Page 59 of High Noon

Titus pinched his lips together, his expression turning to stone as he followed Maru. Enoch immediately apologized, wetting his finger with his tongue and wiping my blood off his lips.

“You have nothing to apologize for,” I offered. “I’m the one who should apologize. I put you in a dangerous position and shouldn’t have.”

He swallowed thickly, his eyes flicking to my throat. “Will you excuse me for a few minutes?” he requested awkwardly.

I nodded, listening in anguish as he jogged down the stairs and strode across the saloon floor, the swinging doors waving in his wake on rusty hinges. I waited one beat, then two, before hearing the muffled scream of a man from one of the wagons farthest away as Enoch gulped his blood until he was full. Slowly, he retraced his steps until he returned to my room’s door, knocking tentatively.

Warring emotions whirled throughout my midsection, but in the end I called out, “Come in.”

He opened the door and stood in the doorway with downcast eyes, unable to meet my own. “I had to.”

“I know,” I replied, picking at the blankets as an awkward moment passed between us. “Did you kill him?”

“No,” he answered quickly.

“Turn him?”

Enoch stood next to the door, still not daring to move further into the room. “No.”

“Are you full?”

He gave a slow nod. “Yes.”

I took a moment to gather my thoughts, turning my attention to the window where I saw the sun had begun to set. Bright sunlight spilled across the floor, separating the two of us like a fiery line in the sand. Indecision flickered for the briefest of moments before I made my next move. If he’s full, maybe he’ll have more control, I chided myself. “Come here.”

“I don’t want to, unless you agree to allow me to just lay with you. You aren’t well, and as much as I know you’d prefer to deny it, we both know it’s true.”

I did want to deny it, but the truth of the matter was that I didn’t feel unwell at the moment. Yet another wave of pain had built, crashed over me, and been drawn back into the depths. “Then lay with me.” Though I felt fine, I was tired.

Enoch eased himself onto my bed, taking care not to jostle me, and we rested together in companionable silence. I snuggled into the crook of his shoulder as his fingers drifted over my side, toying with my hair until the rhythmic cadence of his breathing lulled me to sleep. I hadn’t planned to fall asleep, let alone sleep all night, but that’s what I did. I woke in the morning when Enoch slid out from beneath me and walked to the door. “What is it?”

I strained my ears to see if I could discern the noise that made Enoch rise from the bed, becoming aware of Titus and Maru talking quietly downstairs as they ate breakfast. I mentally chastised myself for falling asleep and not listening to make sure they were safe. Beyond that, I was irritated that I’d wasted the time I was supposed to spend with Enoch.

“Riders are approaching. Stay here until I let you know it’s safe,” he answered.

Instead, I bounced out of bed and followed him from the room. He threw an irritated look in my direction. “Hey, don’t blame me if you can’t wrap your mind around the fact that I’m no wilting damsel in distress,” I challenged.

Softening his features, he asked, “Are you feeling well this morning?”

“I feel great.” Honestly, I did. Maybe an uninterrupted stretch of restorative sleep was all I needed.

He smiled. “You’re right. You are certainly no damsel in distress.” He clasped my hand and together, we descended the stairs. Titus quirked a brow at the sight of us.

Maru stood at one window while Asa stepped out onto the porch of the saloon, waiting to see who was approaching. “They’re Lakota,” he called out. “And they’re dressed for a fight.”

The few humans setting up stands to sell their goods scattered like cockroaches when they saw who was causing the fast-approaching dust cloud.

I had to admit, the Lakota riders looked fierce. Their faces and torsos were painted with streaks of white and red paint on their brow, nose, and chin. Some wore leather and cascading feathers braided throughout their long, ebony hair. The silky ropes of hair and brilliant bronze of their skin flashed beautifully in the sun. While I didn’t understand their words, the tone of their shouts and yells conveyed anger and hostility.

Enoch and I pushed through the double swinging doors to meet them.

I was surprised to see Kohana leading the group of eight, hostile men, with Hotah at his right hand.

“Kohana,” Enoch began in a friendly tone. Then he began speaking to them in their native tongue.

I wasn’t sure what was being said, but gained strength by the supportive stance of Maru, who came to stand beside me, and Titus, who flanked him.

“What’s going on?” Titus whispered.

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