To Have and to Hold (Cactus Creek Cowboys) by Leigh Greenwood Read Free Book Online
Authors: Leigh Greenwood
know.”
When he reached the Kessling wagon, he shouted, “Open up. Naomi wants to get in.”
“I do not.”
He ignored her protest.
The canvas cover opened and Dr. Kessling’s head appeared. “Where have you been?” he demanded. “Ben is looking for you.”
Colby set Naomi on her feet. “Get inside. I’ll find your brother.”
“Make sure you do.” Naomi accompanied her command with a fist to his jaw.
“Naomi Annabelle Kessling,” her father exclaimed. “Apologize immediately.”
“I’m very sorry I’m not strong enough to hit you harder.” With that she turned and climbed in the wagon.
“I’m very sorry for my daughter’s behavior,” Dr. Kessling apologized. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her. She was never like this back home.”
Colby rubbed his sore jaw. That woman packed a powerful punch. “Just make sure she stays inside until the storm is over.”
“You can be sure I will.” Dr. Kessling drew back inside the wagon and closed the flap.
For a few moments Colby didn’t move. His jaw still stung, but he was barely aware of it. It had been a long time since he’d had a woman in his arms. After Elizabeth’s betrayal, he practically had to be hogtied to deal with them. That was pretty much how he expected to feel when he scooped up Naomi.
But it wasn’t.
Despite the raging elements, his own irritation, and the several layers of clothing between them, he’d been startlingly aware he held a woman in his arms. More worrying than that, he thought she was attractive. Most important and almost frightening, he’d liked it. Added to that was the physical response. Warmth spread through him despite the cold wind and rain. For the first time in years he felt tempted to linger.
He had to be crazy. He was in the middle of one of nature’s hissy fits. He had to find Ben and calm the oxen. How could he be so lost to common sense as to be affected by a stubborn woman who didn’t like him and had underscored that fact by punching him in the face? Maybe the lightning had unsettled his brain. He would find Ben. Then he would stay out in the rain until the chill drove every trace of unwelcome warmth from his body.
***
Naomi was furious, and the fact that she knew she’d behaved badly did nothing to ease her anger. It wasn’t all her fault, however. Norman Spencer and Tom Hale had no business hiring Colby to be their guide. How did they know he hadn’t been sent to find them? He’d been following them. He was wearing a Union Army uniform.
“I’m appalled by your behavior,” her father said. “I can’t believe you struck a man who’s shown us nothing but kindness.”
The inside of the wagon seemed spacious enough when she was free to walk alongside. However, when three adults were crammed inside—two of whom she wanted to get as far away from as possible—it felt like they were practically cheek by jowl.
“He had the effrontery to pick me up.”
“That’s because you didn’t have sense enough to come back to the wagon on your own.”
“I wasn’t in danger.”
“You put your brother and Mr. Blaine in danger looking for you.”
“No one had to look for me. I can take care of myself.”
A gust of wind struck the canvas covering with so much force it tipped the wagon to one side. The double covering of osnaburg cloth flapped noisily against the hickory bows. The lantern suspended from the central bow swayed so wildly her father took it down and blew out the flame.
In the dark, the storm seemed even more threatening. Raindrops and hail struck the covering with pistol-like cracks. The shrieking wind sounded like a wild animal dying in agony while the crashing thunder made the earth tremble.
Ethan spoke in the darkness. “I don’t know why you dislike Colby so much.”
Before she could respond, the wind lifted the wagon far enough off the ground that the metal pots suspended from the bows clanged noisily against each other. Naomi was flung against the side of the
When he reached the Kessling wagon, he shouted, “Open up. Naomi wants to get in.”
“I do not.”
He ignored her protest.
The canvas cover opened and Dr. Kessling’s head appeared. “Where have you been?” he demanded. “Ben is looking for you.”
Colby set Naomi on her feet. “Get inside. I’ll find your brother.”
“Make sure you do.” Naomi accompanied her command with a fist to his jaw.
“Naomi Annabelle Kessling,” her father exclaimed. “Apologize immediately.”
“I’m very sorry I’m not strong enough to hit you harder.” With that she turned and climbed in the wagon.
“I’m very sorry for my daughter’s behavior,” Dr. Kessling apologized. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her. She was never like this back home.”
Colby rubbed his sore jaw. That woman packed a powerful punch. “Just make sure she stays inside until the storm is over.”
“You can be sure I will.” Dr. Kessling drew back inside the wagon and closed the flap.
For a few moments Colby didn’t move. His jaw still stung, but he was barely aware of it. It had been a long time since he’d had a woman in his arms. After Elizabeth’s betrayal, he practically had to be hogtied to deal with them. That was pretty much how he expected to feel when he scooped up Naomi.
But it wasn’t.
Despite the raging elements, his own irritation, and the several layers of clothing between them, he’d been startlingly aware he held a woman in his arms. More worrying than that, he thought she was attractive. Most important and almost frightening, he’d liked it. Added to that was the physical response. Warmth spread through him despite the cold wind and rain. For the first time in years he felt tempted to linger.
He had to be crazy. He was in the middle of one of nature’s hissy fits. He had to find Ben and calm the oxen. How could he be so lost to common sense as to be affected by a stubborn woman who didn’t like him and had underscored that fact by punching him in the face? Maybe the lightning had unsettled his brain. He would find Ben. Then he would stay out in the rain until the chill drove every trace of unwelcome warmth from his body.
***
Naomi was furious, and the fact that she knew she’d behaved badly did nothing to ease her anger. It wasn’t all her fault, however. Norman Spencer and Tom Hale had no business hiring Colby to be their guide. How did they know he hadn’t been sent to find them? He’d been following them. He was wearing a Union Army uniform.
“I’m appalled by your behavior,” her father said. “I can’t believe you struck a man who’s shown us nothing but kindness.”
The inside of the wagon seemed spacious enough when she was free to walk alongside. However, when three adults were crammed inside—two of whom she wanted to get as far away from as possible—it felt like they were practically cheek by jowl.
“He had the effrontery to pick me up.”
“That’s because you didn’t have sense enough to come back to the wagon on your own.”
“I wasn’t in danger.”
“You put your brother and Mr. Blaine in danger looking for you.”
“No one had to look for me. I can take care of myself.”
A gust of wind struck the canvas covering with so much force it tipped the wagon to one side. The double covering of osnaburg cloth flapped noisily against the hickory bows. The lantern suspended from the central bow swayed so wildly her father took it down and blew out the flame.
In the dark, the storm seemed even more threatening. Raindrops and hail struck the covering with pistol-like cracks. The shrieking wind sounded like a wild animal dying in agony while the crashing thunder made the earth tremble.
Ethan spoke in the darkness. “I don’t know why you dislike Colby so much.”
Before she could respond, the wind lifted the wagon far enough off the ground that the metal pots suspended from the bows clanged noisily against each other. Naomi was flung against the side of the