Chapter Thirteen
“Let me go!”
A familiar voice got his attention, and he stiffened. It was Rachel. What was she doing out here?
People died in this kind of cold. She shouldn’t be outside. He blew into his cold hands, trying to find her familiar figure in the meager lamplight. As he peered into the blackness, he couldn’t make out anything.
Then Nate saw them farther down the track.
Rachel was struggling with someone. Her body was writhing against a man he didn’t recognize. It was clear she didn’t want anything to do with him. The man’s hand was clamped around Rachel’s arm. She was trying to pull free, but he held on as if he had every right to touch her.
Fury cut through Nate so fast it wiped every sensible thought from his head. Why was this man touching his wife? His eyes narrowed as rage boiled inside.
He stepped off the porch with confidence and purpose. He rushed toward them, darkness in his heart. His fists were clenched, his steps sure even in the snow. He watched as Rachel twisted against the man’s grip.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he bellowed. “Get your hands off my wife!”
He saw Rachel’s head whip around, her eyes widening. The man didn’t relent, still tugging on her arm until he saw Nate approaching. He looked startled, and immediately let go, holding up his hands and stepping back.
The man was breathing hard, his breath pluming before him in the cold.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize,” he said smoothly, though clearly, he was out of sorts.
There was something Nate didn’t like about the man.
Nate took him in as he got closer. Tall, thin, gray-haired, and wearing clothes that even the richest family in town couldn’t afford. He looked as out of place as a diamond in a turd. There was something cold and calculating about him as well, and it had nothing to do with the weather.
“What do you think you’re doing on my property?”
The man cleared his throat, though he wouldn’t look Nate in the eyes. He was clearly nervous over what Nate might do to him. The man was definitely not a fighter. If he had to bet, Nate figured the man’s hands were soft as down feathers.
Pulling Rachel out of the man’s reach, Nate gently moved her behind him. He wasn’t about to let this man touch her again.
“I’ll ask you again, what are you doing on my property? And if you don’t answer, I’ll throttle the living daylights out—”
The man put up his hands. He was shaking. “Now, there’s no need for violence.”
“You’re going to get more than violence if you don’t answer my question,” Nate said through clenched teeth, taking a step toward him.
The man flinched as if he’d been punched, almost falling in the snow.
“I’m terribly sorry. I just happened to be out for a stroll and—”
“A stroll in this weather? That seems rather foolish, don’t you think?” Nate asked, folding his arms over his chest.
“I dare say, I hadn’t thought things through when I ventured out this evening.” The man found Nate’s eyes for a moment, his confidence apparently coming back.
“Why were you harassing my wife?”
The man rocked back on his heels and puffed out his cheeks. In Nate’s book, that usually meant someone was about to lie.
“As I said I was out strolling…”
“So, you’ve already said.”
“Well, I noticed this young lady out walking by herself. And she looked to be in some distress,” he said.
“Was that before or after you grabbed her?”
The man made an odd sound. “I didn’t grab her.”
“You most assuredly did,” Rachel said.
“You didn’t realize you were harassing a married woman?” Nate demanded.
“I was just concerned about her welfare, that’s all. She was walking out on her own, and I thought it would be best that she was accompanied.”
“I told him I was fine, but he wouldn’t leave me alone,” Rachel whispered, practically pressing herself against his back. The knowledge that his wife was scared made something fierce rear up inside him. He didn’t want to see her like that.
“I was merely being a gentleman, that’s all.” The man smiled and lowered his hands. “No harm done, is there? I just wanted to be sure she was safe.”
“You, sir, are no gentleman.”
“I was only concerned—"
“Well, she’s fine now,” Nate remarked sharply. “And I would appreciate it if you leave my property and my wife alone, or I might have to arrest you for harassment.”
“Arrest me…?” The man’s eyes widened. “You’re the sheriff?”
“Town marshal, yes. And I would like for you to turn around and walk away. Leave my wife alone, and do not approach her again, or you’ll have to deal with me.”
