Page 67 of The Outlaw and the Heir

"Then what?"

Her attention drifted back to the men working, her gaze no longer attentive but distant. I knew she had retreated into her thoughts and let her be, knowing how irritating it was to have someone interrupt when you were trying to think. Ironically, something she had been doing the whole time we'd been walking, but that wasn't necessarily her fault. After all, she was clearly lonely from constantly being in the house, and I wondered if there might be a way to arrange for her to get out more without having to worry about her.

My eyes fell on Samuel, and despite still finding him distracting with his shirt off, skin shining in the sun, a thought occurred to me. "You know...there is a way you could get out more without needing to wait till no one's watching."

That got her attention, and her head swiveled to me. "Oh? And just what idea popped into that head of yours?"

"Well," I began, now uncomfortable because I knew she wouldn't be totally happy with the idea. "I'm not gonna lie to ya. I don't like the idea of you roaming around on your own."

She sighed. “Of course you don't."

"Look, these men behave themselves because they know who you are, but all it takes is one of 'em to not care about that at the wrong time. Then where would ya be?"

"Please," she scoffed. "The men know exactly what would happen if someone were that stupid. Hell, half the men here would have their hides, and that's not counting what Daddy would do...and especially you."

There was a weird pride in the idea that she thought I was willing to be dangerous on her behalf. On the other hand, I felt asad swoop in my gut that someone was missing in her lineup of people who would avenge her. Not that I was surprised or even felt the urge to argue. We both knew where he stood. It wasn't as if he pretended to have a sibling bond with either of us.

"That still wouldn't fix what was done to you, especially if you're dead," I said with a sigh, my eyes drifting to Samuel. "The dead might find peace, but the livin' sure won't."

After a moment, she sighed. “I'm willing to hear you out."

"It's kinda simple. All I gotta do is make sure you have someone with you when you're out of the house."

"Of course, you think I need a babysitter."

"Be mad if ya want, but any of these men could overpower you in a heartbeat if they wanted. But if you've got someone with ya?—"

"A man."

"Yes, a man. Then they might think twice."

Her expression told me exactly what I’d expected: she wasn't happy about the idea. I let her be angry because clearly, she wanted a freedom she knew she'd never truly get while she was here. Yet, like me, her life was tied to this place, and leaving wasn't an option. All I could do was let her sort through what was going on in her head and come up with her own solution.

"Fine," she said, the word sounding painful. "But it best not be you. As a matter of fact, I want a choice in who it is."

That didn't surprise me. “Alright, who?"

She glanced at me, her eyes narrowing. “You were ready for that, weren't you?"

"Might be."

"That means you trust that I'll pick right, or you know who it is, and that's who you'd pick."

"More like I have an idea who it might be, and I'm okay with it. Samuel."

"Done. Only ifheagrees."

Thatpart took me by surprise. “What?"

She looked at me in disbelief. “Look,youmight be okay bossing people around, especially him considering where he came from."

"That isnottrue," I snapped and then blinked when I realized...that was true. Although I’d sent him away earlier, it wasn't because I was giving him an order as I might have a month ago. Instead, I just needed him to leave me in peace and stop being so distracting. There had been an element of authority, but all it took was a glance back at the memory to realize it had not been the authority of a jailer to their prisoner but closer to someone ordering their worker to do something.

When hadthatshift happened, and why hadn't I noticed?

"Fine, but he should still get a say in the matter," she said, turning her head away with a derisive snort.

It was hard to argue that the man shouldn't have a choice when I had just argued that I didn't see him as someone to be ordered around just because he was technically a prisoner. There was only one answer, and it was done with a grunt. “Alright...Samuel!"

---