Stunned disbelief washed over her and for a moment she stood there behind her rock watching him leave, numb to her core. She could go? He wouldn’t stop her? She turned to run and then stopped, remembering the Catchers. Her blood boiled as she turned back to Caleb. He was heading toward the others and didn’t stop when she called him.
“You abduct me from my home and then set me free among blood thirsty monsters?” She had to race in front of him to make him stop walking and listen to her. “What kind of hero do you think you are?”
His eyes grazed over her body while a smile as sultry as the scorching sun overhead curled his lips. “You are fair to behold.” He almost purred. But then his stoic expression returned, and cool indifference laced his words. “But anyone unfortunate enough to capture you would surely regret it once you opened your mouth. They would leave you by the wayside before the day was through, so you have nothing to fear.” He brushed past her and retrieved his horse. “And I’m not trying to be a hero, lady. I’m trying to do what’s expected of me.”
“Expected by whom?”
“Yahweh.”
She laughed. “So your god wants you to kill.”
“No. But in the fight to heal and protect, you either kill or you are killed.”
Willow wanted to yank her hair out, better yet…his! His calm, casual demeanor had returned. It was infuriating. She wanted nothing more than to get away from him. But the plains were treacherous, as she had just learned, and she had no desire to be here alone when night fell. So with a quick intake of breath and a hard swallow, for her pride went down bitterly, she took a step toward him. “Wait!” she called out.
He turned.
“I think…it’s probably…safer to stay with you…for now.”
He didn’t chide her, or even smile.
“I’m relieved you’ve decided to come with me,” he said. “I didn’t fancy finding you dead tomorrow morning, baked to a crisp cinder from the angry sun—anger your father has wrought upon us all.”
Sighing, Willow rolled her eyes in disgust at herself and took two reluctant steps toward him. He held out his hand to help her mount his horse. “Baked to a crisp because you kidnapped me from my home.”
“I didn’t kidnap you,” he insisted, then turned to her. “Do you want to go back?”
“Yes,” she answered without any hesitation.
“How long do you think you will live all alone?” He stared into her eyes. She wished he hadn’t. “Do you think your father will return for you right away? Do you think I left too soon?”
She shook her head and touched his broad, callused hand and bit her lip. She didn’t want him to ride back and find her father and kill him. She lifted her eyes to him. Every nerve ending in her body came alive with heat as his powerful fingers closed around hers. Willow pulled away quickly, making him scowl again.
“Do you want to ride with me or Jonas?” he asked her coolly.
“You.” she brooded. Lacing her hands behind her back.
He nodded and before she could stop him, he clasped his large hands around her waist and lifted her to his horse. For one brief, heady moment she looked down into his eyes and pretended he wasn’t her enemy. She landed gently in the saddle and looked away when he mounted easily behind her.
He was quiet as they rode, shifting in the saddle. Willow did her best to ignore the power of his legs around her, the strength of his chest against her back. His body was so close to hers, too close, she thought, closing her eyes to deny the not so unpleasant feel of him. She chided herself. How could anything about this man attract her! But he did. Everything about him was invigorating. He smelled earthy, musky. The quiet, cool, self-confidence…unless he was fighting, made him seem untouchable and Willow loathed herself for being even vaguely drawn to it.
“What do you want with my father?
“He has a debt to pay,” he said behind her.
Willow waited for more of an explanation, but nothing else came. “Do you mean the land?” She smiled and tried to turn around in the saddle but almost fell out of it instead. His arms were there instantly, both coming around her like tightly corded ropes.
“My father has been accused of many things, but never of causing the rain to stop falling from the sky.” She readjusted