Page 43 of A Secret Heart
“No.” His instant response warmed her. Until he added, “I wondered whether Vess had tried to make you see sense. After you wrote him about the bandit and the ranchers.”
She glanced across the street, knowing it would mean he couldn’t see her face directly.
Ed slowed and tugged her to where she faced him. His eyes searched her face. “You didn’t tell them about the bandit. About what’s been going on around here. And now you’re putting yourself in danger.”
It wasn’t a question, so she simply hiked her chin and held his stare.
He didn’t like it. She could see his thoughts in his expressive eyes, the tic at one side of his mouth. But he gathered her arm in his again and started walking.
The end of the boardwalk loomed ahead, but Ed made no sign of stopping. This time, a silence fell between them.
She hadn’t meant to hurt his feelings. She cleared her throat. “I appreciate your protective manner.”
“You do?” Now he was looking at her directly, and she couldn’t make out the emotion passing through his eyes.
Her breath froze in her chest. Everything was unsettled between them.
“Has Isaac—” She broke off the question as she registered the minute tightening of Ed’s eyes.
His lips settled in a determined line. He nodded, almost to himself. “We should talk about Isaac. He’s not—I’m the one?—”
A shot echoed from somewhere nearby. Dirt kicked up in front of the boardwalk, only feet from her shoes.
* * *
Realization crashed into him, and Ed jerked his head up, grabbing Rebekah’s arm to pull her back on the boardwalk while keeping his body between her and the direction of the gunshot. His hands moved to her forearms, pulling her close to him as a woman screamed from somewhere behind them.
He had to get her to safety. Rebekah’s head lifted as she tried to peer past him.
“Keep your head down.” He hissed out the words.
His first thought was that a brawl at the saloon had gotten out of control. But it was early in the day. The street had emptied after the shot. He pulled Rebekah back toward the town, his elbow knocking against the side of the dry-goods store as he passed around the corner. A woman shoved her child through a shop door. Ed pushed Rebekah behind him, shielding her body with his as he made for the front of the store.
“Let me see.” Her words were terse as she pushed her hand against his shoulder, struggling to see past him.
“Get back,” he grunted.
“Can you see anything?” Before he could stop her, Rebekah peered around the corner again. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back as a shot rang out and splintered the shingle that’d been right by her face.
He’d been in plain view for much longer than she had. “Whoever is doing the shooting is aiming at you.”
He must have said his thought aloud, because when their eyes met, hers were wide and terrified. Another shot rang out.
Ed pushed Rebekah against the wall. Face-to-face, they were close enough to kiss.
I’m the one who sent you those letters.
The words stuck in his throat. “C’mon. Let’s head for the marshal’s.” He guided her forward, weaving into another one of the alleyways. An angled shot nicked the side of the buildings.
A man on a horse raced past what Ed could see of the street, his hat pulled down over his eyes and a bandanna covering the rest of his face. Seconds later, the marshal followed close behind on her horse, moving so fast she was a blur.
Heart still racing, Ed stood slow and easy, then motioned to Rebekah.
“You’ll be safe at the marshal’s office.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders in a protective stance as he led her back to the boardwalk.
He opened the door, letting her walk in first. Others from the town were peeking out from their shop doors as he stepped inside behind Rebekah. She turned slightly to face him. How he’d wanted to tell her about those letters.
“I’m so glad you were there.” Her lip trembled, then she folded into his arms.
