Willa cried out as he cut the ropes on her ankles. They had been far too tight. “It is like a thousand needles.”
“Take it easy,” he whispered, lightly rubbing her ankles and bare feet to help ease her pain. She appeared to shake her head as if in answer until he realized she was shaking uncontrollably and the tremors were growing stronger. But she was alive—
Matt kissed her.
He placed his hands on either side of her face and pressed his lips to hers. Her arms came around him. She pressed herself close as if she could climb right into his skin, and he wanted her there.
Their kiss said more than words. They were both all right. They were alive.He’d killed a man, but he’d had no choice. No choice.
And it had been harder than one would have thought. Drowning the life force out of another human had called for everything he had.
The kiss grew harder, more urgent, but not sexual.
In this kiss, he released his horror for what he’d done, and she answered. She understood. She knew his pain. He’d had no choice.
He pulled her into his lap, their lips never breaking contact, and she breathed life back into him.
She restored his soul.
Matt broke the kiss. “I’m sorry. So sorry.” Her arms were around his neck.
“It wasn’t your fault.”
She was right, and yet—
“If not for me, you would not have been in danger,” Matt said. “I’ll find the bastard Hardesty.” And then, memory returned. “Willa, there is nothing between Letty and me. Please, trust me. I was tricked into going there.”
Her answer was a half-crazed laugh. “How can you worry about that right now?” She placed her hands on his cheeks and lifted his head to look into his eyes. “I’m just grateful you are alive. They wanted us dead, Matt.”
“Yes.” Anger rose as a wave inside him. And the need for vengeance. He wanted blood.
But first, he must take care of his wife.
She was shaking again. She was naked under the nightdress, her feet bare.
“How are your wrists and ankles?”
“Better,” she answered. He shrugged off his jacket, the one he’d worn to the Evanston party. The sleeves were torn at the shoulder seam and it wasn’t easy removing the wet material, but he managed.
He wrapped his jacket around her. “I’m sorry I don’t have anything dry but this should help.” She nodded, bending her knees and pulling her feet close to her as she seemingly disappeared in the coat.
“Stay here,” he warned. There were things he must do to finish this night’s business.
He waded back into the water toward the coach. He was in stocking feet; the river mud had sucked away his evening shoes. He climbed back inside and lifted Donel’s body up. It took a good amount of effort, but he managed to drag it out of the coach and then roll it into the water.
“What are you doing?” Willa asked from shore, her voice carrying in the stillness.
He let Donel go in deeper water, and the man floated away.
“What did you do?” Willa demanded as he splashed back to shore.
Matt climbed the bank before answering. “I didn’t want anyone to find him or associate him with the chaise.”
“Why not?”
“It seemed prudent.”
She studied him a moment. “You aren’t going to tell the authorities about this, are you?”
