Library

Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

G il had no idea how much time had passed when Jess straightened from against his chest. Her red-rimmed eyes showed just how hard this afternoon had been for her. “I told you that so you would know how dangerous they are. Jedidiah and my father.” Though no fresh tears tracked down her cheeks, grief and sadness filled her tone. “We can’t make a wrong step, Gil, or they’ll hurt you. I thought…” Her voice faded, but then it gained strength. “I’d thought if you were married to me, you’d be protected. But if he stole from you… Father’s greed more than trumps whatever affection he has for me.”

Gil had to take the weight of this worry off her shoulders. All these years, it must have smothered her.

He tapped the tip of her nose with his finger, a touch that hopefully came across as playful. “Don’t worry about me, Jess. I can handle them. I promise.”

The apprehension didn’t leave her eyes, but that tap on her nose brought his focus a little lower. To her lips.

He jerked his eyes back up. She needed comfort right now. To know she was safe. Not amorous advances.

But her expression had shifted to something more…aware. Her gaze flicked down to his mouth and hovered there. She rolled her lips in, her tongue peeking out between them like she was moistening them.

Aw, man. What was he supposed to do with that?

She’d appealed to him from the very beginning, even in the general store, and when he’d caught sight of her up on this mountain, she’d seemed like an angel.

An angel he’d just been holding in his arms. Their emptiness felt stark now, cold after the warmth of her.

Did she want him to kiss her? Would it resurrect awful memories of another man? That thought alone held him back with an iron chain.

Yet her eyes held no sign of fear. If anything, they’d darkened with desire. She leaned forward a little. If he read her right, she welcomed him.

He couldn’t take advantage of her, certainly not when she was so vulnerable.

He brushed his fingers over her cheek, relishing the softness of her skin. “Jess, I want to kiss you.” Talk about an understatement. “But I won’t unless you want me to.”

A hint of question crossed her expression, but not fear. She regarded him, those wide blue eyes so beautiful. So rich. She seemed to be searching for something. For his motives? He could talk for days about why he wanted to kiss her. But maybe she just needed to know if she could trust him. She would need to see that for herself.

At last, she gave a tiny nod. “I do.”

The iron chain holding him back turned to warm butter, but he forced himself not to dive in. Not to scare her. This woman deserved to be treasured. Cherished. And he would show her what that meant.

He cupped her jaw with tender fingers, brushing his thumb over the full line of her bottom lip.

A shiver ran through her, making it even harder for him to move slowly.

He leaned in, little by little, and she met him partway. With less than a handsbreadth between them, he paused and searched her eyes, waiting. Noticing the flecks of gold and brown in her irises.

She had the feel of innocence about her. It was her smooth skin, unmarred by too many hours in the sun. It was the openness in her gaze. It was the hope that seemed to shine from within, despite all she’d endured.

But it was more than that. She seemed fragile, like her heart would wound if he didn’t handle her with the greatest care. She was somehow as strong as the walls of the cave she called home—and as tender as the newest blooms of spring.

He closed the final space between them and brushed his lips across hers, as gentle as he could manage.

The contact sent a flame through his body.

Her lips were pillow-soft, warm and yielding beneath his.

He lingered there a moment, then went back for another, careful not to move too quickly. He wanted her to know his feelings for her went deeper than any kiss could convey.

The third time, he tilted his head more to deepen the kiss, sliding his hand back to thread through her silky hair.

She sighed, her own hands coming up to rest on him, one against his chest and the other on his shoulder.

Her earnest response stirred hunger inside him. It took every ounce of his willpower not to respond the way he wanted to. But forced himself to stay tender and reverent, pouring into his kiss all the feelings he couldn’t yet put into words.

When they parted, they were both breathing heavily. Gil rested his forehead against hers, his eyes closed, relishing the feel of her. The warmth of her breath on his skin.

"Jess." Somehow he needed to tell her what she meant to him. What her trust meant to him. "I?—"

"Well, isn't this cozy." A sharp voice cut in, shattering the moment.

Jess jerked away, and Gil faced their interruption.

Mick McPharland stood in the doorway, arms crossed, eyes fierce.

Gil stifled the urge to cower and apologize. As far as McPharland knew, his daughter was Gil’s wife.

Maybe the man would rather not walk in on the scene, but he had no right to be angry about it.

And Gil wouldn’t cower before this man.

Jess scrambled to her feet

Gil rose and faced McPharland, stepping between Jess and her father.

