Page 83 of The Outlaw and the Heir

"I ask because you're my sister, and I care about you," I said, and as she continued to stare at me, I winced. "This is where Samuel would laugh and say, at least I was trying."

At that, her annoyance flickered and faded. “I'm glad you stood up for him. He did everything he could to make sure both of us got back and...I don't know if he'll remember doing it or even own up to it, but I saw?—"

"Saw what?"

"When he heard the man who shot at us yell, he put himself between me and him. Maybe he didn't know what was coming, but he had to know it wasn't going to be good, and he still put himself there. He wasn't just saving his own skin like Joseph made it sound. He was saving mine too."

Something caught in my throat that I couldn't swallow, and I nodded. Once, I would have been surprised that he was capable of such a selfless and virtuous act. Now though, I had spent too much time around the man to believe he was the inhuman pain in the ass I’d thought in the beginning. He was still a pain in the ass, and I was going to remind him of that when he woke upand could get around safely, but I wasn't the least surprised he’d done what he could to save Elizabeth.

"Look," she began, reaching out to lay a hand on my arm and squeeze it. "He's...he's a good man."

"I know that."

"I know you do, but I'm telling you that you're not the only one who knows. The men here trust him too. Maybe you could remind him of that when he wakes up and can think straight. And maybe it would be good if he stuck around here for longer than whatever sentence you're giving him. He's also...well, he's good for you, okay? I'm happy."

"Huh?"

She looked over my features for a moment and then shook her head with a chuckle. “Sometimes it's frustrating that you seem to believe everyone is as dense as you. But then again, he thinks he's too clever to be figured out easily. But I would bet I'm not the only one who sees it. Who knows."

My stomach twisted. “Knowswhat?"

"About a certain young drifter who came into Rapture all those years ago and caught your attention in a way no one else had before," she said with a small smile, her voice gentle. "Or about the way you and a certain rapscallion have a difficult time keeping your attention off one another. Even when you're supposedly busy and think no one's watching. You'd be surprised."

"I..." the twisting in my gut froze, and I could only stare at her in shock and horror. "Lizzie."

She stood on the tips of her toes and kissed my cheek. “Stop being what you think others want you to be, Ambrose. Be who you are because, just in case you really arethatdense, there are plenty of people around here who like the person you are. And if you ask me, Samuel is one of those people. Just as importantly, he makes you happy,so be happy."

Elizabeth gave my arm another squeeze before turning and walking away, her stride no longer purposeful or heavy. I turned to find the door to the office still open and my father standing in the doorway, watching us with an impassive expression. His eyes met mine, and for a moment, I thought he was going to say something. Instead, he just tilted his head before turning and walking back into the office, closing the door behind him.

I had no idea what had just happened, or when my sister had figured me out, or rather, Samuel and me out, but now I had to deal with other parts of my life getting turned upside down, not just Samuel being seriously hurt. Me realizing there was a lot more to my feelings than I'd originally thought.

But there were other things I had to contend with before I could deal with any of that, and I quickly shook my head, cleared my thoughts, and made my way outside. The sooner I finished what was necessary, the sooner I could get back to Samuel and keep an eye on him.

SAMUEL

I gave a low growl and swatted at the idiot steadying me. “Quit! I'm injured, not an invalid!"

Ambrose sighed so world-weary you would have thought his not-so-inner grumpy old man had finally found a way to break free. “Would you quit fussin' about everythin' I do? I'm just tryin' to help you so you don't fall and open your wound."

It had been almost a week since that dirty bastard had shot me in the back, so it was still possible the wound could reopen. Of course, that was easier said than done since Elizabeth had decided to dig around before shoving a hot damned poker into my back. I kept telling everyone I didn't remember, but it was a damned lie. I remembered every agonizing moment as it felt like I was being burned from the inside in the worst pain I could recall. The lie seemed to comfort Ambrose and Elizabeth, though, so I didn't feel bad about it.

"Fine, but you don't have to baby me," I grumbled, pushing his arm away and leaning on the fence. "See? I'm fine. I can stand of my own accord."

"Honestly," he said with a sigh. "You act like I'm tryin' to carry you everywhere like a baby."

"And if I let you, you would."

"Would not."

I knew he absolutely would, just like I knew he was a horrible liar. I had no reason to assume it to begin with, but learning that the big, grumpy, irritable man was actually a giant worrywart who fretted over people when they were hurt did not come as a surprise. It was in the way he was careful about his men and their safety. It was in the way he was always making changes to ensure they were fed, housed, and taken care of, and hell, even the way he showed the same compassion and care to the animals and Bear.

It was, of course, endearing that he’d chosen to put the same attention on me. Well, endearing in a very annoying way. As much as it was nice to have someone worrying about me, I didn't want to be treated like I was incapable. While it had been nice to wake up in his cabin and realize he’d been keeping diligent watch over me while I recovered and made sure to clean me and feed me when I was awake, that was then.

"I don't need help getting around after a meal," I told him with a scowl.

Annoyance flickered over his handsome features, but I sensed something more sensitive as well. "I'm not saying you can't. But you need to take it easy when you can."

"It's a hole in my back, not a broken leg," I reminded him, albeit more gently than my previous complaining. "You don't need to try to catch me just because I stumbled over a rock."

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