Chapter Twenty-Three #3
“I expect this has all been a rather unfortunate misunderstanding.” He brushed an imaginary speck of dust from his sleeve. “I should like to take Miss Turner home.”
Henry turned slowly to face him and his expression had grown very still. “You are not taking my wife anywhere,” he said.
Gideon’s eyes gleamed dangerously but Henry did not care. And before giving the man the chance to say anything more, Henry raised his voice. “Nora.”
The sound carried easily across the yard and she looked up immediately. She lifted a hand in greeting and started toward him with Lola skipping happily at her side.
Then her gaze shifted. She saw Gideon, and the smile vanished. Henry watched the color drain from her face so completely that, for one terrifying moment, he thought she might faint. She stopped walking.
Lola looked up in confusion. “ Nora?”
She did not answer. Her eyes never left Gideon. The fear Henry had glimpsed so many times over the past week now stood plainly before him.
Walker smiled. “Good afternoon, Ruth.”
She swallowed hard. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to take you home.”
“I have no home with you.”
Walker sighed as though disappointed by a stubborn child. “I’m afraid that isn’t for you to decide.”
Henry stepped slightly in front of Nora without consciously meaning to. “Lola.”
The little girl looked up.
“Go inside.”
She frowned. “But—”
“Now.”
She glanced nervously between the three adults before hurrying toward the house.
Henry waited until the screen door closed behind her and only then did he turn back to Nora. She had lowered her eyes. The breeze stirred loose strands of chestnut hair across her face, but she made no effort to brush them away.
Henry’s heart began to pound. “Nora,” he said. “Is it true?”
The question seemed to hang between them forever. Finally… she nodded.
“Yes.”
The single word landed like a stone and Henry closed his eyes briefly. Not because she had deceived him, because he suddenly understood why. When he looked at her again, tears were already slipping silently down her cheeks. “My father...” she whispered. “He lost everything.”
Henry remained silent.
“He promised me to Mr. Walker.” She struggled to steady her voice. “I never agreed.”
Walker gave an impatient shrug. “Your agreement wasn’t necessary.”
Henry’s head snapped toward him and Walker met his gaze without flinching.
“Her father was her lawful guardian.”
Henry felt anger stir deep within him.
“I ran because I didn’t know what else to do,” Ruth said.
She looked at Henry desperately. “I never wanted to deceive you,” she said. “I only wanted somewhere safe.” Her voice broke. “I was going to tell you.”
Henry saw the anguish in her face and so many pieces suddenly fell into place. He drew breath to answer, but Walker moved first. He reached forward and seized Ruth by the wrist. She gasped.
“Enough,” he snarled, his pleasant manner disappearing as though it had never existed. “You’ve embarrassed me long enough.” He jerked her sharply toward him. “You belong with me.”
Henry barely had time to register what was happening. Walker leaned close enough that only the three of them could hear.
“If you fight me again,” he said quietly, “I’ll make you sorry.”
Something inside Henry snapped and he crossed the distance in two strides. “Take your hands off her.”
Walker did not move. “I suggest you stay out of this.”
“I said...” Henry’s voice dropped low and dangerous. “... let her go.”
Walker tightened his grip. Henry caught Walker by the shoulder and shoved him backward with all the strength years of ranch work had given him.
Walker stumbled several paces before catching his balance. Ruth pulled free immediately. Without thinking, Henry stepped between them, placing himself squarely in Walker’s path. He could feel Ruth trembling behind him.
Walker straightened his coat slowly, his expression remained calm. “You’ve made a mistake, Mr. Foster.”
Henry did not move. “This woman is under my protection.”
Walker smiled without warmth. “For the moment.”
He retrieved his hat from where it had fallen into the dust and settled it once more upon his head. “You’ve interfered in a private matter.”
Henry met his gaze steadily. For the first time, something hard flashed behind Walker’s eyes. “This isn’t finished.”
Henry’s voice remained even. “It is for today.”
Walker mounted his horse in one smooth movement, he gathered the reins but did not immediately turn away. Instead, he looked directly at Henry. “I’ll return.”
His gaze shifted briefly toward the house where Lola watched nervously through the front window.
“And next time...” A faint smile touched his lips. “...I won’t come alone.”
He touched two fingers to the brim of his hat and then wheeled his horse and rode out through the gate. Neither Henry nor Ruth spoke until the sound of hoofbeats had faded into the distance. Only then did Henry slowly release the breath he had been holding.
“I won’t come alone.”
The words echoed in his mind and a cold weight settled in the pit of his stomach.
“Henry—”
“Go and check on Lola.”
The words came out harder than he intended, but in that moment, as much as he needed an explanation, he needed a moment to himself.