Page 51 of Short-Straw Bride

“I reached out to you.”

“But only because you felt responsible.” Her chin dipped a bit, some of the fight going out of her.

Was she right? Had he only married her because he felt obligated? If so, why did the thought of her taking him up on his insistence that she leave chill his blood?

Travis closed the space between him and his wife with a single step. “You think I’m scared, Meri? Well, I am. Scared to let you go. Scared that something will happen to you.” Like what happened to my father. He lifted one hand to her face and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “I can control things to some extent on the ranch, but away from it? I won’t be able to protect you.”

“Oh, Travis.” She shook her head at him, her mouth twitching into an ironic smile. “You do realize, don’t you, that the two most serious injuries I’ve endured in my life have happened while on your property? Not by any fault of yours, of course, but one could argue that I’m actually safer off the ranch than on.”

A groan vibrated in his throat, turning into a reluctant chuckle. The woman had a point.

“No matter how many precautions we take, none of us are truly in control. Only God can claim that kind of authority. All we can do is use the good sense he provides and trust him to guide us.” Meredith stroked his arm from shoulder to wrist, then lightly clasped his hand. “If you want to protect me, Travis, prayer is just as powerful a weapon as that gun you carry.”

Travis blinked, stunned by the simplicity of that statement. Did he believe it? When was the last time he’d prayed, really prayed, for the Lord’s protection over his family? He’d been depending on himself for so long, he’d forgotten how to trust another with that duty. Even God.

Reaching for a faith that was more than just Sunday-deep, he inhaled a shaky breath and cleared his throat. “This teaching thing. It’s important to you?”

She nodded. “Yes. But not more important than our marriage. If you don’t want me to go, I’ll respect your wishes.”

He didn’t want her to go. Not at all. Yet he couldn’t keep her a prisoner, either. How would she ever come to love him if he stole her freedom?

“You’re not to tarry. You hear me? Straight there and straight home. And you’ll take a rifle. Prayer is all well and good, and I imagine I’ll be sending a constant litany heavenward while you’re gone, but I doubt a little earthly defense will offend our Maker.”

She bounced up and down on her toes, her smile bright enough to rival the moon. “Thank you, Travis. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Before he knew what she was about, she grabbed his shoulders and planted a kiss on his cheek.

His blood heated in an instant. He snaked his arm around her waist and drew her firmly against his body. “If you’re gonna thank me, Meri, do it proper.”

Travis bent his head and captured the startled little sound that escaped her parted lips. His emotions were too raw, too close to the surface to contain, so he kissed her with everything inside him. Desire, fear, yearning, and a touch of desperation fueled his passion. He melded his mouth to hers, trailing his hand upward along her back until his fingers buried themselves in the hair at her nape.

He told himself to stop, afraid he’d frighten her, but just as he steeled himself to pull away, she moaned deep in her throat and wrapped her arms around his neck. Travis’s pulse leapt, her response too sweet to ignore. He slanted his lips over hers again, deepening the kiss until he felt her tremble. Only then did he gentle his assault, loosening his hold as he softened his lips. He moved his hands to cradle her face and leaned his forehead against hers. Eyes closed, lips inches apart, their ragged breathing mingled in the air between them.

“You belong to me, Meri,” he whispered hoarsely. “You are an Archer, but more importantly, you’re my wife.”

She said nothing, but he felt the slight bob of her head as she tried to nod. Something deep inside him relaxed.

He’d not driven her away after all. Thank God. He wanted to kiss her again, and more. Much more. But he’d already taken enough backward steps tonight. He’d not rush things. Meredith deserved a proper courtship, and she was going to get one, even if it killed him.

And kill him it might, if it meant sitting back and watching her ride off to teach at that school of hers. But he couldn’t imprison her at the ranch and expect to earn her loyalty. Nor her love. Such commodities had to be given freely. As did trust—something he’d have to learn to give more freely himself.

Keep her safe, Lord, he prayed as he pulled Meredith into his embrace and tucked her head under his chin. Keep my wife safe.

He didn’t know how or when she had become so important to him, but as he stood there holding her, he was certain of one thing. He never wanted to lose her.

23

Swear to me you’ll be careful.”

Meredith smiled at her husband’s stern expression. Travis demanded the same thing every time she left. Of course, this was only her third Saturday to travel to the school, so perhaps he was still adjusting. Nevertheless, her heart gave a little leap every time she heard the protective growl that proved he cared.

“I swear it.”

He took the flour sack that held Neill’s old primers and tied it to Ginger’s saddle, then checked the cinch for the third time. Meredith chuckled and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“It’s secure, Travis. You saddled her yourself, remember?”

He looked up, his eyes scanning her face as if trying to commit every feature to memory. She ducked her head as her cheeks began to warm.

Travis cleared his throat and kicked at the dirt. “You got the gate key?”