Page 104 of Conveniently Wed
Where was Ricky? Matty? He didn’t want any of his men getting shot.
They were on the periphery, apparently thinking the same thing he was.
“Edgar, please.” Fran twisted beneath him, maybe trying to see. “I can’t breathe!”
He could see the federal marshal attempting to get Underhill’s gun away from him.
And as they both scrabbled for the weapon, a lone rider trotted up to the group. Fran’s brother. Had he been behind them this whole time, and just now arrived?
With the sorry excuse for a horse he had, Edgar wouldn’t be too surprised.
Problem was, he didn’t have great control over his animal and the horse aimed for the scuffling men.
The horse walked right into the two of them and the gun went off.
Beneath him, Fran jumped.
“It’s all right,” he murmured into her hair. Even though he didn’t know if it was or wasn’t.
Had Daniel been hit?
Ricky and the other cowboys were just about done sorting it out. Two of Underhill’s men lay groaning on the ground.
Ricky reached up for the horse’s reins, and Daniel tumbled off. He rose to his feet, dusting himself off. Not hurt.
One less thing for Edgar to have to apologize for.
When Ricky moved the horse, the federal marshal was on his knees, and Underhill was flat on his back on the ground, a red stain blooming on his chest.
Ricky looked back at him, still holding the horse, and shook his head.
Underhill was gone.
Edgar pushed up off the ground, careful of Fran and her injuries. He had to clamp down on his back teeth as, helping her to her feet, he again spotted the red stain on the back of her dress. He tried not to let her see the violent scene behind wherethey stood, but she was too quick for him and edged around to see Underhill.
She gasped and looked away, squeezing her eyes closed.
Some protector he’d been.
He smoothed her tumbledown hair away from her shoulders. Underhill’s strike had hit Fran completely across her middle back and up across her shoulders.
“Oh, darlin’,” he crooned.
Her shoulders bowed, and a fine tremor went through her. Relief? Fear? He couldn’t imagine the mess of emotions she must have been facing at that moment.
She looked up at him, then quickly away. “What about you? You’re hurt, aren’t you?”
“I’m a rangy cowboy who can survive a snakebite. What do you think?” he tried to tease, but she trembled again.
“Fran….” He touched her elbow, lightly, conscious of how she must be hurting. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her. She looked up at him, but the words stuck in his throat. How could he ever apologize enough for not believing her, not trusting her when she’d needed him?
Her eyes clung to his face but then darted away. She went perfectly still.
“Daniel?” she asked, quiet and disbelieving. Then she cried out, “Daniel!”
Her brother pushed past Edgar and took her in his arms. “Frannie!”
“Ow!” Her exclamation was muffled by her brother’s shoulder.