“Hello, sir.” He worked for a pleasant expression. “You’re back early.”

McPharland’s scowl darkened, and he pushed off the rock wall to step forward. “I heard the two of you were wandering my caves again after I told you not to. I didn’t expect to come back to find you halfway between the sheets.”

Jess’s gasp did more to stoke Gil’s ire than her father’s demeaning words.

He wouldn’t allow this man to insult her, nor would he let her feel shame over what they’d just done—a simple kiss. A kiss he didn’t regret.

He straightened to his full height, making him, taller than her father, but kept his tone steady. McPharland would pounce if he thought he’d poked hard enough to draw blood. “Sir.” The word came out with just the right tone. Clipped, yet not disrespectful. “I can’t allow you to speak of my wife in such a crude way. She deserves respect from us both.”

The air in the room had grown thick. He wasn’t touching Jess, but he sensed she would be quivering again.

McPharland was building a head of steam from Gil’s words—his red face made that obvious.

Gil motioned toward the doorway. “Maybe it’s best we step outside to finish this. Jess needs to rest.” He started forward, but McPharland sliced a hand through the air to halt him.

His voice turned cold. "Don't forget whose house you're in, boy. I can make things very unpleasant for you.”

“For us , you mean?” Gil posed the question to remind the man who he was. “You would threaten your son in law because I dare to kiss my wife?”

The man blinked, then sidestepped to focus on her. “What were you doing in the caves?”

Gil shifted toward her.

She looked like a doe facing a hunter and his loaded rifle.

He needed a good answer, now.

“We meant no harm. Gil wanted to see the bridge again. We were only there a minute.”

McPharland glared between them again, and Gil fought the urge to step in front of Jess once more.

The man’s eyes narrowed on Gil. “I’m no fool. You were searching my mine. Looking for your brother, were you?”

Gil’s insides plummeted.

When had the man learned of the connection between him and Sampson? Had he realized it from the beginning? Gil might as well come clean on that part.

He dipped his chin in a single nod, not losing McPharland’s gaze. “I am looking for him. Sampson Coulter. I heard he was working in these parts. Working for you.” He kept those last words even and respectful so as not to stir the man’s anger again before this final request. “I’d like him to come with us back to the ranch.”

Gil didn’t realize his hands had fisted until Jess’s fingers brushed his wrist, nudging where his fingertips bit into his palms. He slipped his hand around hers. The contact settled him, easing the whirling in his mind.

McPharland’s eyes flashed with a cold, mocking amusement. "You think Sampson wants to go back with you? That he's being held here against his will?" He shook his head. "Your brother is right where he wants to be, doing exactly what he wants.”

Gil kept his voice steady, though it took effort . "I'd like to hear that from him, sir, if you don't mind. Surely you wouldn't deny a man the right to speak to his own flesh and blood."

McPharland's mouth twisted in a sneer. "I'll ask Sampson if he wants to see you. But don't get your hopes up." He shifted his gaze to Jess, his expression not softening the least. "I'm moving up the timeline. We leave day after tomorrow. First light."

Gil’s pulse surged.

That left him only a day and a half to get the sapphires out and convince Sampson to leave too.

McPharland turned on his heel and stalked out, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.

Gil exhaled a long breath, giving Jess’s hand a gentle squeeze. Tears glimmered in her eyes, a sight that made his chest clench.

"Jess." He reached for her, needing to feel her, to comfort her.

She came into his arms willingly, burying her face against him as she had earlier. He stroked her hair, murmuring against her temple. "It's all right. I've got you. He won't hurt you, and he won’t hurt me. I promise."

She nodded against him, but tension vibrated through her.

He eased his upper body away so he could see her face. He cupped her cheek, brushing away an escaped tear with his thumb. "Listen to me, Jess. God has control of this situation. No matter what happens, no matter what your father says or does, God can overcome it. With His help, I’ll take you somewhere safe. My family’s ranch if you’ll go there, or anywhere you want. I promise, I’ll make sure you don’t ever have to live in fear again."

Though apprehension still lurked in her eyes, trust crept in now too. Trust in God hopefully. And in him.

He had to live up to that trust and keep this most important promise.

Comments

0 Comments
Best Newest

Contents
Settings
  • T
  • T
  • T
  • T
Font

Welcome to FullEpub

Create or log into your account to access terrific novels and protect your data

Don’t Have an account?
Click above to create an account.

lf you continue, you are agreeing to the
Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy.