Page 40 of Teton Sunrise

Evelyn tied off the end of the bandage in a knot, and pulled her hands back. She adjusted her knees on the hard ground, intent on standing up. Before she could move, Alex reached out, and his calloused fingers grazed against her cheek with a feather light touch. Heat seared through her body at his tender gesture. Wide-eyed, she glanced at his face. His mouth curved upward at the corners. Slowly, he leaned forward.

Evelyn closed her eyes, and she held her breath. Her lips parted and tingled in anticipation of what she knew was to come. Alex’s hand slid behind her head, cupping the back of her neck. He pulled her toward him, and just when she thought he wouldn’t kiss her after all, his lips brushed against hers. Her hands reached out to brace against his chest. The feel of his warm skin against her hand, the strong beating of his heart, and the solid strength beneath her fingers sent ripples of some unknown need racing through her. Just when she thought she would drown in the sensation, Alex pulled away, ending his gentle kiss much too soon. His fingers lingered just a moment longer against her cheek, then he broke off all contact with her. Evelyn’s eyes flew open, and she fought for a breath of air.

“I’ll ask Laurent to take you back to St. Louis,” Alex said, and stood. Avoiding her eyes, he reached for his torn shirt lying in the grass, and then turned his back, his gaze fixed across the water at the distant snow-capped mountains. Evelyn stared in stunned disbelief. It was the last thing she expected him to say. The muscles in his shoulders and back tensed.

“I don’t understand,” Evelyn said quietly. Dumbfounded, she reached up to touch his arm.

“He should have never brought you here,” Alex said firmly. He turned his head, and his mouth was set in a firm line. “You need a husband who will take care of you, not someone like me.”

“Alex, I don’t think—”

“No arguments. I free you of your ties to me. You’re going back.”

“And what if I refuse to go back?” Evelyn moved around him to stand in front of him, and glared at his face. It was time to put her foot down. All her life, someone else had made decisions on her behalf, telling her what was best for her. “What would you have me do in St. Charles, Alex? Marry the man who killed my parents?”

Alex faced her fully. “A week ago you thought you were already married to that man.” He scoffed.

“And I’ve changed my mind,” she said. “I realize I was wrong about you, Alex.” Evelyn stepped closer, inches from him. The heat coming off his body seeped right through the fabric of her shirt. “Perhaps it’s time that you come to the same conclusion,” she whispered. Hesitating for only a second, she placed her palm on his chest over his heart. Alex’s jaw clenched.

“Same conclusion?” His eyebrows scrunched together. “I know I didn’t kill your folks.”

Evelyn laughed quickly, and shook her head. “You really are as dumb as a warthog, Alex Walker. When will you realize you are wrong about yourself?” She shook her head. What did she have to do or say to prove to him that he wasn’t like his father? “Why I am even in lo—”

“Hello the camp,” someone called loudly from the direction of the woods, and Evelyn spun around before she could complete her thought. A lone trapper rode into view, two mules laden with supplies following closely on the heels of his horse.

****

Alex stepped in front of Evie at the sound of a man’s voice calling the customary greeting when riding into someone’s camp. Her soft palm left a searing scorch mark on his chest as if she had branded him. No words could describe the way her tender touch affected him when she cleansed his wounds. Intense desire had rippled through him along with the urge to protect this woman from harm, which meant he had to protect her from himself. He cursed under his breath. He would have thought Evie would be happy to go back to St. Louis. Why was she arguing with him? What had she meant by he was wrong about himself? This wasn’t the time to ponder her words, nor the look in her eyes. Or the kiss they had shared.

Alex forced his focus to the visitor riding into their camp. He recognized the trapper instantly. He held up his hand in greeting, and stepped away from Evie to meet him.

“Jasper Williams, what a surprise.” Alex approached the man’s horse, and reached his hand up. The trapper leaned forward and over his saddle, and firmly clasped Alex’s hand and arm.

“Wal, ah’ll be et by a tater. If it ain’t Shadow Walker,” he nodded with a wide-eyed smile. He pushed the fox fur cap he wore away from his forehead. “Thought you’d be up in that hole of yers by now, buildin’ that cabin.”

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