek. She melted in his arms. Safe. Secure.
“You will what, sweet dove?”
The two words making her melt more. Blast him for knowing the words to say that made her open up to him. “Stay away from him.” She wasn’t one to cave easy. Fight or flight was her life before, and she almost always chose to fight, except when the man came after her and Ruth and threatened to take them to his boss.
“Thank you. Now you might not like what I’m about to say.”
She stiffened in his arms and gave him her full attention. What would he ask of her now? Please let it be something simple like cooking or to grab a bag. This she could do without question. She waited with bated breath. As long as she’d had her hand on him, she should move her hands without a doubt, but the feel of his hard muscles
