Page 61 of A Soft Kiss in Summer
ChapterEighteen
Wedded bliss.Was that what this feeling was?
As much as he fought any sort of relationship with a woman since he left Durango, laying here watching Violet sleep, knowing their marriage was as real as it could be now that they’d consummated it, he didn’t feel that anxious, nervousness he usually did when he used to think about it.On the contrary, everything seemed—perfect.As if this was how life was supposed to be.
Violet stirred, and she smiled when she saw him.Even that smile made his heart give a mighty thump, knowing it was just for him.
He reached out and brushed one of her curls from her cheek.“Nice nap?”
She grinned and snuggled closer to him.“The best.”
They were still both fully dressed, and he felt bad not giving her the proper loving she deserved.“What say we get out of these clothes and wash up, then do this all proper like?”
She grinned.“And what is all proper like?”
He rolled toward her, pulling her against his body and gave her a small kiss, tasting her lips at his leisure.“Me, you, completely naked, skin to skin.”He ran a hand down her arm.“I want to see every inch of you.”
Her smile widened.“Oh, I like that idea.”
He deepened the kiss, her tongue slicking against his own and his body reacted as if she were touching him.The desire to roll back over her and start anew was strong, but he wanted to love her the way she deserved, not half dressed and tousled on the bedsheets.He wanted to give her the attention she deserved.
Before he could sit up and do just that, someone banged on the door hard enough they both jolted.He broke their kiss and met her gaze.“If that’s Edwin, I’m going to kill him.”
She giggled, but stilled when someone yelled, “Josiah Lincoln, open up!It’s the sheriff.”
“Not Edwin, then.”He sat up and grabbed the blankets, pulling them to cover Violet’s exposed breasts, but she was already buttoning her blouse.He stood and fixed his pants, running his fingers through his hair to straighten it as best he could without a comb and crossed the room to the door.
He glanced back at Violet.She was standing by the bed now, smoothing the wrinkles in her skirt.When she nodded her head at him, he opened the door.
The sheriff and two other men were in the hall.None of them looked happy to be there.“Sheriff,” Josiah said.“What can I do for you?”
“Josiah Lincoln,” the sheriff said again.“You’re under arrest.”
Josiah froze, his heart seeming to skip a beat before he blinked and said, “Excuse me?”
The sheriff pushed his way into the room and grabbed his arm while the two men with him did the same.
“Arrest!”Violet yelling that word made him look over his shoulder at her.She was still by the bed, her blouse buttoned but untucked, her long red hair tousled, but the fear in her eyes had him turning back to the sheriff.
“What’s this about?”he asked.
The sheriff gave a brief glance to Violet before meeting his gaze.“You’re being held under suspicion of murder.”
“Murder?”He thought back to the shoot out in the street.He had fired his gun once, but he didn’t think he’d hit anyone.
Violet was moving around the bed now.The two men with the sheriff each held one of his arms while the sheriff put a set of handcuffs on him.
His shock took only a few moments to wear off, and he straightened when Violet reached his side.“Who did I supposedly kill?”
The sheriff glanced at Violet before looking back at him.“Edwin Wright.He was found in the mercantile with a bullet wound to the face.He’s dead.”
Violet’s gasp was so audible, everyone turned to look at her.The disbelief in her eyes was fleeting.Then something he didn’t think to ever see in them was directed at him.Suspicion.
“Let’s go,” the sheriff said, exiting the room.The two men still holding his arms gave him a shove, and he was ushered out of the room without a word.
“Josiah!”
“Go check on Bonnie and Archie and stay with them.I’ll get this cleared up and we’ll head home.”
