Free The Officer and the Southerner (Historical Western Romance) (Fort Gibson Officers Series, Book 2) by Rose Gordon

think of her now? Likely, he already disliked her for her sharp tongue and temper fit yesterday afternoon before they married. Then he’d caught her crying when he’d come to bed. She might not have been awake enough to acknowledge him when he came in, but she’d felt him crawl in bed behind her and touch her cheek. His touch, so light and gentle, made her want to cry all the more for what she’d hoped would be waiting for her here: a man who was interested in her, not the drastic living and working improvements her presence would create for him. Then, as if all of those childish things weren’t enough, she’d vomited all over him. She almost laughed at the absurdity, and the look on his face, but laughing only made her stomach roil more.
    Doing her best to ignore the queasy feeling swirling in the pit of her stomach, she squeezed her eyes closed tighter and waited for him to return.
    “ Ella?”
    “ Hmm?” she mumbled, unable to muster the energy to open her eyelids.
    Cool fingers swept across her forehead. “Can you sit up?”
    Despite her chill, she attempted to get into a sitting position. “What is all of that?”
    A hint of a smile touched Jack’s lips. “I'm not sure exactly. I bought everything Charles, the man who runs the sutler shop, had that he claimed would cure you.”
    “What is that?” She wrinkled her nose at the little brown-tinted bottle he pulled from the sack and shook.
    “ I don't know exactly, but we'll find out shortly.”
    Ella cringed. “I’m not sure I want to know.”
    Jack shot her a mischievous grin and gave a lopsided shrug. “Don’t worry. It’ll be good for you.”
    Had she even an ounce of energy to spare, she'd have rolled her eyes at his insolence. Instead, she sat quiet while he looked around the room for something to put her medicine in.
    Finding a little cup on the four-tiered wooden shelf in the corner, he wiped out the dust then uncorked the bottle. He took a sniff and lifted his eyebrows, then poured some of the brown liquid from his jar into the cup before handing it to her.
    Without taking the risk of smelling it first, she took a giant gulp and drained the contents in one swift swallow, grimacing.
    Jack chuckled. “Did you enjoy that?”
    “ No. It was the worst tonic I've ever tasted.”
    Jack shook his head and took the cup from her, then offered her a few raw peppermint leaves to chew. “Then pray you don't fall ill enough that you have to take the medicine man’s serum.”
    “I'm sure I'll be fine shortly.”
    He didn't look convinced. “As you already know, last night was supposed to be my turn up in the watchtower, which would mean that today would have been my day off. But since Gray took my turn, I have no choice but to work today since I’ll have to look over my men and his.”
    She nodded. That was for the best, actually. There was no sense in him sitting by her bed all morning only to increase their chance of getting into another argument, because they both knew they might be getting along just fine at present, but it wouldn’t take much to kill the tranquility and spark the ire between them again.
    “ Lunch is served at twelve sharp. How about I check on you then?”
    “ I'd like that,” she said, shocking herself to discover that she really would like to have him check on her then if he could spare the time. She closed her eyes again. He’d spare the time. His reputation among the others and how they perceived their marriage was at stake. He couldn’t afford to let others know things were anything but wonderful between them. She fisted her hands into the sheets and refused to shed any more tears about it. She was done. Things were merely how they were and she’d have to make the best of it. She just would.
    Jack came over to her, fluffed her pillow and covered her with the blanket again. He asked if she was comfortable, and following her mumbled reply, he set to work straightening up the supplies he'd brought in.
    Tired, Ella relaxed