Cody groaned, pressing a hand to his head. “Sorry. Feeling like this is enough to turn anyone into a grouch.”
“Your head hurts?”
“Yeah.”
She wet the cloth in her hands, then applied it to his forehead. “Rest. We’ll talk later, when your strength is back.”
“That bad, huh?”
Her lips compressed into a straight line. “Just get better. I can’t lose you.”
Agony laced the words. Cody reached for her hand. “Hey. I’ll be fine.”
She sniffed and swiped at a tear. “You don’t know that.”
“I have a reason to fight now, Ella. I’m not going anywhere.”
His words hung in the air between them. Ella searched his eyes, her own lit with deep emotion. To his surprise, she cupped his cheeks and planted a gentle kiss on his lips. Her thumbs rubbed little circles on his jaw when she pulled back, her gaze intent on his. “You’re breaking down the walls around my heart, Cody. You have been ever since you agreed to marry me.” Her lips brushed against his again. “Rest.”
He closed his eyes, smiling despite his pain. “Yes, ma’am.”
CHAPTER 19
Every muscle in Ella’s body screamed at her, a reminder of her double fall from Preston. Even after three days, the bruises looked fresh. She pulled a dress over her head and covered the evidence of her mishaps. A glance at the bed told her Cody still slept. He’d done that a lot since his encounter with the snakes.
She walked to him and placed a hand on his forehead. His skin was cool. Relief flooded her. The fever had broken.
His eyes flitted open. “Hey.”
She sat next to him. “How are you feeling?”
“Better.” He pushed the covers back.
Ella took his arm to help him sit up. She brushed a lock of hair from his face. “Do you think you can make it downstairs today?”
“Maybe.” Cody maneuvered his legs over the side of the bed. When his right leg took on some weight, he winced.
“Still hurts?”
“A bit.” He grunted as he moved, but he walked with determination. Ella hovered beside him. They stopped at the stairs. Cody eyed her. “Seems I’m not the only one moving slow.”
“You can tell?”
“You usually walk gracefully. Right now you’re walking like you fell off a horse.”
Ella swatted his arm. He chuckled. “Just calling it like it is, darlin’.” His face sobered. “You risked your safety riding bareback. I don’t know what I would’ve done if something bad happened while you rode to town.”
She put a hand on his chest. “It was well worth it to get you help.”
He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Thanks, love.”
Ella caught her breath. “Love?”
Silence reigned for several seconds. Cody’s eyes locked on hers, the intensity there stealing the little air she had left.
“I hate to interrupt, but we need to talk.”
Ella looked down to see Travis at the base of the stairs. An amused smile creased his face. Heat crept into Ella’s cheeks. Cody took her hand and started down the steps. She wanted to protest and beg him to answer her unspoken question. Her heart beat furiously against her ribs as she wondered what he’d been about to say.
