Page 49 of Sheltered by the Lawman

“Yes, I am. What about you, Cull? Don’t you think of your future? I know you have plans for a ranch, but who will you share the land with? Will it mean as much if you don’t have a legacy?”

He scratched his temple with his thumbnail. “I guess I haven’t thought much about family, at least not until recently.”

“Maybe you’re just waiting for the right somebody to come along.” Her throat constricted.

Several expressions flickered over his face before he said, “Yeah, maybe so.”

“Do you think I was married before?” Her eyes were pulled toward her fourth finger on her left hand. She had a hard time imagining wearing a diamond, and yet she kept getting images of a ring.

“Yes, I can imagine that it’s possible, but at least you aren’t now.” He winked.

“Really? And how do you know that?”

He blinked. “I’m guessing a husband would be looking for you.”

She nodded. “There’s not a husband. A woman’s instinct would tell her if her heart belonged to someone.” Should she tell him that she’d been envisioning a man? A stranger? When this stranger monopolized her thoughts, she didn’t feel any love or kindness. Until she was certain where he fit into her life she didn’t need to say anything.

He turned and leaned his back against the rail. His eyes were pensive, and his mouth was curved into a lopsided grin making him look much younger. “I guess you’re right.” He hooked his thumbs in his front pockets.

“I think there comes a point we all think of who we’ll be when we’re older. Who will be beside us. Neither one us are getting any younger. How old are you?”

He swiped the backs of his knuckles down his whiskered jaw and the scraping sound vibrated her inner thighs. She swallowed hard, wondering what that jaw would feel like on her sensitive skin. “Young enough to live on the edge and old enough to know better.”

She laughed. “Good answer.”

“He pushed the brim of his hat up on his forehead. “The ranch is doing you good. You have color to your cheeks and your eyes are bright.”

She held the top tail and leaned back. “There’s just something about fresh air and good-looking cowboys.” His gaze reached in and tickled her senses.

“There’s just something about those shorts and boots.” He swept his gaze down her and back up, grinning widely. “I think you’re a country girl at heart. Give this some time and you’re going to be on the back of Mr. Big here riding him like the wind.”

“Uh…no, of course not.” She felt her cheeks flame. “I’ve never ridden.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yeah, pretty sure.” She sighed. “You must think I’m pretty ridiculous. I mean, shouldn’t I be more concerned about my memory loss?”

“Don’t do that,” he said softly. She lifted her gaze, feeling her heart skip several beats. “You’re not ridiculous.” She jerked when he reached over and slid the tip of one finger along her cheek, sending a ripple of electrical current through her bloodstream.

“You always make me feel…” What? “Like I’m okay.”

He shifted to stand in front of her. “You are okay. I’ll make sure of that. We all lose our way at times and that’s where you’re at. You’ve lost your path, but sometimes that’s what a person needs to see life. They need a wake-up call to get back on the right journey. I know you have your own life out there, but right here, in this moment, you belong here. With the Cades. With me.”

There was a safety in his words that washed over her like a baptism. Without thinking, only feeling, she took the short step that brought her close and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He lifted his arms around her waist and nuzzled his nose in her hair. She laid her cheek on his shoulders as he tangled one hand through her hair, kissing her on top of the head. “How did I ever get so lucky to be here. To have you save me? Anyone could have happened.”

He kissed her temple, her cheek, her forehead and she understood he was only comforting her, but something triggered deep inside her. If she learned nothing of this situation it was that life was too short to not live fully. To not follow one’s heart. She wanted Cull...no, needed him. If she awoke tomorrow with all her memories back, she wanted to know what it was like to lie naked in the arms of the cowboy standing before her.

“I could have died in that fire,” she whispered. “I’m so glad that you were there to help me. I haven’t been alone because of you.”

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