Page 13 of Chloe's Christmas Escape
“I don’t want anyone else to get hurt because I just left the confines of my home.”
Had those men seen her? Her stomach churned and her heart raced as fear sunk its claws into her throat. She imagined them finding her parents and siblings and hurting them to find her whereabouts. Biting back a sob, she closed her eyes tightly and took deep, even breaths, trying to steady her racing pulse.
“Hey there,” Jackson whispered. “My uncle and I are working on that.” He slid toward her, offering his hand palm up. “We are protecting your family.”
Her hand trembled as she lifted it, almost in slow motion, until her fingertips brushed the top of his. He remained still, but a spark reverberated through her veins as the tips of their hands met, though she wasn’t sure if holding his hand was going to soothe the situation or make it worse.
She bit her lip and met his gaze, feeling butterflies flutter in her stomach. Her heart beat faster as she looked into his eyes. She suddenly wondered if he’d kiss her again and whether she should tell him he had been her first kiss.
Chloe let out a deep sigh, her shoulders drooping in defeat. She dragged her hand back and rested it on her lap as she spoke, her voice low and hollow. “I’m homesick, you’re lonely, and now here we are—married.”
“I asked you a question before you dramatically fell off the settee to lure me to your bed,” Jackson teased. “What do you know about where we are going?”
Nervously shaking her head, her gaze shifted away from her new husband. She had lost all interest in the conversation once she heard she was leaving, and the details of Jackson’s destination had been hazy in her mind. Her gaze shifted to the window as she tried to recall any tidbits that would be useful.
“Your uncle said that you were going out west. Why?”
“Well, first we’re going to Omaha. I need to pay my respects to my parents and close their house. I suppose we could stay there if you wanted, but I have friends that are building up an area in Colorado and it would allow me to put down some roots while still performing my duties. Omaha already has a marshal in the territory.”
“What does that mean, performing your duties?” Her brow creased and furrowed as her eyes narrowed in worry. The thought of him being a marshal seemed dangerous; didn’t they get shot at? Her heart raced as she looked up at him, unable to shake the feeling that this wasn’t exactly a safe career path.
“Marshals do plenty of things. We maintain order, serve papers, and handle the prisoners. We go where the judges need us to go. Sterling doesn’t have a sheriff yet. The closest lawman would be Orrin Briggs up in Flat River. That would be my primary job, and when needed I can travel to most anywhere from there.”
“So, I’ll be alone.” She groaned.
“Not right now. You are my priority and keeping you safe is my duty as a marshal. If you decide to stay, once everything is up and running in Sterling, there may be moments when you find yourself alone, but you won’t be without help.”
Chloe’s fingers tightened in surprise when Jackson moved close and shifted her body until she fit snugly against the side of him. His boots were on the floor, a small courtesy that she appreciated, even as her heart raced at his nearness. She liked how easy it was to be with him, like finding clothes that don’t need to be altered. He smelled familiar—like comfort and home—and the rhythm of his breathing was steady beside her.
“You don’t think I’ll stay after they settle things back home? I made a pledge before God, Jackson Masters. That’s not something a person just takes back.”
“If I thought you were a threat or not going to be permanent in my life, we wouldn’t even be talking about Sterling. Those people are the only family I have left besides Uncle Mac.”
Chloe felt her heart racing, a warmth spreading through her chest as she tipped her head up. His eyes were intense on hers, and without warning, his lips were near hers. She closed her eyes as he leaned in, the softness of his mustache brushing against her nose. Just as Chloe was about to press her lips to his for a gentle kiss, they connected with the tip of his nose instead. Her cheeks burned in embarrassment, but before she could pull away, Jackson’s arm curled around her waist to draw her closer.
“Maybe I should be in charge of kisses,” he murmured.
He slowly lifted his hand and tangled it in her hair, gently tugging until she instinctively leaned into him. He shifted his weight ever so slightly and she tumbled against him with a soft gasp. As his lips touched hers, her heart pounded in her chest and a warm, dizzying wave rippled through her body. His mouth was soft as he kissed her slowly, exploring with gentle nibbles on her bottom lip. She felt tiny electrical sparks every time their hands connected, but they were nothing compared to the current of pleasure radiating from deep within her.
Was this what being married was like?
Chapter Six
Jackson glanced down at the woman nestled against his chest, and her slight snoring filled the room. A hint of drool had spilled from her lips onto his arm, and he couldn’t help but smile. They had talked for hours about everything under the sun: what colors they liked best, which animals were their favorite, and all the foods they could think of—both the ones they loved and loathed. He’d discovered that her elbows and knees were especially ticklish, and to his delight, she despised spinach as much as he did.
He stared down at the top of her head, nestled into the crook of his arm. Thoughts swirled through his mind as he reluctantly acknowledged that he had been wrong about marriage. It wasn’t what he had expected. But as she shifted in her sleep, snuggling closer to him, his heart told him it wouldn’t always be like this. As he held her tighter and tighter in his arms, she melted into him like a contented cat. Her breathing slowed and eventually quieted as she fell asleep. Even though they had many things left to learn about each other, right now they were exactly where they belonged.
The logical part of him was still concerned that when the dust settled, she’d hightail it right out of Sterling and back to Pennsylvania. The town was only a few years old, so he knew there wasn’t much out there right now. His thoughts drifted back to the letters from Silas. He was excited to see what his childhood friends had accomplished. He couldn’t quite believe that Charlie had given up being a wagon master and had settled down with a family of his own.
So much had changed in the last couple of years. From his childhood friend growing up to enlisting in the war and losing his parents. Even though the war had ended, Jackson knew he’d carry the weight of things he’d seen with him for the rest of his life. Sometimes the dreams were so real, they would wake him at night.
He didn’t know how his wife would adjust to his night terrors. Perhaps they could sleep in separate rooms, or he would forgo sleep for as long as he could.
A sharp rap on the door pulled him from his memories and he carefully shifted, settling Chloe on a pillow before moving across the room. He thought it was Mac on the other side, but he always cautioned against being too trusting. Cracking open the door, he spied his uncle waiting with a package in his hands.
Jackson shifted so Mac could see the sleeping girl.“She just fell asleep.”
“Is she having nightmares?”
