The Cowboy's Convenient Proposal. Linda Ford

get her breath.

      “No need to be afraid.” Linette rubbed her shoulder and soothed her with a sweet voice. But the panic would not ease.

      “I have to get back.” Without Red’s protection, what would be happening to Belle?

      Linette sat back and studied her. “But why? Ward told us how that man treated you.”

      She couldn’t tell the real reason. They wouldn’t understand. No one would. Her situation would only make good people like Linette view her with even more alarm than she did now. “Where’s my dress?”

      “You’re welcome to keep the one you’re wearing.”

      Red rubbed the soft cotton of the muted brown dress. No doubt the color would also mute her coloring, stealing some of the red from her hair, turning her complexion muddy. More than enough reason to wish for many more dresses the same. But she could just imagine how Thorton Winch would react to her wearing an outfit that covered her from neck to wrists to ankles. A great lump of longing swelled within her. If only she could own a dozen such dresses. “I would like my own gown back, if you please.”

      Linette hesitated a moment, then nodded. “Very well. I shall get it.” She slipped from the room.

      As soon as she was gone, Red pushed carefully to her feet and waited for the dizziness to pass. Ignoring the pain in her leg, she made her way to the window. The scene spun crazily. But she squinted to focus. She was in the second story of a house that sat on a hill overlooking a large collection of other buildings. This must be the ranch that cowboy had talked about. She eyed the barn and the horses corralled outside it. A cowboy with a rolling gait moved among the horses. She studied him. Was it the man who had kidnapped her? She’d tried to escape his clutches on the way here. Would he likewise try to prevent her from leaving?

      She could not allow it.

      “Here it is.” Linette stepped into the room. “Oh, you’re up. You shouldn’t be.”

      Red cautiously turned to face her. The red satin dress hung over her arm. “I’m fine.”

      “I regret I couldn’t get all the stain out.” She showed the dress with a faded brown stain on one side.

      “Thank you.” She clutched the dress to her as if it were something treasured. But it wasn’t that she cared about the dress. Only about not provoking Thorton. Bile rose in her throat. Oh, how she regretted her gullibility. She’d trusted the man when he said he was a preacher and could take her and Belle to his sister. They’d be safe, he promised.

      He’d lied. She’d never again trust a man.

      She shuddered. Two days. What had happened to Belle? She must leave.

      “I heard she was feeling better.”

      A man’s voice pulled her attention to the doorway and her cowboy rescuer. He’d given his name as Ward Walker. He was solid-looking with a thick thatch of black hair.

      “You.” She managed not to spit the word out.

      He grinned. “Yup. Me. Glad to see you have your memory back.”

      For two heartbeats she wished she didn’t, but the alternative was unthinkable. “Don’t expect me to thank you.”

      He chuckled. “Yup. I see you’re back to normal. You were mellow when you didn’t remember your name.” He shot a triumphant look toward Linette. “I told you she was feisty.”

      Feisty? He had no idea how quickly she’d learned to keep her opinions and objections to herself. She had to return to Thorton. There was no alternative. She would demand transportation back this moment, but the room suddenly tipped to the right and black folded inward from the corners.

      Ward rushed forward and caught her before she hit the floor. “You’re too weak to be up.” He carried her to the bed and eased her down on the pillows.

      For some reason her fingers refused to release him. She clutched his shoulders, finding strength and steadiness there. That was all it was, she reassured herself. Holding on to him kept the world from spinning.

      “You’re safe here. No one will hurt you.” His intensely blue eyes drilled straight through her, invading her mind, probing her heart. If only she could accept his words, allow herself to settle back and feel safe.

      But she had Belle to consider. Besides, no decent man would ever look at her without judgment or lust in his eyes. She’d performed dances that made her grateful her mother couldn’t see. And men touched her, their hands soiling her soul every bit as much as Thorton’s belt damaged her body.

      “I can’t stay,” she murmured, unable to break from his promising gaze. “Please take me back.”

      He straightened. “Never.” His eyes blazed. “I saw how that man treated you.”

      She lowered her gaze. “I can take it.”

      He perched on the edge of the bed. “I understand how you fear him, but there is no need. He can no longer harm you. No one here will let him.”

      Linette murmured agreement.

      “So you rest and get better. Things will sort themselves out. You’ll see.” He patted her hand.

      She nodded. Obviously she was going to get no help from him or likely anyone here. They all saw themselves as noble rescuers. But she would find her way back. She must.

      Ward watched her closely. “Your coloring is coming back. That’s good.”

      Self-consciously she brushed her hands over her hair. For half a wooden nickel she would shave off that offensive red hair. Wouldn’t Thorton find that idea just lovely? “I’d like to get up now.”

      Ward shook his head. “Think you better give your head a chance to get back to normal.”

      “For all you know, this is normal.” He knew nothing about her or her circumstances and she was happy to leave it that way.

      Ward’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “You forget I saw how nimble you are on your feet.”

      He was too close, too big, practically blocking everything else from view. “I still am. Let me show you.” She shoved him aside and swung her feet to the floor, feeling the blood drain from her face. Her skin grew clammy. No way could she stand up without clutching support. For sure she couldn’t do anything nimble. But he didn’t need to know it. She pulled in a breath, sucked strength from it and forced her legs to hold her upright. “See? I’m fine.”

      But by the way Ward hovered at her side and the anxious look on Linette’s face, she knew she had not convinced them.

      “I’ll just sit a moment on that chair.” She indicated the hardback chair a few feet away.

      Ward jerked it closer. She didn’t know if she should be annoyed that he didn’t think she could walk that far or grateful that she didn’t have to prove she could. Her knees waited until she reached the chair before they buckled. Still she sat straight, trying hard to convince everyone in the room she was okay. It was hard to say if either of the others thought she was fine. She knew she wasn’t.

      She could not make it back to the saloon without help.

      Help was not to be found from Ward or Linette.

      Where would she find it?

      “I’ll let you handle her.” Ward nodded toward Linette and headed for the door. He paused, turned to consider Red. “I’m glad you’re on the mend and hope you’ll soon feel safe here.”

      She scowled at him with all the strength she could summon from her uncooperative body. What right did he have to come into her life and complicate matters? He knew absolutely nothing about what was at stake.

      She could not continue staring at him. It made her head hurt like fury. She settled for simply nodding—let him think what he wanted from that—then lowered her gaze and studied