“Where was your Jessica? She seems to—”
“With me,” Alex snapped. “I took her to McGammon Peak to tell her I was the Raider, but then she looked down and there’s the Raider riding across the town, soldiers in back of him, soldiers in front of him. I barely got there in time before they closed in on the fool. I would never have done something so stupid.”
“Going to tell Jessica you’re the Raider, eh?” Nick gave Alex a lopsided grin. “That little filly is going to let you know what she thinks of you.”
“Why do you think I took her so far out of town to tell her? I don’t want Pitman hearing what she says to me.” In spite of his words of dread, Alex was smiling. “Truthfully, I’ll be glad when she knows. There’ll be no more secrets between us.”
“And no more separate beds.”
“Come on, let’s get home,” Alex said, adjusting his wig. “I’ll take Jess out tomorrow and tell her. Meanwhile, I plan to find out who this imposter is.”
* * *
Jessica had to wait a couple of hours before Alex returned, climbing in through the window. He looked awful. His clothes were wet and muddy, his wig askew, his face drawn and tired.
“Jess!” he gasped when he saw her. “You should be in bed.”
“So should you.” She helped him through the window, then led him to the bed and pushed him to sit. Instantly, she was at his feet, removing his wet shoes and hose and then wrapping his cold feet in a warmed towel.
“Jess,” Alex said, amusement in his voice. “What’s this about? What are you doing?”
“Alex,” she said, looking up at him with pleading eyes, “you shouldn’t run off like that. You could hurt yourself. Your heart can’t withstand escapades like tonight.”
He was watching her. “You were worried about me?”
“Of course. Here, take off those clothes—all right, I won’t look—and get into bed. And here’s a dry wig if you think I can’t bear the sight of a bald scalp. And I have soup for you. I’ll feed you as soon as you’re in bed.”
Alex stripped off his clothes in record time, pulled on the dry nightgown and wig and got under the covers. He slumped into an invalid-looking pose and called to Jess that he was ready.
She brought a bowl of hot soup to the bed, put a napkin under his chin and began to feed him. “Whatever made you run off like that?” she chided.
He looked at her over the spoon. “I didn’t want your Raider caught. He means so much to you.”
Jess’s eyes got watery for a moment. “Alex, you risked your life merely to save a man because I like him?”
Alex gave a shrug that said there was nothing else he could have done.
With a smile she leaned forward and kissed his forehead, then resumed feeding him. “That was very good of you, but your health means more to me than the Raider’s. He can get himself out of trouble, he doesn’t need—Alex! Are you all right?”
He caught her arm and pulled her back down to sit on the bed. “Repeat what you said.”
“I said the Raider seemed quite capable of getting himself in and out of trouble. I don’t want you to risk—”
“No, tell me how my health means so much to you.”
He was holding her hands in his, his eyes like a hawk’s.
Jess looked at her hands and blushed. “Well, Alex, maybe I’ve said a few things in the past, about your clothes and how you’re so lazy and such, but I really do like you a great deal.”
“How much?”
Jess didn’t look up.
“You like me enough to love me?”
Jess climbed into bed with him, wrapped her arms and legs about him, and put her head on his shoulder. “Alex, the Raider isn’t real. He’s just physical. I like you better, which is why I was so scared tonight. I may not have you for long, but I’m going to do everything I can to keep you alive as long as I can. Swear to me you won’t go off chasing the Raider again.”
“I think I can do that,” Alex said, nestling Jess next to him.