Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

G il stepped into the dimly lit cave-home behind Jess. Her lantern light joined the only other light in the place.

When he’d first entered after meeting Jess, she’d had several lanterns blazing and the place felt cozy. Now with only these two, the stone walls felt like a prison. Confining. How could they live in such darkness all the time?

The savory scent of stewed meat and dumplings filled the air, and Jess moved directly to the cookstove to stir what she’d toiled over so long earlier. His stomach growled in anticipation. He’d only eaten a few hours ago, but maybe all this tension and pretense made him hungrier than usual.

She turned to him with a tired smile. "Have a seat. Dinner's ready."

“Smells good.” He moved to the rough-hewn table, easing into the chair he’d used before. He had a direct view of the door curtain from here, so he’d know the moment her father entered.

As he settled in, Jess brought a steaming bowl and mug to the table, placing both in front of him. The rich scents rising from the food made his belly cramp. The soup she’d served him earlier had been good, but this smelled remarkable enough to make him keel over just from breathing in the steam.

He gripped the spoon she’d tucked in the bowl, then looked up to see when she’d be coming with her own portion.

She was wiping the work counter beside the stove, moving with deliberate motions. Not in a hurry at all. Did she not plan to join him for the prayer? He’d not been obvious about it earlier because she’d had so much on her mind, but this felt like the official evening meal.

He cleared his throat. “Aren’t you coming?”

She glanced back at him. “I'm not hungry. Too nervous, I suppose." She gave a tight smile.

She had to eat. Everyone did. He was concerned about their situation, too, but skipping meals would only sap his strength. The same for her. It seemed she’d need a bit of coaxing though.

He rose and crossed to the stove before he could second-guess himself. He didn’t miss her wide eyes when she turned to watch him, but he kept his focus on his actions. After grabbing a bowl from the stack where she’d gotten his, he lifted the pot lid and dipped the ladle inside to scoop out a few plump dumplings and chunks of deer meat. He only filled the bowl halfway—about how much the women on the ranch ate at a meal—then replaced the cover and turned to her.

She looked like a cornered rabbit.

He offered his best encouraging smile, then stepped closer and reached out to gently slip his arm around her back. She started to pull away, but he kept his hand secure, curving his fingers around her side for a slightly better hold. He wouldn’t force her, but he wanted to offer significant encouragement.

“Wife, it would please me greatly if you’d share this meal with me.” He smiled down at her face, which was tilted up at him. This close, he could dip his head and kiss those lips. She had a faint dusting of freckles he’d not noticed before, which made her look strangely delicate. A good reminder to tread carefully.

She wasn’t stepping forward, even though he’d added a little pressure.

He added a little pleading to his smile. Her shock seemed to ease a little at that. Her mouth pinched, but no anger sparked in her eyes. Maybe she was holding back a smile.

He gave her back another little nudge. “Please?”

Now the corner of her mouth twitched, and she let out a sigh. “All right. I’ll sit down with you anyway.”

He kept his triumph from showing but didn’t let up on his grin as he guided her to the table. “Thank you.”

Once he placed the bowl in front of her and helped scoot her chair in, he went back to pour her a mug full of whatever heated in the carafe on the back of the stove. Tea, from the smell of it.

After settling that and a spoon in front of her, he went around to his own seat and pulled in close to the table. He reached his hand across the wooden surface, palm up. “Shall we pray for the meal?”

Her gaze flashed wary, but she took his hand and bowed her head. Maybe he shouldn’t push for so much contact between them, but that seemed to be a struggle for her, and if they were going to convince her father that they were not only married but had been intimate enough to produce a child, she needed to get used to his touch. Nothing improper, but she couldn’t back away with her eyes as big as plates every time their hands brushed.

The fact that his body surged to life with every contact was a nice extra for him. He worked to center his focus on God. “Lord, thank You. For this food. For Jess and all the ability you’ve given her. For guiding us to meet just the way we did today.” He had no doubt God had led him to her. She needed help. And without her help, he might never have found not only Sampson, but also the very man who’d ordered the theft of their sapphires.

He searched for the right words for his request. “Lord, give us wisdom to know how to proceed. Show us each step. Give us favor with Jess’s father, and help us accomplish what we need to here. In the name of Your Son we ask these things. Amen.”

Jess didn’t immediately jerk her hand from his after that last word, and when he opened his eyes and lifted his head, she was watching him with a sober expression, one that made him think she’d been focused on each word of his prayer. Or maybe even praying her own.

“Thank you.” Her voice came soft. Almost reverent.

He nodded, then released her hand, despite the fact that he’d rather keep hold of it through the rest of the meal. And the rest of the night, for that matter.

He took up his spoon and let himself scoop a full bite into his mouth. Sweet mercy, but this was good. So many flavors and warm enough to ease all the way through him as the dumpling practically melted in his mouth.

