The Widow's Captive
Page 8
Her brow puckered and her lips parted as her shoulder jerked backward. In seconds, the spot on her dress was wet with blood and increasing at an alarming rate.
Jonah struck Grayson’s ribs, once, twice, before the man responded and slammed his skull into Jonah’s face. Blood spurted from Jonah’s nose. A kick followed to his side. Pushing him off, Grayson attempted to get up, but stilled.
Brown moaned at the fireplace, his head clutched between his hands. Blood seeped through his fingers.
“Don’t move.” Aunt Gene pressed Jonah’s Colt against Brown’s head.
Jonah scrambled to his feet and hurried to Adeline, where she sat against the wall.
Jon’s wailing reverberated through the house.
“Jonah?”
He cupped her pale face. “Stay awake.” He slid his arms beneath her and shot to his feet.
Floorboards rattled as other boarders stormed from their rooms. Axel Mason, the blacksmith, realized without any explanation what was going on. He grabbed Grayson and twisted the man’s arm until ligaments popped and the outlaw writhed in pain.
“Get her to the doctor,” Aunt Gene ordered, still aiming the gun at Brown.
Jonah ran for the door, cradling Adeline before her eyelids fluttered closed.
13
Jonah knocked, waited, and pushed the door open.
The bright quilt his aunt had made was pulled up to Adeline’s shoulders. Now was the most inappropriate time to admire her hair. The strands fell like melted chocolate around her face, concealing most of the sling that cradled her arm.
“Hi.” He jerked his hat off and closed the door with a soft click.
“Jonah, your face.” She winced as she raised herself up on her good arm.
“It’s not as bad as it looks.” The rickety chair beside her bed wobbled beneath him as he slid onto it. A cool breeze filtered through the window left ajar. He closed his eyes for a second. The possibility of making a complete fool out of himself gnawed at his insides, but try he must. The images from last night still burned his mind and ravished his soul. It kept him from concentrating on anything else since the attack. He cleared his throat. “How are you feeling?” The scabs on his knuckles really weren’t that interesting.
“The doctor said I’ll be fine.” Adeline smiled. “It’s a flesh wound. I can take off the sling in a day or two.”
A knock on the door had Jonah stifling a groan.
His aunt and Lily sailed in. Ethan followed, balancing a tray.
“You need to eat something.” Aunt Gene’s voice was low as she glanced at Jon, who was making gurgling sounds in Jonah’s old cradle beside the bed.
Jonah interlaced his fingers and exhaled.
“We brought you soup, Mama.” Lily stopped at the foot of the bed.
Ethan slid the tray onto Adeline’s lap. “Do you want me to feed you?”
“I will.” Lily scrambled onto the bed.
“I can manage, but thank you both.” Adeline tousled Ethan’s hair, then tapped Lily’s nose.
“Is there anything else you need?” Aunt Gene stood at the foot of the bed.
Jonah bounced his leg.
Adeline frowned at him. “No, I’m fine.”
“C’mon children, I have something I want to show you in the kitchen.” His aunt shoved her hands into her apron pockets and headed to the door.
“What’s in the kitchen?” Ethan hesitated.
“C’mon, I’ll show you.”
Jonah winked at them as they passed him.
Lily’s smile broadened.
The door closed with a click and he turned back to Adeline. Was she even breathing? The knot in his shoulders hardened. Come on, Jonah. Stop being a coward. Now a boulder lodged itself in his throat. Water. Hadn’t anybody thought to bring Adeline some water?
“You look a little pale. Are you feeling all right?” She hooked a strand of hair behind her ear.
His fingers tingled at the thought of touching her hair. “Mind if I open the window a little wider?”
“What’s going on?”
He stood, paced the length of the room, and then dropped down on the chair again. “When I saw you falling I nearly lost my mind.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve really been nothing but trouble.” Her smile drooped. “I have something I need to tell you.”
He rested his elbows on his knees.
“I’ve decided to leave Hollow Creek. As soon as winter’s over.”
A vice tightened around his chest. Breathing became difficult. Even painful. I’ve decided to leave Hollow Creek. Panic pumped through his veins. “Why?”
“I need to do what is best for the children. I don’t think we have a future here.” Her lashes shielded her eyes as she toyed with the edge of the quilt. “I can’t afford to stay at the boardinghouse forever. I don’t want to stay with Mrs. Penman.”
Lord, I need you. Straightening his spine, he gripped the edge of the chair until his knuckles turned white.
“Adeline, I know this might sound ridiculous.” He fought the urge to fidget. “I thought I was going to lose you.”
Her lips parted and her eyes narrowed. Good. At least she didn’t bolt through the window. A spark of boldness shot through him.
“Jonah.” She blinked and lowered her head. “I—”
He leaned forward and grabbed her hand in both of his. “I adore you. I’ve been smitten with you since the moment I first laid eyes on you.”
“I almost cracked your skull.”
He chuckled. “Yep. You probably should marry me to make sure there isn’t any long-lasting damage.”
“You reckon?”
“I’m sorry. Now’s an awful time to joke.” He moistened his lips. “You’re a brave and amazing woman and kind to the core. You cared for me, even when you thought I was your enemy. You are so gentle when correcting your children and so fiercely protective of them.” His traitorous voice quaked and he coughed. “And it isn't just you I fell in love with, it's also your children. If they’ll let me, I’ll try my best to be a father to them.”
“Love me?” She repeated.
He nodded. Using his thumbs, he drew circles on the back of her hands. “I know this probably isn’t what you wanted. Or what you had planned, but I want you to marry me.”
She smiled and cupped his cheek with her hand.
****
Heart careening, Adeline stroked Jonah’s stubble. Could a person burst from happiness? For a moment, all she could manage was to appreciate the face of the man she’d fallen in love with. Who would’ve anticipated that taking him captive would end in a marriage proposal? “When I took you captive, Sheriff Hale, I didn’t expect you to capture my heart.”
He blinked.
“I love you too. I don’t know how, but it happened so subtly, so gently.” Even after she’d been determined never to trust again, never to love again. “I do know God’s always provided for me and my children.” Was it part of her imagination, or had the temperature in the room just spiked several degrees? She drew a slow, deep breath and smiled. “I have to admit, though, that I’m pleasantly surprised and overwhelmed at His recent provision.” Leaning forward, she tangled her fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck and pressed her lips against his. Her courageous action would’ve startled her, if his swift reaction to her kiss didn’t exhilarate her.
His hands cupped her face on either side, his thumbs stroking her cheeks as he deepened the kiss. “I gather I can fetch Parson Jacobs.”
Adeline jumped at Jonah’s aunt’s sudden voice. Pressing her hand against his chest, she twisted to face the woman. Sunburn would be more bearable than the heat raging in her cheeks.
Ethan and Lily’s heads appeared around the doorway.
“I reckon you can, Aunt Gene,” Jonah said, his voice husky as he caught Adeline’s hand in his. Resting her head against his shoulder, the fragrance of pine and leather toyed with her nostrils.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow:
&n
bsp; Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Once again, He’d provided.
“I love you, Adeline Spencer.” Jonah whispered against her hair.
Thank you
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