Page 89 of Unwilling Wolf

“We need to go,” Burke said low. “The Jenningses are headed to the woods.”

Eliza stormed off toward the wagon. “Maybe they should bite me.”

“You don’t mean that,” Garret gritted out from right behind her.

She didn’t bother to respond. What good would it do? She was the villain either way.

The boys hitched up the mules, and lit lanterns that hung from the front to guide their way in the dark, and she and Lenny settled in the shadowy back of the wagon.

“You can sit up here, Eliza,” Burke offered.

“I would rather go swimming in an outhouse.”

Lenny scooted closer and bumped her shoulder against Eliza’s. After a minute of bumping down the dark road, Eliza softened and leaned her head on Lenny’s shoulder for comfort.

She was angry, hurt, scared, and above all other emotions, embarrassed. Hearing Wyatt call out their sham of a marriage in front of the town in such a manner was mortifying. He’d announced that she wasn’t attractive to Garret, and that part wouldn’t have hurt so much if it didn’t feel so true.

He hadn’t claimed her, or whatever it was werewolves called it. He hadn’t taken her to bed, though they had been married for weeks.

And to make matters even worse, Garret had thought it necessary to yell at her as they left the barn? No, no, nope, absolutely not.

The three-hour ride home seemed to stretch on for eternity. It didn’t help that a wary silence had descended over all of them as they watched the woods. She began to grow afraid of the Jenningses jumping out at them, especially after last night and the war. They all still bore injuries.

What a mess the last couple of days had turned out to be. And the worst part? He’d given her a good day, and then ruined it at the end. As long as she lived, she would remember the barn-raising, but not the fun of it. She would remember him leading Anna to the dance floor, and the way Wyatt had smiled when he’d announced Garret didn’t want to bed her.

Mortification heated her cheeks, and she clasped her hands in her lap.

The wagon seat creaked whenever Garret looked back at her, but she made sure to keep her head carefully turned away, lest he get the idea to talk to her about the night’s horrid ending in mixed company.

Halfway through the everlasting ride to the Lazy S, Lenny put her arm around Eliza’s shoulders in sympathy, for which she was grateful. Though the person she needed comfort from was so obviously unavailable, at least Lenny’s presence shielded her from dealing with everything alone.

By the time the team reached the entrance to the Lazy S, her blood churned with the slow and steady hum of repressed anger. She slid off the back of the wagon, and Garret pulled the mules to a sudden stop.

“What in the hell do you think you are doing? We have a mile yet before we reach the house!”

She straightened her dress. “I’m going to walk from here. I know my way.”

“Don’t be stubborn. Just get in the wagon.”

“Garret, I don’t ask for much. I don’t! But I’m telling you right now, I need to be alone.”

Lenny hopped out of the wagon and said something in her language to Garret in an angry tone.

He sighed in exasperation. “It ain’t safe out here right now. The Jenningses have been following us the entire way. I really wish you weren’t pushin’ this.”

“Well, Mr. Shaw,” Eliza drawled. “You can shit in one hand and wish in the other, and see which one fills up faster.”

Burke barked a laugh, and then coughed to cover it up.

Garret glared at her in the moonlight. “Let me walk you, at least. I can keep you safe.”

“I can’t think of anything that sounds more miserable right now. No thanks.”

He clenched his jaw, and his eyes blazed a bright and glowing blue. “Suit yourself. Don’t come screamin’ to me when you get attacked by a fuckin’ werewolf, though.” Garret slapped the reins against the mules’ backs, and the wagon disappeared into the darkness.

Unable to see more than fifteen feet in any direction, she glanced around. Perhaps this had not been such a good idea.

Lenny nudged her arm. “He doesn’t know what to do with his feelings about you.”

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