Page 30 of Wrangling Her Heart
Tillie shook her head, her red curls bobbing around her shoulders. “I don’t know. He mentioned chaps, but that makes no sense.”
“Chapman?”
“It could be.”
“George is helping them find a missing woman.” Tillie’s gaze followed Rex’s hand as it clenched into a tight fist, causing the skin on his knuckles to turn a pale shade. She could tell he was struggling to control his anger, and her heart clenched in sympathy for whatever was causing him so much pain.
“Do you know what he’s talking about?”
“I might. Do you know where they might camp?”
“No. He never told me. I know he’s meeting one of them in town. The one that got caught in a fire.”
“I need to let Weston know, and you need to stay here.” Rex moved to the pasture where several horses were happily grazing.
“Rex, I know what you must think of me.” She reached out and touched his arm. “But I want you to understand that I didn’t have any choice. I had to do what I needed to survive. I never meant to cheat that man in town or hurt anyone.”
“I know. That’s why I made your brother pay me twenty dollars.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I paid five for the horse and I gave the other fifteen to Hiram. He has two little girls to raise on his own.”
Tillie laughed. “You played his own game against him.”
“That I did.”
“Are you going to go after them?”
“Not without help.”
When Rex was ready to leave, Tillie passed him his hat and long duster. He nodded and moved Cactus outside.
“I... I love you,” Tillie called.
Rex turned; his expression was unreadable. “What did you say?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Tillie swallowed hard. She repeated herself, her voice just atad stronger than before. “I love you, Rex Hartman.”
For a moment, he was silent. Then, as if guided by some divine force, Rex crossed the barn. His boots crunched on the rocks as he closed the gap and pulled Tillie into his arms.
He leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. The warmth of his mouth enveloped her, igniting a passion that she didn’t know could exist. She felt his hand on the small of her back, pulling her closer as he claimed her with his mouth. In that moment, she knew he was offering more than just a kiss; he was offering forgiveness. Her breath caught in her throat as they finally pulled away, both left dizzy and craving more.
“Stay safe,” he whispered against her lips before releasing her and striding out the door.
Rex stopped to get Baxter on his way over to the Chapmans’ home, knowing that there would be less of a chance of being shot if they rode together.
They rode their horses down the winding dirt road, passing by fields that once contained wildflowers. As they approached the two-story house, Rex signaled to his brother to stop and dismount. He tied his horse to a nearby post and walked up the porch steps to the large wooden door. With two solid knocks, he announced their arrival.
Everett Chapman, the youngest of the Chapman brothers, answered the door.
“Rex. What are you doing here?”
“We need to speak to your pa and your brothers. Can we meet in the barn?”
Everett lifted an eyebrow. “I dunno know about that. Whereare the rest of your brothers?”
“It’s just me and Bax. I wouldn’t have stopped by if wasn’t important.”
