She forced a light expression and lifted her brows at him. “Yes?”
He rested their joined hands on his midsection and placed his other on top despite the pain the movement obviously brought, based on how his eyes tightened at the edges. “What are your plans for when you’re free?”
No softening the question, just straightforward. As though their thoughts had been following the same trail.
She worked for a casual tone. “I’ll find a quiet town somewhere. Maybe in a different territory. Someplace my father and Jedidiah’s men won’t find me. I’ll get work, and we’ll have a nice life.” Just her and the baby. Free.
His hands tightened around hers. “Would you come back to the ranch with me? To stay?”
Her heart surged. Did he mean…they would…? But no. He’d not offered marriage, just a safe place to live.
As his…mistress? Surely not. Not Gil.
Maybe he meant for her to build a little house on the property like others had. But how would she work? Even if housing weren’t a problem, she’d need to buy food. And things for the baby.
“Jess.”
Again, the way his voice caressed her name drew her from the churning in her mind.
His gaze was so warm. “I know I only met you a few days ago, but we’ve been through a few things together.” Those lips tugged upward again. “Our situation makes me feel like I know you much better than the short time would usually allow. And one thing I’m certain of is that I want to know you better. I want to court you.”
Wait. What? What was he saying?
“I want to know every thought that passes through your mind.” His words rumbled deep and tilled hard soil deep inside her. “I want to be there to protect you. And help you. And make sure you never want for anything. Not shelter. Not food. Not all the wonderful things you deserve. And especially not love.”
The loose soil lifted as if tossed by a whirlwind.
Did he…? Was he saying he wanted to…?
He lifted her hand to the side of his jaw, the uninjured part near his stitches. “I don’t want to rush you. You can take as long as you want to decide. Months. Years. As long as you need. But I want you to know that this is what I’ve started to dream of. Until you know for sure, though, my family has lots of room for you. My sisters-in-law will fight over who gets to keep you, I’m sure.”
Fight? They’d fight?
He pressed a kiss to her fingertips. “In a good way. They’ll love you.” He must have felt her tension. He lowered their joined hands back to the bed.
Her mind spun so fast she couldn’t form words.
He glanced over at his sleeping pallet. “Unless someone’s taken it, my rifle should be under my blankets.”
Right.
The beautiful picture he’d drawn in her mind couldn’t happen until they got out of here.
She had a lot to do to get ready for their escape tonight.
There would be time later to savor Gil’s words.
CHAPTER 20
The night air hung thick and still as Gil crept across the main room behind Jess. He worked to quiet his breathing, doing his best to ignore the pain radiating through his battered body, though every step shot pain, which seemed to focus on his ribs.
She paused at the curtain that covered the outer doorway and peered around its edge. He should be the one protecting her, not limping behind.
She stepped back and motioned for him to look through the same crack. The darkness was too thick for him to read her expression, but he leaned in and squinted to see the landscape outside. The moon wasn’t bright but cast more light than inside the cave. It only took a second for him to focus.
In the distance, a lone figure stood silhouetted against the inky sky. Jedidiah.
Jess's hand found Gil’s in the darkness, and he intertwined their fingers. Her grip held determination and strength.
