She looked up at him. Could he forgive her? Could they truly start over? She tightened her grip on his pocket, and he kept her hand covered, protecting it from the chilling air. The scent of leather enveloped her in this warm cocoon that even the bitter wind couldn’t pierce. If she didn’t know better, she’d say that he wanted to reconcile as much as she did.
When he’d first arrived, he was the most handsome man she’d ever seen, but his looks were nothing compared to the earnest character he possessed—a character that would never be satisfied until the ghosts of the past had been laid to rest. But Betsy could only solve one significant problem at a time.
“There’s something you can do for me,” Joel said. “Something that will make this all better.”
She wanted to hear it more than anything in the world, but hearing it would change everything. “What?”
His throat bounced as he swallowed. He tested his grip on her waist and shifted his weight. A little clearing of his throat, and then he was finally ready to make his request.
“Keep an eye on Fred and Sissy. They’ve got a tough row to hoe.”
Betsy blinked. She pulled her hand free from his and shoved him to get away. “Take care of Fred and Sissy? That’s all I can do to make you happy? That’s all you can think of?”
Honestly, would the man ever come up with a hero-worthy statement?
His mouth curled into a smile and his eyes crinkled with amusement. “If you’re willing to do more . . .”
“I’m not willing. I’m not.” She stalked deeper into the woods, Joel hot on her heels. “Of course I’ll take care of them. What do you think I was doing today?” She spun around to wave a dramatic arm in his face. “Scott is my cousin. I raised him, for crying aloud. But when you started talking about that woman in Texas and how . . . well, don’t you worry about the Murphys. I’ll take care of the Murphys.”
Joel caught her by the wrist, which was swinging at a fair height. He pulled her into his arms, and with the kindest eyes that’d ever pierced her heart, asked, “But who’s going to take care of me?”
Words were rolling around in her head too fast for her to make sense of Joel’s question. She still had a bushelful of insults to rain down on him for leading her along, and here he was trying to make love to her again. “If you’re fixing to tie me to this tree, then just do it,” she said. “You’re big enough to push me around. You don’t need my cooperation.”
“You said you’d do anything, and it seems you’re insulted that I didn’t ask enough. Well, I won’t make that mistake twice.” Still holding her wrist, he dropped to one knee. His smile disappeared and he looked as if he were watching for signs of a quick draw. “Betsy Huckabee, there’ll be some who question my integrity, ’specially after I just spilled my guts to every man in town, but if you’re willing to weather the scandal at my side, then I’d be honored if you’d be my wife.”
She could feel her face growing warmer by the heartbeat. “Are you insane? You have a house full of detectives behind you. You best get up.”
“No.” He brought her hand to his mouth and planted a long, lingering kiss on the back of it. Awareness raced up her arm and did funny things to her belly. “No. I have to go back in that house and deal with something I can’t bear to do alone. Only knowing that you’ll be waiting to see me again, waiting to be mine, will carry me through this. I’m not getting up until I have your answer.”
Married to him? Her? Married? To this dashing, handsome Texas deputy? They would live together. Eat together. Have . . . all the other stuff married people had. For being a mature woman, she hadn’t spent much time percolating over all that would entail. All she knew was that she couldn’t give him up.
“I’ll do it,” she said at last. “For Scott. And partially to save your life, if you really think you’d be unable to survive without me.”
One eyebrow raised. “You are a true civil servant, my lady.” He rose to his feet. “As long as we’re both in agreement that your affections are not involved in the least.”
Again he was standing toe-to-toe with her. Again he was making her pulse race just below his warm touch. “What do affections have to do with it?” she squeaked.
“Maybe nothing for you, but I’m afraid I’m besotted. So whatever excuse you need to tell yourself doesn’t matter to me, because you will love me. Just give me a little time, and you won’t be able to help yourself.”
Like she couldn’t help the way the gravity of his nearness was tugging her closer? As if reading her mind, he wrapped her in his arms and pulled her against him. “My wife.” His mouth hovered just above hers. “I never heard anything sound so sweet.”
And sweet was plentiful at that moment.
He kissed her once, a solid, hearty kiss that strengthened her for what lay ahead. Her fears were real, but so was the hope that together they’d find Taney’s attacker and clear Scott’s name.
Chapter 41