Chapter 8
Belle didn’t want to open her eyes. It was too bright and hurt her eyes.
“Belle, honey. You need to wake up now.” Seth was rubbing along her arm, gently waking her.
“I don’t want to.”
“I know, but you need to eat. I’ve got some potatoes with canned beef and the biscuits from two days ago.”
She put an arm over her eyes. “It seems too bright in here. What time is it?”
“It’s about noon and the light is no brighter than usual. You’re just sensitive because of your injury and the fact that you’ve been sleeping practically non-stop for two days. Come on now, get up.” He pulled the blankets off of her.
Belle turned to her side and lifted herself to a sitting position, then got to her knees and onto her feet. Her head throbbed, and she desperately wanted some more willow bark tea. “Are you sure you’re not just being mean?”
“No, honey, I’m not being mean. But as much as you need the rest, you can’t sleep through all of your meals and you need to be up between naps. I’ll let you sleep tonight.”
She sighed. “All right, I’m up.” She walked to the table and sat in her chair.
Seth followed, poured her a cup of coffee, and dished up their dinner.
“Don’t give me much. I’m really not hungry.”
He sat across from her. “Maybe when you taste it, you’ll get your appetite back.”
Belle wrapped both of her hands around the coffee cup and took a sip. “Mmm. That’s good. Maybe you’re right.”
He puffed out his chest. “Of course I am.”
“Just because you’re a man doesn’t mean you’re right all the time.”
He raised one eyebrow. “Are you sure about that?”
She sighed. “Yes, I’m sure.”
Seth chuckled. “I’m just teasing you, honey.” He set a plate of food in front of her and then placed a plate of biscuits in the center of the table. “You go on now and help yourself to the biscuits.” He set the jar of blackberry jam and a spoon on the table.
Belle took a biscuit, broke it in half, and placed it on her plate. Then she opened the jar of jam and placed a spoonful on one half before topping it with the other half. After taking a bite, she moaned. “Oh, that is so good.” She took another bite and let the sweet roll around in her mouth as she chewed. Then she set the biscuit on her plate. “As good as it is. I’m really not hungry. I’d rather just lie back down. My head is hurting again...or perhaps I should say still.”
She stood, walked back to their bed, and laid down on her side so she didn’t re-injure the back of her head.
Seth followed her over, concern pinching his brows in the middle. “I’m sorry you are hurting. If I could take your pain, I would.”
“Thanks for the thought.” He was a good man. Seth hadn’t hurt her. He’d protected her to the best of his ability. It wasn’t his fault Ezra was crazy as a loon. She would be vigilant of her surroundings, and she would never go out unarmed. Belle couldn’t let Ezra get the drop on her again. She might not survive.
Seth covered her, then undressed and crawled under the blankets.
She scooted next to him and cuddled into his side, using his arm as a pillow. Did Seth liked her cuddled into his side all the time? She inhaled deeply, the scent of campfire and the man tickling her nostrils. She sighed. She’d become so used to him this past month, she couldn’t imagine sleeping any other way. Would he prefer her not being so close?
Just because they’d now had relations didn’t mean she trusted him any farther than she could throw him. She might have given him her body, but she would never give him her heart. She would never give a man that much power over her. Belle moved away.
Seth snagged her by the waist and brought her back to his side. He kissed the top of her head and then rested the arm she wasn’t using as a pillow across her stomach.
He’d effectively penned her in.
She stiffened and her heart pounded, remembering the way Amos treated her. Then she remembered Seth’s kindness. Again, his scent surrounded her, and she let out a sigh, relaxing as he wrapped his arms around her and she rested her head on his chest.
When she awoke, she was on her side with her back toward Seth. She turned over to cuddle with him, but he was gone and his side of the bed was cold. Belle sat up, holding the blankets to her sides with her arms.
She looked around her back toward the table on the far side of the tent. No Seth.
Then the flap opened and Seth entered.
“About time you woke up, sleepyhead. How does your head feel today?”
“Like someone hit me with a two-by-four.”
“The water’s hot. I’ll fix you some more willow bark tea while you get dressed. I don’t want you doing anything today, but you’ll feel better if you put clean clothes on.” He brought her the tea. “After the tea steeps, drink it and then get dressed.”
“Okay.” She accepted the cup and blew on it to cool it. “The heat feels good. It’s a little chilly this morning.”
“Why don’t you lie on one side and I’ll cover you up over your shoulders? You’ll stay warmer that way, while you can still drink your tea. After you’re done you can get dressed.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Why are you being so nice?”
He smiled. “Because you’re my wife, and not only is it my job to take care of you, it is also my pleasure to do so.”
She dropped her gaze. “I’m not used to anyone caring for or about me.” Then she looked up. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart. Anytime, though, I’d prefer if you didn’t get injured again.”
She saw his hands turn into fists and knew he felt responsible. “You know this wasn’t your fault, either.”
“I should have protected you better.”
