It doesn’t matter that there could be another war dropped at my front doorstep, I need to continue on with my job as if I’m not waiting for all hell to break loose, and even though I am waiting for that, I need to prepare, but never stop moving on what needs to be done.
We make our way toward Lonesable, who gives me side-eye as soon as we approach. He’s angry with me because I’m not letting him get to know Birdie as I’d promised. He needs to approve of her just as much as I do, since he is by my side always, but I just can’t go there with him yet.
You have upset her. I can sense her discontentment.
I grunt, not wishing to respond to him. I’m sure that she’s upset, though I don’t know why. I can’t be bothered with her frivolous woman ideas and emotions right now. I have to figure out how to get this railroad contract taken care of, find out more about the prophecy, get food to my soldiers, and run an entire dratted country.
It doesn’t matter how she feels.
Picking up Birdie, I set her on his saddle. Lonesable doesn’t respond to my thoughts right away. Instead, he waits until I’ve mounted and am sitting behind her. Wrapping my arm around Birdie’s waist, I allow her to ready her parasol to shade us both.
Are you ready?
I won’t be rushing this trip back. You will speak to her, Colt.
I let out a silent grunt, hating that he is probably correct. I do need to talk to her, as much as I don’t want to. She must be confused by Bessie Silks, by everything that’s happened today. She probably has never been to a town like the one we have just visited. I don’t know what towns look like in her world, but I am sure they are quite different.
Clearing my throat, I guide Lonesable away from town and toward home, though true to his word, he makes the trip slowly—very slowly.
“Did you enjoy town?” I ask.
There is a moment of silence and I almost ask if she can hear me, when she finally speaks.
“Oh, I didn’t realize you were speaking to me again,” she snaps, haughtily.
I take a moment, careful not to respond in haste. I haven’t been the kindest to her this day and she no doubt has some thoughts about the conversations that have taken place around her and the reason we had to dine alone, privately and away from the rest of the patrons.
“I am and I never stopped,” I murmur.
There is a moment of silence, she is obviously not going to ask any questions so I lean forward and place my chin against her shoulder, tightening my arm around her waist.
“This world must be much different than yours. I have no doubt that you are assuredly confused by some things that happened today.”
She doesn’t speak right away, but when she finally does, I can’t help but hear the pain that radiates through her words and in her voice.
“I’m not the least bit confused, Colt,” she practically whispers. “The entire township believes that I’m a prostitute, even the actual prostitutes think that. You told the dressmaker that I was your mistress, essentially your live-in whore and he dressed me accordingly. The restaurant wouldn’t seat me in the main dining room because of my presumed prostitute status. Did I miss something?”
There is one thing that Birdie is not and that is stupid. Clearing my throat, I try to think of something to say that will assuage this situation. There is nothing.
You messed up. How will you fix it?
Shut. Up.
“Birdie,” I say.
She shakes her head. “No, Colt. It’s fine. It’s what I am. I let you between my legs after knowing you about five minutes. If that’s not something a whore does, then I don’t know what is. I also did it knowing that I’m in some freaky ass other dimension. I should be rocking in a corner completely traumatized, but what do I do?” she asks, but doesn’t allow me to answer because she’s too quick to continue on her rambling. “I get horny. Who does that? Who acts the way that I do? A whore, that’s who.”
I don’t even have to ask Lonesable to stop. He just automatically does. Dismounting from him, I lift my arms up, wrapping my hands around Birdie’s waist and tug her off of the back of the horse. She doesn’t speak as I set her down on the hard red dirt.
We’re under a grouping of trees, something that there are only a few of between my house and town. Birdie doesn’t move, but she also doesn’t speak either. Lonesable stays close, probably to keep his eye on me since he has already chosen Birdie over me at this point, and I don’t really blame him.
I made her feel terrible and though it was not intentional, I didn’t do anything to stop it or fix it either.
“Perhaps, I could have done some things differently today. But you are no soiled dove, Birdie.”
She tilts her head back, her eyes narrowing on me. “I know that, you asshole.”
I can’t help it, I try not to, but my lips tip up into a grin. “Birdie,” I say, trying to keep from laughing, but my body shakes anyway as I attempt to control myself.
“You made me feel like I was, and you basically told everyone that I was. I don’t know your customs here, but I know what cleavage means,” she says as she lifts her hand and waves it across her chest.
Dipping my chin, I touch my mouth to hers. “I realize my mistakes now. Allow me to fix them, or at least try?”
BIRDIE
My breath hitches when his lips touch mine. It shouldn’t. My heart also shouldn’t start beating rapidly, but it does. I hate it. I should also hate him, but I don’t and then I hate that even more. Colt’s tongue slips between my lips and I
