The Outlaw's Angel (Daughters of the Prairie 1)

“I’m honored. Truly.” She kissed his nipple. “You’ve been alone so long, but no longer.”

A powerful surge traveled to his groin. “I can’t ask you to stay with me. My life...it’s no good for you.”

“You don’t want me?”

“God, yes, I want you. I don’t want to live another second of my wretched life without you. But I’ve got nothing to offer you. Nothing.”

“You have you.”

“That’s not enough.”

“It’s enough for me. I’m not leaving you.”

“I can’t let you—”

“Hush. It’s not your decision to make. It’s mine.” She moved away from him then, sat up, and pierced him with her violet gaze. “Do you know where my name comes from?”

“Naomi?”

“Yes.”

“No, I don’t. But it’s sure pretty. It fits you.”

She flushed a beautiful strawberry color. “Thank you. It’s from the Bible. My sister’s name is Ruth. There’s a story about two women named Ruth and Naomi.”

“Can’t say I know much about the good book, darlin’.”

“I’m sure your mother would have taught you had she the chance,” Naomi said. “In this story, Naomi loses almost everything—her homeland, her husband, her two sons. She’s left with two daughters-in-law, and thinking of them, she releases them from their obligations to her and decides to return to her homeland of Israel. One of them, Ruth, remains devoted to Naomi, and speaks to her—my pa’s favorite Bible verse.

“‘Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.’”

The words, spoken in Naomi’s husky, melodic voice, chorused into Bobby like sweet music. He said nothing, just stared into the beautiful eyes of the woman he loved. She took his hand and kissed his fingertips, then spoke.

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“Whither thou goest, Bobby Morgan, I will go. Where thou lodgest, I will lodge. Aught but death shall part thee and me.”

“You would sacrifice everything? To be with me?” Bobby’s heart thundered. “I’m not worth it, Naomi.”

She touched her fingers to his lips. “What was your ma’s name?”

He wasn’t certain he’d ever spoken his ma’s name aloud. God knew he hadn’t formed the thought of it in years. He spoke it now, in a grave tone that expressed what she had meant to him. “Her name was Ella. Ella Lane Morgan.”

Naomi’s eyes glowed. “There was a fine, strong woman named Ella who knew your worth. And now there’s me. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving to you how worthy you are, if you’ll have me.”

Could he? Could he be a husband? Could he be the man Naomi deserved? Living without her now would be to live as half a person.

“I love you,” he said.

“Then don’t even think of leaving me behind,” she said. “Promise me.”

Her words warmed him, and for once, he thought, maybe he could have something good. Something pure. He’d had a hard life. Surely he was entitled to happiness.

He cupped her flushed cheeks, lowered his mouth, and pressed his lips to hers.

“I promise.”

Chapter Ten