Page 23 of Wrangling Her Heart
“I don’t want to get you muddy.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her tight against him. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her neckas he whispered in her ear. “Trust me,” he said, as she leaned her head back onto his shoulder. “I can deal with a little mud.”
They continued in silence; the horse going across the meadow towards town at an easy gait. The scent of wet earth and decomposing leaves filled their nostrils, mingling with the musky scent of his horse. Rex finally felt Tillie relax against him, her body leaning back into his chest.
“Rex?” she whispered after a while.
“Hmm?”
“There’s something I need to tell you,” she began hesitantly.
“What is it, sweetheart?” His voice was soft, encouraging her to continue.
“George... he...” She choked on the words. “I’m sorry, Rex.”
“Whatever it is, we’ll work through it together,” Rex promised, his voice filled with conviction. “You can trust me.”
“Can you promise me you won’t hate me?” Tillie asked, her voice barely audible.
“Of course, I promise,” Rex replied, his grip tightening around her. “I could never hate you.”
Tillie took a deep breath, trying to gather the courage to continue, but the weight of her secret seemed too heavy to bear. “Maybe... maybe I should wait,” she finally whispered, her resolve crumbling. “I’m just feeling so overwhelmed right now.”
“Alright,” Rex agreed gently, sensing her struggle. “We can talk when you’re ready. Just know that I’ll be here for you, Tillie, no matter what.”
As they continued their ride to town, he watched as Tillie nervously fidgeted with her fingers. He couldn’t help but wonder what was weighing on her mind, what secrets she was struggling to keep hidden. Would he be able to protect her once the truth came out? The questions swirled through his head as theyapproached the outskirts of town.
It didn’t take long for them to arrive in front of Doc’s office. Rex helped her down from the horse, his powerful hands steadying her as she stepped onto the wooden sidewalk. For a moment, they stood there, their eyes locked, and Rex wished he could pour out his heart to her right then and there.
“Stay with me,” she pleaded. As he looked into her green eyes, he would have given her anything at that moment.
“I’ll take you inside, but I can’t stay.”
“Why not?” She started chewing on her bottom lip.
Rex pulled it from between her teeth with the pad of his thumb. “It would be improper. I’ll be right across the street in the mercantile. See that window?”
Tillie looked at the large display window in front of the mercantile.
She gave a brief nod. “Yes.”
“I’ll be standing right there, and I’ll be able to see you come out. As soon as I do, I’ll be right over here to get you. Understand? I’m not going anywhere. I’ll just go pick up a few things and I’ll be right back.”
Tillie nodded, and Rex cupped her head in his hands.
“Thank you for bringing me here, Rex,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
“Of course,” he replied, his gaze never leaving hers. “I’ll be right here for you when you’re done.”
He leaned down, brushing his lips gently against hers in a tender kiss. He could feel the fluttering tension in her, like a flock of birds taking flight. His warmth seemed to wrap around her as she closed her eyes, drinking in the fleeting moment of connection before he reluctantly withdrew.
“Go on,” he urged with a gentle smile. “I’ll be here.”
He stood outside the doctor’s office and watched her walk in; her steps were determined and focused. Once she disappeared behind the doors, he jogged across the street to the mercantile, his heart racing with anxious thoughts.
Chapter Nine
Rex leaned his broad shoulder against the window frame of the large bay window, his gaze fixed through the slightly warped glass and on the doctor’s office across the dusty street. It was going to be dark by the time they headed home, and Rex didn’t like crossing the prairie in the dark.
