“Mr. Mountbatten.” Though Travis wore an even expression, his eyes sparked fire. “I’d say it’s a pleasure, but I don’t care for lying.”
“You had something to do with this, didn’t you?” Father poked Travis in the chest. “Didn’t you?”
“Careful, sir.” Travis’s eyes became pools of steel. “Assaulting a law enforcement officer earns jail time in these parts.” He took a step forward, every inch of his expression threatening. “And your people can’t help you here.”
For the first time, something resembling fear crossed her father’s face. He looked around the room again, his gaze landing on Ella. “This isn’t finished, Ariella.” With that, he burst through the door of the shop and thundered down the street.
Ella’s legs gave out. She slid toward the floor, but Cody caught her up in his arms. “Easy, darlin’,” he murmured. “I’ve got you.”
She clung to him, not caring that Travis and Mrs. Greyson witnessed her trembling. “If you hadn’t come in…”
He rubbed her back. “But I did. We’ll get through this.”
Ella closed her eyes, drawing strength from his certainty and praying hard that he was right.
CHAPTER 11
Dinner at the Doyle house felt solemn. Cody appreciated the fact that Travis and Cassie tried to keep the conversation going, but Ella retreated into herself. They said their goodbyes earlier than usual. When his wife stared blankly at the wagon floor the entire trip, Cody began to worry. For the sake of the children, he kept quiet. He didn’t want to scare them. But after they were in bed, he invited Ella to the kitchen.
She followed, hands folded and eyes downcast. Cody helped her sit before making two strong cups of chamomile tea. He watched Ella as he dolloped honey into her cup. Was this how she lived life in Boston? Constantly submissive and frightened? His heart hurt for her.
When the tea was ready, he brought it to the table. As he sat, he slid a cup her way. “Drink this.”
Ella lifted the cup to her lips. The movement looked stilted, as if she did it only to appease him.
Cody reached out, grasping her hand. “Darlin’…”
Her gaze met his, her eyes looking straight through him. The bleakness in her expression sent ice galloping through his veins. He put a hand on her cheek. “Hey. It’s going to be all right.”
A tear slid down her cheek. “You don’t know that.” Her whisper came out full of anguish.
Cody tightened his grip on her hand. “You’re my wife, Ella. It’s my job to protect you. That’s exactly what I intend to do.”
More tears escaped her eyes. “You’re more than I deserve. I’m broken, Cody. You should have a wife who can give her heart to you without painful baggage.”
“I come with baggage too. Yours doesn’t frighten me. We’ll get through this together.”
She sighed softly. “How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Switch from grizzly to softy without batting an eye.”
Cody let out a startled laugh. “What?”
A tiny smile lifted Ella’s lips. “With me, you sometimes display gruff tendencies, but I think that’s just who you are. More often than not, you show tenderness and kindness. With my father, you were menacing. Terrifying, almost. I would have been afraid if that had been directed at me. But since you were protecting me, I felt safe.” She covered their joined hands with her other one. “It doesn’t make sense, but I feel more protected with you than with anyone else.”
A jolt of electricity passed through him. “Surely, Travis deserves that honor.”
Her gaze remained on his. “A few hours ago, I would have agreed. But the way you handled my father showed me you can stand up for others. I think I knew deep down that you would. Now I have proof.”
Her praise warmed him. He squeezed her hand. “I can’t promise to always be soft with you, Ella. It’s not in my nature. But I do promise to be good to you. I will stand up for you, for the kids, for my sister and Travis. That’s what family does.”
She blinked rapidly. “The only member of my family who cared before was my sister.”
Cody watched her for a moment, debating within himself. Finally, he asked the question that had been burning inside since the confrontation in the store. “What happened, Ella? Why did you leave Boston?”
She inhaled sharply. Her hands tensed on his. Cody released them, and she wrapped her fingers around her mug of tea. He waited while she took a few sips. Hoping his question hadn’t been too forward, he sipped on his own drink while his wife regained her composure. An eternal minute later, she spoke.
