over a dead man in the stall where your strawberry roan had been the last time I looked.” His caustic voice rose to a shout. “I expected to be accused of killing the man!”
Van dragged in a deep breath and told himself to calm down. It didn’t help. He’d been fuming all afternoon and he wanted to blow off steam—directly in Natalie’s bewitching face.
“Then, if all that wasn’t enough to torment the living hell out of me, while I was riding around in the dark, wondering if I had misjudged you again and thinking I was a fool, I topped the rise of ground at dawn to see three men I didn’t know shooting at you.”
“People shoot at you all the time,” she contended. “You should be used to that.”
Van grabbed another breath and gnashed his teeth as he glared at her. “I’m used to people shooting at me, but I nearly suffered heart seizure while bullets were flying at you. Then I nearly suffered an apoplexy when your horse went down and I was too far away to help you or to get a clear shot at the men who might have had good reason for trying to gun down my wife!”
He wagged his finger in her face and said, “If you want to get yourself killed, let me do it. I’ll make it quick and painless and put both of us out of our misery.”
Natalie shot him an agitated glance. “Are you the same man who comforted me while I made a complete fool of myself by soaking your shirt with my tears this morning? How could you be so kind, understanding and supportive this morning when you are flapping like a buzzard and picking my bones clean this evening?”
“Because you needed a place to fall apart this morning and I was relieved to know I hadn’t misjudged you. I was grateful you had survived the attack. You were incredibly brave—or stupid. I’m still trying to figure out which!”
“Thank you so much for the insult,” she huffed.
He waved his arms in expansive gestures. “You are welcome. Now I’m having my say and—”
To his frustration, someone rapped at the door while he was in mid rant. Scowling, he strode beside the door—not in front of it, as was his policy—to see two tall, gangly boys toting buckets of steaming water. He directed them to the bedroom where the tub stood behind the unadorned dressing screen. He waited impatiently while they poured out the water, then trooped back to the sitting room.
When they left, Van took a good long look at Natalie and he reconsidered lecturing her. She was skinned up, bruised and she had dark circles under her eyes. He’d had his say—for the most part. He could wait until later to finish his tirade.
He tossed her satchel on the settee. “Take your bath and get some rest.”
She lifted a perfectly arched brow. “You’re finished chewing me up one side and down the other?”
“For now.” He fished out a small dagger and handed it to her. “I bought this for you at the general store on our way over here.”
She took the stiletto and tested the sharp edge. “Thank you, dear. It’s the kind of wedding gift every bride loves to receive from her devoted husband.”
“You’re welcome, sassy minx,” he said before dropping a quick kiss to the side of her mouth that wasn’t swollen. Then he spun on his heels. “Enjoy your privacy.”
“I’m sure I will, knowing you’ll be back for part two of your scathing lecture. I’m really looking forward to it,” she called after him.
Natalie huffed out an annoyed breath after the door clicked shut behind Crow. Honestly, there were moments—like this morning when he had been the very picture of gentle compassion—that she loved him so much she could hug the stuffing right out of him. Then there were times—like now—when she wanted to pound him over the head for being judgmental, domineering and cynical. How could he be so suspicious of her?
Her shoulders slumped as she peeled off her breeches that had holes in the knees and tossed them carelessly aside. She reminded herself that she had been cautious and secretive to protect herself. True, she hadn’t been completely honest with Crow. Then she had sneaked off, hoping to lead Marsh, Kimball and those five goons…
She wondered what had become of the other three men who exited Rattlesnake Saloon with Marsh, Kimball, Jenson and Green last night. Maybe Marsh hadn’t hired them as part