As nice as it was to hear that he seemed to care about her, “I’ll be forever grateful that you came when you did. Otherwise, Ezra would have had me on that horse he rode away on.”
Seth sat stiffly, as if someone had infused his backbone with iron. “I think we should stay together as much as possible. I don’t want to give him another chance.”
“I agree, but sometimes you and I will want privacy.”
“And at those times, make sure you’re armed and aware of what’s going on around you.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ve already determined that I would.” Does he think I’m a complete fool? She decided she would ignore the hurt. Besides, he’s only trying to protect me.
She finished her tea and dressed. Seth was right about putting on clean clothes and her wading boots. She felt better. Her head still ached, but the willow bark tea had helped ease some of the pain.
Before she exited the tent, she checked the load on her pistol and strapped it on.
Seth was already out working in the little creek.
She wanted something to eat and decided a biscuit with jam and a cup of coffee would suffice. They were lucky Seth had rescued the quick bread before they got irreparably burned. After she finished, she walked out of the tent to their relief facilities. She kept her hand on her gun the entire way there and back. She was relieved not to see Ezra anywhere.
Belle headed to the creek where Seth was. Maybe a little work was just what she needed. She picked up her pan and stepped into the creek several feet in front of Seth.
“You probably shouldn’t be working yet.” He kept the water in the pan moving and washing out the dirt. Then he placed some gold into the pouch tied to his belt loop.
“I was thinking some work might do me good.”
“It will probably make your head hurt more. And we need to clean your wound and change the bandage today.”
She bent over and scooped up dirt and water from the creek. Her head started pounding. Belle set the pan on the side of the creek and then held her head with both hands and closed her eyes for a moment. “Oh, gosh, you’re right. Bending over is not good for my head. I’m going back to the tent.”
He grimaced, set his pan on the grassy side of the creek, and walked over to her. “I’m sorry it hurts. Every time I see you flinch with pain, I try to find one more way to make Ezra hurt like you do.”
“I’m not sure that’s possible. He destroyed my sense of safety here and it’s not possible to restore it. I want him to pay for killing Amos as well, even though he needed killing.”
Seth took her hands in his. “I’m glad he killed Amos, and you didn’t. You wouldn’t enjoy having his blood on your hands, regardless of what he did to you.”
She sighed. “You’re right. I don’t enjoy killing anyone. That claim jumper taught me that.”
“That’s right. Even though you are capable and it was necessary, it still leaves a bad taste in your mouth, doesn’t it?”
She nodded. “I wish he hadn’t gone for his gun. His death could have been avoided.”
Seth pulled her into his arms. “It could have if he’d been smarter, but he wasn’t, and that is not your fault.”
Belle leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I know, but I still feel some guilt. Perhaps I could have wounded him, instead.”
“That would just mean a slow death because they probably had no place to stay and keep the injury clean. I think that’s why they were claim jumping” He leaned back and looked at her. “Speaking of which, we need to clean your wound now. Let’s go.” He pulled away and took her hand to walk back to the tent.
As they approached, Seth stopped and placed two fingers over his lips.
She heard it too. Someone or something was in the tent.
Seth creeped around the side of the tent toward the flap. He pulled his gun and peeked around the corner.
Belle palmed her gun and followed him. She heard the tent flap waving slowly in the breeze. She’d left the flap tied shut. Now it was evident that it had been untied.
He moved toward the flap, stretching out a hand to open it.
Ezra Fleming barreled through the opening, pushing Seth aside.
Ezra turned, pointed his pistol at Seth, and fired.
Belle screamed and hurried to help Seth, who’d fallen to the ground hard.
“Seth. Seth. Talk to me,” she pleaded.
But his eyes remained closed. Blood ran from a wound in his leg.
Ezra sneered. “If you don’t want me to shoot him dead, you’ll come with me now.”
“No, you’ll kill him, anyway.” He can’t die. I think I love him. He can’t die.
“I won’t.” His gaze flew to Seth. “He’s only got a bullet in the leg, so he can’t follow.” He narrowed his eyes at Belle. “Your choice. Clock is ticking.” He cocked his pistol.
He’s hit his head on that rock behind him. Please, Seth, be all right. I can’t let him kill you.She stood and put her body between Ezra and Seth. “All right. Don’t shoot him. I’ll go with you. Where are we going?”
“My hideout. No one will ever find it, and it will be just you and me...forever.”
Her mind rebelled. She had to figure out a way out of this. But how?
He held out a hand. “And give me your gun. You won’t need it, but I might.”
She removed her gun belt and handed it to him.
He hung it over his shoulder. “Now, follow me, and don’t get any funny ideas about knocking me out. By the way,” he breathed. “I never meant to hurt you.”
“Good to know.”
“I think I better follow you. Just go straight ahead until I tell you different.” He waved his pistol in the direction he wanted.
Fear almost overwhelmed her. But she started walking. She wondered if it was to her death because she would never let Ezra Fleming touch her.