Page 93 of Conveniently Wed
In the swirling haze between asleep and consciousness, he’d remembered the wedding vows he’d spoken to Fran days before. He’d promised to honor her and comfort her.
And to love her.
He wasn’t a man to break a promise.
The shock of the realization—what he’d promised all those days before—held him immobile, leaning back against the large, flat rock he’d found in the night.
He hadn’t meant to fall asleep, not with the threat of Underhill’s men hanging around.
Now, trying to shake the sleep from his noggin, his promise from their quick wedding service stuck in his mind, stuck in his craw.
He’d said he would love her.
And he did.
He loved her.
No matter that she might be a fugitive from the law or might’ve omitted something important the whole time he’d known her. None of that kept his emotions in check.
None of it kept his heart safe.
He already loved her.
She’d challenged him to be more than his past.
And he’d pushed her away.
From the start, she’d done more than he’d asked of her, even when what he was asking—like driving a team all day—was difficult for her.
She’d done everything she could to protect her sister.
And wouldn’t he have done the same? He’d pitched that snake out into the night to keep it from even having a chance to bite Seb.
Would she be able to forgive him for not listening to her the night before, when she’d come to him?
He would imagine so.
Because unlike him, when bad things happened to her, like her parents’ death or her brother’s abandonment, she hadn’t shut down. Somehow she’d kept her heart open for a big lug like him.
He was astounded by what she’d given him, even if she hadn’t said the words.
He had to go to her.
He pushed himself off the ground, heading for his horse a few feet away. He’d left the animal saddled in case there was trouble in the night.
He was a little surprised that things had been quiet. He’d half-expected Underhill to attempt something—either against the cattle or with the girls.
And then he registered the silence.
It was almost eerie in its totality.
No cowboys whistling. Not even a cricket chirping or a whippoorwill calling. The cattle were still, as if they were poised on the edge of?—
Shots fired broke the early morning stillness and startled him.
His horse nickered and bobbed its head, but didn’t bolt.
Unlike the cattle.
