Free Beneath The Texas Sky by Jodi Thomas Page A

followed him into the woods. Minutes later, Bethanie heard horses thundering off. She sat frozen, trying to control her breathing. She could not believe her luck. All her life she had hated having red hair, and now it had saved her life.
    “Untie me, Bethanie.” Josh was thrashing, trying to pull free from his bindings.
    Bethanie jumped, as if she had forgotten his presence. She quickly untied his arms, then sat back cradling her knees and drawing into herself. Over the past months she’d learned to shut out the world when unhappy. This skill did not fail her now. She was only vaguely aware of Josh moving around her. The fright of moments before passed from her body as her mind went home. Her mother was sitting in their little kitchen, which always smelled of fresh bread. She didn’t think of the Indians,or Wilbur, or the future. She wasn’t afraid; she was home. She closed her eyes tightly and traveled back to the childhood hidden deep in her mind.
    Josh gently laid a blanket around her shoulders. “Bethanie, it’s all right now. They won’t be back.” His voice was soft with concern. He placed his arm around her slowly, testing her reaction. When she didn’t resist, he pulled her gently into a warm hug. “Bethanie, they’ll not be back. Bethanie, you’re safe.” He mumbled over and over as he stroked her hair like a parent comforts a frightened child. “I’ve seen full-grown men after a battle react this way. When life is too frightening the mind needs a little rest. You were strong when you needed to be.” He pulled her closer forgetting the cuts and bruises on his body and thinking only of her.
    Josh’s arms felt warm and safe to Bethanie as she rested her head on his shoulder. His words were a relaxing melody to her. She remembered how angry he’d been at her when she hadn’t ridden away. His cry for them to kill him and let her be, still rang in her ears. As Bethanie allowed herself to come back to the present, she curled into Josh’s embrace.
    Josh finally pushed her gently from him. “You need to change clothes.” He ran his hand over her head. “And comb that wonderful hair of yours. We were very lucky. I think once I get cleaned up, I’ll be almost as good as new.”
    Bethanie stood up. She pulled her only other pair of pants from her saddlebag as Josh handed her his extra shirt. She smiled her thank you and looked for somewhere to change. The trees were not yet thick enough with spring foliage to offer much concealment.
    Josh lifted his saddlebag over his shoulder. “You dress here where the sun’s warm. I’ll go down to the stream and clean up. Once I get all this blood off me I think I’ll feel a great deal better.” He touched the already-dryingcut on his cheek. “If it hadn’t been for your hair, we’d both be feeding the buzzards tonight.”
    As Josh moved out of sight, Bethanie slowly removed her damp shirt and camisole. She rubbed his dry shirt over her skin to remove the chill, then quickly slipped it on. She pulled her old comb out of her bag and began fighting the tangles that fell about her shoulders. Her hands were still shaking from fear. She knew it would be a long time before she forgot the sickening panic, or Josh’s wild screams of protest when the Indians pulled her down toward the water. He’d fought like a wild longhorn trapped in quicksand when he’d thought the Indians were going to hurt her.
    When Josh returned, Bethanie felt a warmth for him unlike anything she’d felt for anyone except her mother. As she watched him coming nearer, Bethanie knew she cared for this man she’d known only a few days. She felt a closeness between them that must only happen between those who share a brush with death. He seemed suddenly shy around her and for once couldn’t seem to find anything to say. She motioned for him to sit on a log so she could examine the short gash in his scalp.
    Josh’s dark eyes studied her movements as she gingerly touched his scalp with a towel.