“No, not peculiar. I’m sure you don’t remember too much.” The woman stood back and rubbed her belly. “I’m Catherine Cole, and my husband, Stephen, and I own this farm. You were bitten by a snake, and your husband brought you to our house. You’ve been in and out of fever for the last two days.”
Tori frowned. “Did you say my husband brought me here?”
“Yes, he’s helping Stephen with the chores. It’s the first time your husband’s left your side. I told him he needed to get out of this stuffy bedroom for a while.” Catherine’s smile gave her face a gentle softness.
As the woman moved around the room and spoke, Tori’s memory returned in pieces. But no matter how many gaps in her recollection, she would never forget she possessed a husband.
Catherine stretched her back. “We’ve been here since the Land Run. I’m sure glad we got here and into a house before the baby arrived. My parents came with us and helped get the place built. They returned to their ranch in Texas a couple months ago.”
They shared a smile, but all the while Tori groused over Jesse deceiving these people. Married! Unless she made a scene and embarrassed them all, he’d forced her to play along.
“I’m going to get Mr. Cochran. I think he’ll be happy to see you’re finally awake.” Catherine patted her hand and left the room, her slender fingers kneading the small of her back.
Yes, indeed. Let’s get Mr. Cochran in here. The snake that’s passing himself off as my husband. He’s worse than the one that bit me.
She rose up on her elbow, allowing her legs to drop over the edge of the bed, but fell back exhausted. Never in her whole life had she been so weak. She lay back, glaring at the bare wood ceiling, breathing heavy, as if she’d just run a race. And Lord, her foot hurt!
The slight breeze from the window on her bare skin emphasized her undressed state. Her eyes narrowed. Most of her clothes were missing. The important ones—blouse, skirt, stockings. Who had removed them?
Hmm. Yes, she looked forward to a visit from her husband.
Jesse opened the bedroom door. Tori rested half in and half out of the bed. As he approached, a wet cold cloth smacked him in the face.
“Tori, what the devil’s the matter with you?” He pulled the cloth off his face, and glared at her.
Tears tracked her face as she weakly pushed his hands away when he tried to help her back on the pillows.
“Why did you tell these people you’re my husband?” She whimpered. “Better yet, who took my clothes off?”
He scooped her up and settled her on the pillows. She grimaced, and turned her head aside, tears brimming her eyes.
He raised his hands, palms up in surrender, when she scowled at him again. “Honey, be reasonable. You saw how pregnant
that woman is.” He eased himself alongside her on the bed. “She’s not capable of removing your clothes or nursing you. The only other person is her husband. Would you have preferred to have a strange man take your clothes off?” he whispered and glanced toward the door.
“It seems I did have a strange man take my clothes off.” She sniffed.
“Honey, settle down. You’ve been sick, and this excitement isn’t good for you.”
“I told you to stop calling me honey.” She gulped through her tears. “And we still haven’t found Rachel.” She put her hands over her face and wept. Jesse eased closer, and after assuring himself there were no other wet cloths within smacking distance, he wrapped his arms around her.
All the stress of Rachel’s disappearance, the snake bite, and pain, has turned my little spitfire into a watering pot. He’d need to tread carefully here.
“Catherine assumed we were husband and wife when I arrived at her door with you unconscious.” His fingers slid into her tangled curls, rubbing her scalp. “I didn’t correct her because after one look at her, I knew I had to take care of you myself. These people would have been scandalized if they knew we weren’t married.”
“I’ll have you know I’m scandalized, Jesse Cochran.” She hiccupped between sobs.
“I’m sure you are. I’m sorry. It all happened so fast.” He eased his hand down and stroked her back. She sagged against him, like a small child after a busy day. Little whimpering noises, not really words came from her mouth. Then she lifted her head. “My head hurts so much. What did you say that woman’s name was?”
Before he answered, she was fast asleep.
Sunlight slanted through the small window, announcing the approach of evening. Dust floated in the air, only visible where the last of the sun filtered in. Tori’s stomach fluttered in rhythm with Jesse’s heartbeat, the thumps pulsating against the palm of her hand resting on his chest. Heated sensations flowed down her fingertips until her own heart danced in answer to his.
Why was he in bed with her?
Jesse moved his hand up to her neck, once again rubbing her scalp, playing with her hair. He pulled her closer, and she put her arms around his broad chest. Tugging on her hair so she tilted her face up, he leaned down and kissed her. Lights flashed behind her closed eyes. She moaned. The soft sound escaping her lips seemed an invitation, so Jesse deepened the kiss, running his tongue across her lips, inviting her to open. When she did, he entered, touching all the sensitive parts.
Heavens, her insides warmed! Everything in her body melted and pooled in her core. She ran her hands over his back, his muscles rippling as he eased her under him.