Jess was watching him, and he gave a smile that hopefully showed his pure pleasure. “Best dumplings I’ve ever eaten. No doubt about it.”

Her cheeks tinged pink, and she dipped her head, focusing on her own food as she scooped a tiny chunk of meat. As much as he loved watching her, his belly needed another bite. Now.

His food was half gone by the time he looked up again.

Jess was staring down at her bowl as she swirled her spoon around the dumplings. It didn’t look like a one of them was missing from what he’d ladled out.

“Aren’t you going to eat that? It’s too good to pass up."

Her smile was weak as she nudged a dumpling on her spoon.

Maybe conversation would help distract her. There were a few things they needed to talk about anyway. He took his own bite, relishing the taste, then swallowed. “I guess we should figure out… I mean, do you have thoughts on tonight?”

She jerked up to search his face, that wariness touching her eyes again.

He cleared his throat. “I mean sleeping. Won’t your father expect…?” He didn’t have to finish. Her bright red cheeks said she understood his meaning perfectly.

Her eyes cut to the fabric hanging to divide off one corner of the room. "My bed is over there. It’s not… I mean…." She darted a glance at him before focusing on her food again. “It’s small. Not really big enough for…”

Was it wrong of him to chuckle at her embarrassment? He wasn’t laughing at her exactly. She was just so cute when her cheeks flushed like that.

“You can keep the bed. If there’s a spot big enough on the floor, I’ll be fine with it.” Even as the words came out, a niggle of concern slipped in. “Unless… Will your father look behind the curtain? Will it make him suspicious if we’re not in bed together?”

She hesitated, finally shaking off her embarrassment as she considered. “The bed really isn’t that big. I’m not sure two could lay side by side without one falling off.” Her brows lowered. “He generally doesn’t go near my things. I don’t know if he’ll be different now, but…”

He shrugged. “If there’s not room, there’s not room.” Though he’d sure be amenable to testing that to be certain.

From the looks of her, she wouldn’t. And it wouldn’t be proper. “It’ll make sense for me to be on the floor for the short time we’ll be staying here. I hope we’ll be able to leave in a day or two.”

The line of her shoulders eased, and her brows relaxed. She returned to stirring the gravy around her dumplings. As far as he knew, she’d only taken that single bite. Did he need to prompt her again? The last thing he wanted was to be annoying. Maybe he could try a different tact.

He leaned across the small table and used his spoon to scoop a dumpling from her bowl. Then he lifted it toward her mouth.

She eyed the bite, almost glaring at it.

He raised the spoon to level with her chin. "Have a bite. You’ll like it."

She shot him a look, but the amusement was there in her eyes.

He lifted the spoon a little. “Best dumplings I’ve ever tasted. You don’t want to miss them.”

The line of her mouth cracked as its corners lifted in a reluctant grin. At last, she leaned forward and closed her mouth over the spoon. She probably didn’t mean the bite to be as seductive as it was. She’d blushed when speaking of sleeping arrangements, after all.

But as she closed her lips around the spoon, then pulled back, taking the dumpling with her, she lifted her eyes to his.

Everything in him went still. His mouth dried up. His breath stopped moving. And did his heart stop beating? The only thing in him that continued working were his eyes. And a lot of other parts of him that wanted to push this table aside and pull her close, letting her lips close around his as they had that spoon.

Mercy, this woman got to him. She was beautiful. Breathtaking. Fragile. Strong.

And not his .

Only his pretend wife.

A woman who still stiffened at his touch. They’d only met today, so he probably shouldn’t expect more. Had it really only been this morning when he’d ridden out of Canvas Creek, trying to maintain a thread of optimism that he might actually find Sampson?

He’d done that and so much more.

Jess still held his gaze as she chewed. Was she trying to set him ablaze? Maybe she couldn’t look away either. For sure and certain, even if he wanted to break the connection between them, he couldn’t do it. Her eyes were dark and intense, the richest navy he’d ever seen—at least, in this dim lantern light.

She blinked, dipping her focus to her bowl.

Something in his chest cracked. He’d never felt such a need for someone, so intense it brought a physical ache when they weren’t connected, either by touch or locked gazes or…

He let out a breath. He needed out of this room. Fresh air. Something, anything to clear his mind. To get his senses back.

He scooped the last of his food in one large bite, chewed twice, then swallowed and stood. “I need to water my horse.”

Jess’s gaze pressed into him, but he turned away, striding for the only exit from this pressure chamber.

As he stepped out into the cool night, he inhaled a long swig of fresh air, filling up his lungs until they could hold no more. He let it out in a slow stream, releasing the tension of the past hours. He had to keep his wits about him. If he didn’t, he might make an error that cost them all far more than he could stand to pay. There was far more at stake here than his heart.