Page 19 of Redeeming the Outlaw
“Suit yourself,” Ma said. “But remember, you ain’t alone here. We’re here to help you.”
Esther nodded, but remained silent, her inner turmoil making it hard to fully accept the support offered by these women, who still felt like strangers. She stacked the last plate in the dish box and closed the lid. The box kept dirt and insects off the tin plates. Every bone in her body hurt from doing laundry and cooking. There was nothing she wanted more than to crawl between the covers and fall asleep.
“Whit! Tom!” Austin yelled from across the fire.
Esther turned, excited to see her pretend husband and his friend coming into camp. Normally, she was asleep when he returned. She knew he slept next to her at night, because she would see the indentation in the bedroll, but he’d be gone by morning. She noticed his disheveled hair and tired eyes, but shewas just happy to see he was still alive. He had several days’ worth of a beard growing on his chin and cheeks, but it didn’t detract from how handsome he was.
He held a basket in one hand, and the other was open to embrace Esther. She didn’t hesitate to wrap her arms around him. He was thinner than when she first arrived. Kissing the top of her head, he handed her the basket.
“These are for you.”
Esther looked inside and gasped when she saw fresh eggs. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, momentarily chasing away the shadows clinging to her heart. “How?”
“Whit is great at getting into chicken coops.”
“You stole them?” Esther handed him the basket back. “I can’t take these.”
A flash of anger passed over Whit’s face. “Why not?”
“The person you stole them from might need them to feed their family.”
“We need to feed our family.” He held his hand out. “This is our family now.”
Ted walked up and looked over Whit’s shoulder. “He paid for them, little missus. Told me it was some widow woman with a bunch of boys.”
“Is it true?” Esther’s expression hinted at a hint of skepticism.
“Would it matter to you?” He looked at her earnestly.
“It would.”
“I paid for them,” he said softly.
“Thank you,” she breathed. The simple gesture warmed her more than she could express. Esther impulsively rose on her tiptoes and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. He turned hishead, causing their lips to brush together in an unexpected, tender meeting. Esther gasped and pulled back, her cheeks flaming. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to...” she stammered.
Whit’s eyes darkened, his jaw tightening. “Don’t apologize,” he said gruffly, handing the basket to Tom. Before Esther could react, he reached out and drew her into his arms. His mouth found hers again, more insistent this time. Esther tensed, every nerve in her body alive and tingling. His beard scratched her skin, and his hands were firm on her back. A low sound escaped her, and she felt him smile against her lips.
When they finally broke apart, both were breathing hard. Esther’s legs felt weak, her head spinning. She stared up at Whit wordlessly. His eyes blazed with desire and something more tender.
The surrounding men erupted into whoops and hollers, but Esther paid them no mind. Her heart thudded wildly in her chest as she stared into Whit’s blue eyes, searching for some sign of his feelings.
“Esther,” he murmured, his voice low and strangely vulnerable. “It’s time for you to go to bed.”
“Why don’t you come with me?” More laughs sounded around the fire. “At least until I fall asleep?” she added in a whisper.
Whit directed his gaze toward the group of men and proceeded to offer his hand to Esther, guiding her toward the tent situated at the rear of the camp. She endeavored to maintain her composure despite the hoots and hollers coming from behind them.
He graciously opened the tent, allowing her to enter before him. Once she had found her place, he followed suit, closing them in and sealing their intimate cocoon.
There was just enough light coming through the opening to allow Esther to see him. Slowly, he reached out and touched her face, softly tracing his fingertips from her forehead down to her lips.
"Hello," she murmured, a sleepy smile forming on her lips.
"Hello," Whit replied softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face before leaning to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I'm so proud of you, Esther. You've been incredibly strong through all of this."
Esther blushed and looked away, muttering a quiet thank you.
Whit hesitated, unsure if now was the right time to tell her what was on his mind. "Esther, there's something I need to tell you..."
