Western Widows

I couldn't agree more. "Rachel was mine from the minute I saw her."

Her mouth fell open at my statement.

"The other men that were killed, were they married?" Charlotte asked.

I thought of the men. Richard, Aaron, Paul Samuels and two others. "Two were too young, perhaps eighteen or nineteen," I shared.

"Leah Samuels' husband was killed," Rachel said. "I know her from church."

"She's so quiet," Charlotte added. "I remember her husband. I know it's wrong to speak ill of the dead, but I didn't like him very much. He didn't seem overly affectionate or kind to Leah."

The man was a fucking asshole and I could only imagine the life his wife had. I glanced at Liam and I could tell from the tightness in his jaw he agreed.

"Surely you can find a man, a nice man, for Leah?" Charlotte looked between the two of us.

"You're playing matchmaker?" Liam asked her. "If you are, you don't want to find her a nice man. You want to find a man that will—"

Charlotte covered her husband's mouth with her hand. "Don't you dare say it."

"Fine," Liam replied. "I'll just show you later." He grinned wickedly and Charlotte flushed a pretty pink. "What was the impetus for action, Seth?" Liam asked, clearly changing the subject. "Was it my words over dinner the other night?"

My friend wanted to be the one responsible for putting Rachel and I together. He'd most certainly been the one to pull my head from my ass, although I doubted he'd take responsibility for that.

"It was Rachel."

She turned her head to look at me, a frown marring her forehead. "Me?"

Her hair was pulled up neatly into a bun at the nape of her neck. She looked lovely all prim and proper, but now, knowing her more passionate nature, I only wanted to see her naked, her hair long and flowing down her back. At least the knowledge that she wore no drawers was the secret we could share, even while out in public.

"You. It was what you said on the street." Didn't she remember? I felt like they were words I'd never forget.

"We said quite a bit, then I remember the kiss," she replied.

"I heard about that kiss. So romantic," Charlotte added.

"Romantic? Do you want me to kiss you out in front of the saloon?" Liam asked her, turning her chin with his finger.

Charlotte shook her head.

"Good," Liam replied with a slight growl. "I don't share you with anyone. I want no other man to witness your pleasure."

I was in full agreement with Liam. Rachel was all mine. Every kiss, every whimper, every heated gaze. I may have kissed her in public, but I'd taken the weight of her desires for each other from her and carried it myself. I would continue to do so now that we were married, letting her be as passionate as she desired.

"What did I say that changed your mind?" Rachel asked.

"You said you spent the past three months doing everything you could to dissuade me to protect my honor."

Her dark eyes met mine. Held. "I wanted to take advantage of him," she told the others. "He wouldn't let me. He still won't let me." The corner of her mouth turned up.

"Liam let me take advantage of him just last night," Charlotte commented. "I think I like it."

A sound akin to a growl escaped Liam's throat, but I didn't look at either of them. My eyes were only for Rachel.

"You want to tarnish my honor? You made an honest man of me yesterday after the public kiss."

Rachel nudged me playfully at words. "Yes, that's true. But I never truly ravaged you. It's only fair after the way you've spent the past day sullying my virtue."

"That's my job, baby. A husband can sully his wife all day long."