Silver Creek - G.L. Snodgrass Page 0,38

of her. Perhaps last night's kiss had been but a stolen moment.

“How are you doing?” she asked as she glanced at his arm.

He shrugged. “Fine, can’t same the same for Felton. He’s moaning back there like a stuck toad. Has been all night.”

She turned to see the ruffled blankets on the unmade bunk. It looked as if they had been kicked into submission after a long night of fighting back. Had he had nightmares last night? she wondered. “You slept here?”

“Not much choice.”

She sighed internally as she shifted over and flattened the sheets then pulled the blankets taught so that she could make his bed. “It doesn’t look good, an unmade bed.”

He laughed. “Becky, that isn’t your worry.”

She spun on him as her forehead narrowed. “Luke Parker, you are my worry. And you’re the one who’s always going on about how important it is what people think about you.”

“Becky, thinking I’m too tough to tackle is one thing. Thinking that I don’t know how to sheriff because my bed is unmade ain’t high on my list of concerns.”

She ignored him as she finished tucking in the blankets. “There, done,” she said as she turned back, her eyes scanning the room for anything else that needed to be fixed.

A nervousness flowed into her as she realized just how things had changed between them. That kiss last night. The words they had said. What did it mean? What happened now? As she had all night, she pushed down the fear bubbling just beneath the surface. Had it all been a dream?

“Are you coming over for breakfast? Helen is talking about changing the menu. Steak and eggs instead of steak and beans.”

He smiled and shook his head. “Can’t leave Felton. Not yet.”

She frowned. “But …”

“Can you have Helen send over a couple of meals? The town will pay.”

Rebecca nodded as once again the nervousness filled her. Was that it? Was he dismissing her? She looked up into his eyes, desperate to know what he was thinking. Everything felt unsteady, unknown territory.

“You said last night, that we would talk tomorrow,” she said as she glanced down, no longer able to meet his eyes.

He gently lifted her chin. “I also said I wasn’t done kissing you.”

Their eyes locked as she felt herself melt inside. Her heart pounded in anticipation as he slowly lowered his lips to hers.

“Yes,” she moaned as she sank into him.

The kiss seemed to last half of forever as she felt a heat begin to build inside of her. A strange new need that scared her.

“You sure about this? Us?” he asked as he pulled back and stared into her eyes. “I mean …”

“Luke Parker, I have never been more sure of anything in my life.”

He smiled that famous Luke smile that made the world feel safe and secure. Taking a deep breath, he stepped away. “You best get them meals. We’ll work out everything else later.”

Rebecca paused as her heart fell. Why was he dismissing her? then she saw it in his eyes. That lustful look that mirrored her own feelings. He was sending her away before things went farther than either of them were ready for.

“How does Felton like his steak?”

Luke snorted. “He’ll eat what you give him or go without.”

She smiled then turned and left, the only saving grace was knowing that she would be back in a few minutes with a hearty meal for him.

Helen raised one eyebrow when she learned that she would be sending over a meal for Felton. “I don’t know if that man deserves my cooking.”

Rebecca smiled at her friend. “We can’t let him starve. It wouldn’t be right.”

“Well, he isn’t getting any of my cobbler. I can tell you that.”

Sighing to herself Rebecca hurried to get a pot of coffee going. Did Luke have a coffee pot? Yes, she remembered, there was a wood stove in the corner with a coffee pot on top.

When the orders were ready, Rebecca covered them with a cloth, set them on a side table to open the door, and saw a dozen riders storm into town. Turning as a phalanx they pulled up in front of the jail. Her insides stiffened to stone as she recognized Joshua Felton step down from his horse and hand his reins to Bill Carver, one of his cowboys.

Sarah Felton also got down. Wearing a brown riding habit, that allowed her to ride astride, she climbed down without assistance.

Rebecca pushed down the terror inside of her. They were here to get Mark