His eyes narrowed, and his thin mouth curled in a slight snarl. He glanced at Rachel, who was still behind Nate. Then his smile grew thin, and he bowed as he stepped back.
“Very well. I’ll leave her alone… Marshal.”
“Don’t push your luck with me, sir. Just leave.”
The man’s eyebrow arched, but he turned away after a long, lingering look at Rachel. Nate didn’t exhale until the man walked away, his footsteps fading as he disappeared from sight. It was only then that he turned to Rachel, who was staring up at him with wide eyes.
“What are you doing out here?” he snapped before he could help himself.
Rachel jumped, a hurt expression passing across her face.
“I went to see Isabelle. I didn’t want to be locked up in my room. I just needed someone to talk to. And I was coming home.”
“So you risked your life walking over here?” Nate demanded, upset by what just happened. He was still shaking with anger at seeing her accosted.
“I…”
Then he realized what he was doing, and he winced, glancing over her shoulder at Isabelle and Jack’s house. His brother-in-law’s words came back to him, and he knew that he was being unfair.
He swallowed, and his shoulders slumped.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t snap at you like that. I was just… concerned, that’s all.”
“Concerned?” She blinked, clearly bewildered by his change of attitude. “I… do you know who he is?”
“I’ve never seen him before.”
Rachel shivered, rubbing her arms for warmth. Her eyes were shimmering with tears. Nate could tell she was upset and with good reason. He didn’t want to think about what might have happened had he not come along when he did.
“There was something about him that put me on edge. He bumped into me earlier and asked if he could escort me to Isabelle’s. I’d told him then I didn’t need any help, but as you saw, he didn’t take no for an answer. I didn’t know what to think, only that I needed to get away from him.”
At least Rachel had trusted her instincts. Nate dragged a hand through his hair, unease settling deeper.
”I don’t want you going about on your own for a while,” he said at last. “And certainly not at night. Not until I find out who he is.”
“He told me his name was Isaac Vane. Maybe that would help. But he’s not local. Not with those clothes.”
He put his arm around her, and drew her closer to him as they walked. She didn’t resist, though she did look up at him for a moment. He could feel her shiver, and he wondered if it was from the cold or from Vane.
“Are you okay?” Nate asked, struggling to keep his voice steady, anger still coursing through him.
“Better now, thank you.”
“How will you be able to find out about Vale?”
“Oh, I have my ways. I’m pretty crafty when I need to be.”
“I’m not surprised,” Rachel said, her voice wavering slightly. She was doing her best to stay strong given what happened, but it was obvious it still bothered her.
“I’m sorry you had to deal with him. You sure you’re okay?”
“Why do you keep asking me that? There’s no need to worry yourself.”
“What do you mean? You’re my wife. Of course I’m worried about you.”
They walked in silence for a bit longer before Nate said, “I’ll make sure he doesn’t come near you again.”
“How can you promise something like that?”
He chuckled. “Oh, I have my ways.”
“I just bet you do,” Rachel said, shivering again.
Clearing his throat, Nate said, “I’m sorry.”
“I feel like you’ve already said that fifty times.”
“No, I meant about earlier. The kitchen. It wasn’t fair to you.”
“You’re right.” She met him with an unblinking gaze. “It’s not.”
“I don’t know why I keep doing that. Reacting the way I do. I’m not usually like that.”
Her mouth quirked a little.
“You’re not going to let me off the hook, are you?”
“Not really. But it’s only fair after the way you spoke to me.” She shuddered, but tried to hide it. He shifted his arm to draw her closer.
“You’re shivering.”
“I just can’t get the image of… the way he came out of the darkness and grabbed me. I’m sorry.”
“He rubbed the back of his neck. “You have nothing to be sorry for. It wasn’t your fault.”
She seemed to relax hearing him say that.
Rachel leaned into him even more. Feeling her against him eased his heart and made him think of possibility.
Could this really work? He felt his heart swell at the thought.
The most telling thing of all was that the thought didn’t trouble him.
Instead, it settled him and his uneasy heart.