Page 76 of Princess and the Ox (The Colby Brothers 1)

His chin snapped up, concern back in his eyes. “Where does it hurt?”

“All over.”

Jay frowned and put her foot back down. “You’re not going to be able to put any pressure on it if just the slightest touch provoked pain.”

Erika bit her lip, feeling guilty, but shot a glance toward Ms. Freeman who still stood watching from a distance. “I suppose I could sit here a spell. I mean, the sun isn’t too dreadfully hot. I shouldn’t suffer too terribly from sun stroke.”

But he seemed to be ignoring her, his mind already working. “I didn’t bring a wagon, but I’m sure Ms. Freeman will loan me hers long enough to take you home.”

Erika frowned. If he borrowed the buckboard, he would have to return it. “I’d rather just wait it out.”

“You can’t sit here Erika, the sun is beating directly down on you. You’ll turn as red as a lobster by the time I’m ready to leave.”

“Well, how long would that be?” Irritation had her frowning hard at him.

“A couple of hours,” he said. “At least.”

“A couple of hours!” She hadn’t meant to exclaim that out loud, or so loudly, but couldn’t stop herself.

“Give me a few minutes.” He suddenly stood up and turned to leave.

For some unexpected reason panic coursed through Erika’s body. She sprung to her feet and took a step after him. “Jay, wait!”

Stopping once again, he turned back, saw her standing there and frowned hard. For a split second, she feared he realized she was lying and had not injured herself, but then he took two huge strides toward her and scooped her up into his arms. “I told you not to move.”

She immediately wrapped her arms around his broad neck and felt a tiny thrill of success. Until she realized he was heading to the widow’s home.

“Where are you going?”

“I told you. I’ll need to borrow Ms. Freeman’s buckboard.”

“Surely that’s not necessary. It’s not that far of a walk.”

“No it’s not, unless of course you’re carrying a hundred pound woman in your arms.”

“You’re not giving yourself enough credit, Jay,” she told him, tightening her arms and shifting slightly for a more comfortable position. “You are the biggest man I know.”

His eyes slid to her face, but they didn’t look pleased. “Yes, I know, you’ve told me enough times. I’m an ox.”

She was surprised to see the smallest trace of hurt in his face. True it was so small she almost didn’t see it, but she did and it made her heart ache.

“I never meant it as an insult.”

“Yes you did,” he said matter-of-fact.

Erika frowned, looking back at all the times she had referred to him in that way. “Not at the beginning. I use to think of you as the most wonderful, biggest boy I had ever known.”

The bewildered look on his face revealed more to Erika than he might have expected. Long ago, her childish use of the word had meant to be an endearment for the big boy whom she adored. It had never occurred to her that he had taken offense to it.

“Is everything all right?” Ms. Freeman asked and Erika blinked, momentarily forgetting all about the young widow.

“I’ll need to borrow your wagon and take Erika home. She’s had a small accident.”

The woman frowned, obviously suspicious of Erika’s appearance. Erika, however, could care less what the woman thought. She tilted her chin and tightened her arms around Jay.

“I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

He settled her on the seat of the buckboard, and then climbed up next to her, giving his temple a hard rub as he did. She didn’t doubt where his headache originated. He was probably frustrated with Erika for thwarting his little rendezvous.

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