“Dalton, you might want to warn me, or the next time I might shoot first and worry about who it is later.” tremors start when she tells him, “I will never wait in silence for death again!”
A quick step and he is by her side. “I know, babe.” Slowly he takes the pistol from her now quivering hands and catches her before she faints.
He holds her tenderly and moves towards the boulder closest to the fire. They all follow quietly and stare down at the beauty he holds.
Steele grabs a blanket to cover her with, while Chase offers his canteen.
“What the hell happened to her leg?” Harris asks, even as he moves to grab his bag. The oldest of the River brothers is a doctor. He moves closer to look at her injuries and snaps a smelling salt under her nose.
“It’s a long story.”
Cassie jumps from the strong odor and her ginger eyes fly open wide. Tears threaten, and she turns her head into Dalton's chest to hide her shame.
“Brothers, give us a minute, please.” They quickly shuffle outside.
“Are they gone yet?” comes her muffled reply.
“For now. Are you okay?”
She scrambles off his lap, and the room spins again. Dalton is quick to steady her.
“Easy now. You’ve had a fright. Take a minute to rest and tell me what happened.” Dalton wraps her in a blanket and guides her to a boulder. Cassie hangs her head.
“I’m sorry, Dalton. I thought it was the Indians or something worse and the fear just took over. Can you forgive me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive. Your survival instinct kicked in. I’m just glad it wasn’t a stick of dynamite this time.” Her gasp of outrage has him chuckling.
“Easy tiger. I'm just teasing you.” His smile fades, and she recognizes the worry in his eyes. “Cassie, we don't have much time and if my brothers could find us anyone can.” The last part he says loud enough to hear them grumbling outside. She laughs and stands slowly. When the dizziness doesn't return, she moves to get dressed. Dalton moves to put the fire out and turns to find her strapping on her holster over her denim jeans.
She quickly braids her hair and starts checking her pistol when Dalton calls the boys back in.
“We come in peace,” Pierce calls out and enters with his hands raised. He is followed by Dalton's other three brothers.
“Funny. Careful little brother or I will let her shoot you,” Dalton quips. He moves to stand beside Cassie and puts an arm around her shoulder as she holsters her pistol.
Once all four men are inside, Cassie forces herself to meet their eyes. They are varied in height and size, but all have the same shade of gray eyes that Cassie has come to love.
“I’m terribly sorry about earlier,” she stammers out. “I hope you won’t let it color your opinion of me. I was… startled.”
“Nonsense,” Steele argues. “You did exactly what a woman alone should do, Miss?” he inquires.
“Boys, it is my pleasure to introduce you to, Mrs. Cassandra Rivers, my wife,” he announces with a huge grin.
Her head whips towards him in shock, but before she can speak, they are surrounded in laughter and congratulations. Cassie is stunned speechless. “Dalton…?” she starts to say, but he is quick to interrupt her.
“We need to save this for later. Chase, we left a band of pissed off Cheyenne on Warriors Peak. Cassie managed to stall them, but I am not sure for how long. Can you check it out?”
“I'll go with you,” Steele asserts, and they leave.
“So, is that where her leg injuries came from?” Harris guesses. Dalton smiles at his oldest brother and kicks more dirt on the fire to put it out.
“No,” she recounts, “that was a mountain lion. Dalton, can I speak to you?” Her amber eyes are fuming, and he kisses her on the mouth.
“Don’t be shy, sugar. Tell them how we escaped the Indians.” Pierce and Harris help him saddle the horses and wait expectantly for her response.
“It's not important, now. Dalton, you can't just…” she starts to protest, but Harris interrupts her.
“Mountain lions are deadly. That explains the leg, any other injuries Cassie?” His medical training is kicking in, and he walks closer to look her over. The scratches on her face are almost gone.
“No.” she answers and turns to go, but Pierce is standing behind her.
“Harris is a doctor, Cassie. If you need medical attention, you won't find better care,” Pierce asserts. He is the smallest of the group and looks to be around her age.
“Thank you, but I am fine,” Cassie promises.
“Harris, the cat, hit her from the top of her horse and she hit a tree with her shoulder and leg,” Dalton answers for her.
Exasperated, she snaps, “The claws didn’t pierce my skin, Dalton. You should have let me shoot it!”
Pierce laughs at the look on Harris’s face. “I guess he wasn’t kidding when he said she likes to shoot things.”
The boys laugh, and Cassie blushes, as the other brothers return. “It was only to protect you, Dalton. He was trying to kill you, for goodness sakes!” she insists.
“Sounds like she saved your life, Dalton,” Steele teases.
Dalton looks at Cassie and the atmosphere shifts. The teasing evaporates, and Dalton steps to her, cupping her face, “More times than I care to count and now it is my turn.”
Tears fill her eyes, and she sighs, “Dalton, we aren't keeping count.” He kisses her softly and turns away to
