Page 69 of In Honor’s Defense

“Luke?”

He craned his neck back to find Nate turned sideways on the ladder and squinting at something in the distance.

Nate raised an arm and pointed. “I think that might be Aunt Maris. Why would she be riding over here this late in the day? We’re nearly done.”

Shifting one hand to a rung to ensure the ladder stayed steady, Luke pivoted in the direction Nate pointed. This was no neighborly visit. Her posture was too hunched, her pace too fast. Luke stiffened. Something was wrong.

He spun back around and grasped the ladder with two hands. “Hurry down, Nate.”

The boy grabbed his brush and paint can in one hand and scrambled down the rungs faster than he probably should. “You don’t think the sheriff’s comin’ after me again, do ya?”

“Not a chance.” Luke might be impatient to get to Damaris, but he couldn’t ignore the raw fear in the kid’s voice. He gripped Nate’s shoulder and looked him in the eye. “Whatever it is, we’ll face it together. All right?”

Nate swallowed and gave a shaky nod.

“Good. Now, let’s go see what’s going on.” After thumping his charge on the back, Luke set off down the road at a jog. In a heartbeat, Nate caught up and matched his pace.

As they closed the distance, Luke noted the missing saddle. Then he saw Damaris start to list dangerously to one side. He picked up his pace.

“Take charge of the horse,” he called to Nate as he zigged to the right just in time to catch Damaris as she slid off the horse’s back.

Her awkward spill had her head knocking into his chin and her elbow jostling his rib cage, but even so, having her in his arms was a tiny slice of heaven.

Until she dropped a bucket of brimstone on his head.

“Fire.” She twisted to face him, her beautiful eyes wide with trepidation. Her chest heaved against his as she fought to control her breathing and finish her explanation. “Prairie fire. Behind the house.”

Prairie fire? Usually those started with a lightning strike or a campfire jumping its ring. But the sky had been clear all day, and no one but Nate ever ran around on that extra acreage.

Her small hands closed over his forearms. “What do we do?”

Luke turned to Nate. “Run up to the house and ring the dinner bell as long and as loud as you can. That’ll bring the hands in. Explain what’s happening and ask them to load up a wagon with shovels, blankets, and as many tubs of water as they can manage. I’ll take Titan and get started on digging a firebreak. Maybe we can turn the fire away from the house.”

“I’ll help!” Nate insisted.

“No.” Luke’s heart kicked at the thought of what could happen to the kid. Fires were unpredictable and fierce. He didn’t want Nate anywhere near the flames. “You need to stay here with your aunt.”

“But—”

“I don’t got time to argue, Nate. Follow orders and ring that bell.”

A flare of the old belligerence tightened the boy’s features, but he ran off to obey.

Luke turned to the woman still in his arms. Man, but he wished he had time to enjoy the feel of her against him. “I’ve got to go, darlin’. But you’ll be safe here.”

Her fingers clutched at his arms. “I don’t care about safe. I care about you. You can’t fight a prairie fire by yourself, Luke. Let me help. I might be close to useless with a shovel, but I can beat out flames while you dig. Take me with you.”

His arms tightened around her and pulled her close. She cared about him. His heart thumped hard against his ribs to hear her admit such a thing out loud. He cared for her, too. More than his own life. Which was why he couldn’t let her put herself in harm’s way.

“I won’t be alone for long. The Triple G hands will pitch in.” He pressed his cheek to the side of her head. “I need to know you’re out of harm’s way, Damaris. I can’t be worryin’ about a spooked horse tramplin’ you in the smoke or a stray spark catchin’ your skirts on fire.” The dangers were too numerous to count, and even imagining them iced his blood.

“What about you?” She pulled back and pressed her palms into his chest. “You’re just as susceptible to stray sparks and choking smoke.” Her soft brown eyes pleaded for guarantees he couldn’t give. “You escaped one near-death encounter. What are the chances you’ll escape another? You’re not allowed to die on me, Luke Davenport. The land, the house, the Baxter legacy—none of it is worth your life.”

Her passion ignited a gunpowder fuse that exploded through Luke with shocking force. He captured her lips in a fierce, frantic kiss that left little room for gentleness. Her fingers found their way around his neck as she lifted up her heels to return his embrace with equal fervor.

The discordant clanging of the dinner bell broke them apart and brought reality crashing down over his head. He reached up and cupped her face, her skin soft under his callused hands. “I’ve got to go.”

“I know.”