Page 21 of The Sheriff and the Outlaw

He studied her for a long moment and then let out a deep breath. “Scoot over.”

She did as he asked. Daxton took off his shoes and then laid down beside her, fully dressed, on top of the blanket. Then he reached out for her. Josey knew that she shouldn’t, but she curled up beside him in the crook of his strong arm, finally feeling safe and secure.

Daxton leaned his head against hers. “Now, get some sleep.”

She nodded against his chest. And for the first time in a very long time, she fell into a restful sleep, feeling safe in Daxton’s arms. Josey just hoped that she wasn’t making a mistake.

Chapter 6

Daxton

Daxton listened to the sound of her breathing beside him. When it became labored, he knew she was asleep. When she had asked him not to leave, his heart went out to her. He sighed. It bewildered him how a man could treat a woman like that. If he had a woman like her, he would cherish her and treat her with the respect she deserved. But he forced the thought from his mind. Even though she was married to a fiend, she was still married, nonetheless.

At that moment, he vowed to help her to get everything sorted out before her husband came for her… if he came for her. Who knows? Her husband may have just let her go, but Daxton seriously doubted that.Men like that were usually possessive.

As the night wore on, he concentrated on listening to her breathing, pushing all other thoughts from his mind. He would help her sort things out when she was feeling better and not so easily upset.

As he lay beside her, Daxton enjoyed the feel of this woman in his arms a bit too much. It had been a while since he had held a woman, protected a woman. But he willed himself not to think of it. After all, she would probably leave when she had the chance, just like Priscilla. But deep down, he knew he couldn’t compare her to his ex-wife. This woman just needed comfort andsafety. He couldn’t allow his old demons to come back. No, this woman needed his help and protection, but nothing more.

He listened to the wind howl through the window. Daxton was about to get up and close it, but he didn’t want to disturb her. This was the first restful sleep she had had since he found her. Once she had a good sleep, she would be able to think clearly. Maybe he could help her to find a job and a place to stay in Whiskey River? Maybe he could help her to start over?

Even though she had only been there for a few days, he didn’t want to think of her leaving already. And if she stayed at the hotel, who was to say that her husband wouldn’t catch up to her and do God knows what to her? But deep down, he knew that Harrison Curry, the hotel and restaurant owner, wouldn’t allow it.

Daxton chuckled to himself. Why, he had seen Harrison physically throw a man out of his establishment for less than that. But somehow, Daxton wanted to be the one to protect her.

Then there were his children. Daxton had to think of them first. He couldn’t allow any harm to come to Lillian and Andrew at the hands of a madman. If her husband came for Josey at his house and his children were home… well… he didn’t even want to think about it. If anyone ever hurt his children, he would kill them first and ask questions later. No, it was good that the children were away for a few days… for their own safety.

Although Josey’s fever was gone, she felt warm in his arms, the weight of her head on his shoulder comforting. He hadn’t realized that he had missed this, holding a woman in his arms while she slept. But he quickly pushed the thought aside, knowing that he couldn’t let himself start to have feelings for this woman, but he couldn’t fight the attraction. After all, she was blonde and beautiful, with curves in all the right places. But he couldn’t allow himself to think of her like that. What this woman needed now was protection… and she was married.

A yawn escaped his lips as he listened to the even sound of her breathing. He would think of what to do in the morning. But right now, he couldn’t fight the sleep threatening to pull him under. Since he found her, Daxton had been sleeping on the chair. He relaxed onto the feather bed, letting himself enjoy the feel of this woman in his arms as he finally drifted off to sleep, listening to the sound of the wind.

The next morning, he woke to the sound of pots and pans clanking in the kitchen as memories of the night before flooded his mind. His eyes flew open, waking with a start. Josey! Where was she? Had her husband come for her?

When Daxton rushed out of the bedroom and into the kitchen, Josey was lifting a slice of bacon out of one of his cast iron skillets, still wearing the same men’s clothes she had on when he had found her. He looked over at the table and it was set, along with a plate piled high with biscuits and a bowl of eggs. The scent of fresh coffee and bacon wafted toward him.

“Oh! There you are,” she announced matter-of-factly. “I was about to wake you.” She set the plate of bacon down and then sat at the table. “Come here and have some breakfast.”

When he looked around, the kitchen was clean. “What are you doing?” As sick as she was, he couldn’t believe that she had made such a recovery in so little time.

She shrugged. “I wanted to pay you back, so I made breakfast and cleaned up a bit.” Josey smiled, her eyes kind. “I hope you don’t mind.”

Reluctantly, he poured them both cups of coffee, set one by her plate, and then sat at the head of the table where she had set a place for him. “So, how are you feeling?”

She nodded. “Better, but I still feel tired.” She took a few pieces of bacon and set it on her plate, then passed the bacon to him.

Daxton smiled. “Let’s say grace first.”

“Oh… yes… of course.” She set the plate down, a delicate flush coloring her cheeks as she folded her hands on the edge of the table, and bowed her head, waiting.

Unable to believe what was happening, Daxton said a beautiful blessing over the meal, thanking God for the good food and good company. When he finished, he reached for the bacon. “This looks delicious, but you made enough for an army.”

Josey’s eyebrows pulled together in concern. “I thought that the children might be here.”

Daxton shook his head as he buttered a biscuit. “No, they’re away for a few days. But they’ll be back tomorrow.”

She nodded, understanding. “I don’t blame you. I would want to protect my children too.”

Daxton smiled, surprised by how insightful she was. “They’re always my first concern.”

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