The spell broken, Cora startled. “You’re back.” She swept her hair over her other shoulder. “I figure it’s time we turn in for the night.” Her ribbon slipped from her fingers, and she snatched it from the dirt. “I have to comb it out at night, or it gets tangled.”
Ben shrugged. “I’ve seen a woman’s hair before.” He’d seen hers the other night. Loveliest he’d ever laid eyes on. Maybe if he didn’t pay much notice, she’d leave it down. “I’ll put the fire out.” He kicked sand onto the embers. The fire she kindled within him was a different story.
“I reckon you ought to.” Cora stood and turned to the boy. “Charlie, you’ll sleep over here next to me.”
Bedrolls unfurled, Cora bedded down close to Charlie, with the boy and several yards between her and Ben. In response to Charlie’s request for a bedtime story, Ben told about a fishing trip he’d taken with his grandfather. Propped up on her forearm and her head resting on her hand, Cora listened.
Beneath the canopy of stars, her eyes shone like embers in the night, catching him up short in the middle of his story, making him forget whole lines.
“…the cat stole the last fish.” His voice trailed off.
Charlie’s breathing shifted to the quiet puffs of sleep.
Cora glanced away and whispered across the distance, “Maybe we should take turns keeping watch.”
“Why?”
“In case there really are cougars. Or other things that sound like mountain lions. It wouldn’t be impossible for Comanche to come this far east.”
Ben straightened. He shouldn’t have said anything to spook her. Even back in the security of her fortified ranch, a howl was enough to set her on edge. “We should be safe. There’s several settlements between us and the Comanche and Kiowa trails.” Or so he’d been told. “Besides, I’m a light sleeper, and I have my gun right here.” He tapped his hand to the Spencer rifle at his side. “My Colt’s even closer.” He nudged the bottom of his holster which poked from beneath his folded coat, a makeshift pillow.
“All right.” She rubbed the corner of her blanket between her fingers. “I reckon it’s just been a while since I camped out.” A heaviness settled across her features. “I used to go with Jeb to look after the cattle, days on end. Long time ago.” Her words faded.
His chest deflated. “I’m sorry Jeb didn’t make it back.” His voice wavered. A shiver ran down his spine. The last time he’d slept in the open had been at Andersonville. Bile rose in the back of his throat as he shoved the memory aside.
“Those were good times.” Cora laid her head on the crook of her arm. “Having him gone is like a hole in my heart.”
What could he say to that? “He was my best friend.”
“Mine too.”
They fell into silence. The staccato chirp of katydids filled the gap.
“Cora?” He ran his hand over his hair. “I made up the line about mountain lions to distract the boy.”
Her voice wafted on the breeze. “I don’t mind you protecting me from wild cowhands.”
He blinked wide. Goodness. Enough to knock his knees from beneath him if he’d been standing.
She tugged the blanket up to her ears and rolled over.
“Good night, Cora,” he whispered. “Looking out for you is my pleasure.”
No sound but the katydids and Charlie’s breathing, but no doubt she’d heard.
His head spun as he settled into his blankets. Settled? How would he sleep now? He wanted to court Cora. Show up at her door with a bouquet of bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush, hair combed back, dressed in his finest. Sit in a porch swing with her. She didn’t have a swing, but he could build her one. Go for a stroll by the creek. Take her into his arms…
He shook himself. Stupid to let a couple of gazes go to his head. Her words were probably nothing but affection for her brother rubbing off on him. Or gratitude for his willingness to invest every penny he possessed into her ranch.
But still, what if he stayed in Texas? No doubt…he was needed.
What would happen if he sent Olivia a letter explaining that he had strong reservations about marriage and he’d understand if she wanted out of their courtship? Only, it’d been more than a courtship. He’d proposed. Olivia had accepted. Could a letter undo all of that?
Cora awoke in the middle of the night. Had something scurried across her stockinged foot?
A coyote howled. Or was it? She shivered and sat up.
Buried beneath his covers, Charlie snored beside her.
