Page 18 of The Sheriff and the Outlaw

Faint rays of golden sunshine streamed through the window the next morning. For a moment, Josey looked around, having no idea where she was. Panicked, she looked over and a man was asleep in the chair, covered with a blanket. And then she remembered. His name was Daxton.

Josey sighed as she leaned back against the pillows, listening to the birds chirp outside. She was still weak but felt much better than she had the night before. It seemed that her fever had diminished, but she was still weak. Trying to be as quiet as she could, she sat up on the edge of the bed. Her head spun, but she picked up the half glass of lemonade and drank it. It went down much smoother this time.

Her head began to spin again, so she laid back onto the pillows and snuggled into the down featherbed.

“Feeling better?” Josey looked over and Daxton was stretching. “Good morning.”

She tilted her head to the side. “Good morning.”

Daxton rose from the chair and folded the blanket. Then he laid it on the top shelf of a small armoire sitting in the corner of the room. “I’ll make us some breakfast.”

“I can help.” Josey tried to get up, but she was still weak. Then, her head began to spin, and she rushed over to the basin on a small round table and unloaded the contents of her stomach. When she was finished, she gripped the edge of the table.

Suddenly, a wet washrag appeared before her eyes.

“I’m so sorry.” She took the rag and wiped her mouth. Then she splashed her face with water from the pitcher and rinsed out her mouth. Josey picked up the basin and was about to dump it outside, but Daxton’s strong arms stopped her.

“Leave it. I’ll take care of it.”

“I can’t let you clean up after me—”

“You can and you will.” Daxton led her back to the bed. She sighed and climbed back in under the blankets, defeated. It was warmer this morning, so she pushed off one of the blankets. “Here. I’ll take it.” He folded the blanket and laid it over the edge of the bed.

“I feel so bad… you waiting on me hand and foot like this.” But Josey couldn’t deny that she needed more rest. Although she had just vomited, she was hungry again. “I’m so sorry.”

Daxton tucked the blanket in around her. “Don’t worry. You’ll feel better soon. You’re just exhausted and need to rest.”

She nodded, giving him a slight smile.

“Now….” Daxton walked over to the window and opened it wide. “Get some rest and I’ll fix us some breakfast.” He stopped at the door. “I’ll bring a plate in when it’s ready.”

Josey shook her head. “No, I can come out to the table.”

“I’ll bring it in.” A small smile lit his lips. “Just relax and I’ll be in to check on you in a bit.”

Unable to argue, she nodded. “Thank you.”

Daxton smiled. “Don’t worry. Just rest.” Then he walked out and pulled the door, but left it open a bit, letting the warm summer breeze blow through.

As she waited, she listened to Daxton clanking the pots and pans in the kitchen and the birds chirping outside the window. She was lucky that it was summer. Had it been winter, she surely would have frozen to death before Daxton had found her.

Daxton.

She was lucky that he found her and not a man like Logan. Or worse yet, a man like Austin. Josey willed herself not to think about it. She needed to build up her strength so she could move on. There was no way that she was going to stay here long and endanger this nice man. He didn’t need to get mixed up in the mess that had become her life. He had done enough.

Josey was nearly asleep when the door opened, and Daxton walked in carrying a plate of food.

“Here you go.” He set the plate on the table. “Ready to eat?”

She nodded. “It smells good.” She reached down and tried to sit up, but Daxton pushed her back down onto the pillows.

“Just relax.” Concern filled his eyes as he walked back to the table to retrieve the plate, and then sat on the edge of the bed beside her again. “The only thing you need to do for the next few days is rest.”

Josey shook her head. “No, I can’t do that to you—”

“Do what?” Daxton shrugged. “Be sick? After what you’ve probably been through, you’re lucky to be alive.”

She nodded and reached for the fork, but he was quicker. Daxton cut the pancake for her and held a piece up to her lips. She took a bite and chewed.

---