Free Promise Me Texas (A Whispering Mountain Novel) by JODI THOMAS

afraid not. Only a rifle in case of trouble or the fishing is so bad I decide to eat rabbit. I’ve never worn a gun strapped around my waist. It wouldn’t be comfortable.”
    He could almost see her mind working as she stared at him. “You jumped on a train, planning a robbery, and you weren’t wearing a gun?” She laughed. “And Lamont called
me
dumb.”
    “I told you I wasn’t in on the robbery. I guess you could say I was only an observer.”
    “An observer who almost got himself killed. If I hadn’t taken off that red bandanna you wore, the sheriff would have you in jail right now.”
    “I know; thanks for that. It was Chesty’s idea that we wear them so we wouldn’t accidentally shoot each other. His group wasn’t made up of the smartest outlaws. I got the feeling he picked most of them up along the trail. I went along to see what would happen and to keep Ryan out of trouble. That plan didn’t turn out so well.”
    She stared at him as if he were half mule. “You’re not a coward. You saved me during the crash and stood up to Lamont, but only a fool wouldn’t wear a gun in this country.”
    “Lots of men don’t, Beth.” He knew very little about her, but he had no doubt they were from separate worlds. He’d never lived even on the edge of town, and she obviously knew nothing of life in the city. It occurred to him that she thought less of him simply because he wasn’t armed.
    “We’d better go, Beth.” There was no use arguing the point.
    “Yes,” she agreed, but there was a coldness about the way she looked at him. With his arm around her shoulder, they began to move slowly out of the ward. “I told the sheriff about Colby Dixon,” she said without looking up at him. “He says he’ll check on him, but I don’t think he believed me about Doc trying to murder someone in his hospital.”
    “At least he knows to watch. That’s all we can do for Dixon. The guy will wake up a little clearer in the head. Another day and he should be able to take care of himself.” Andrew didn’t miss Beth’s frown. They’d reached the hallway. The doctor’s offices across from the ward were still closed.
    “I’m going to go back and untie him as soon as I get you settled in the wagon.” She wasn’t asking permission, so Andrew just nodded, mentally adding a few words to his list of adjectives that described her.
    At the main door, she said, “How about we head west? I got family in Fort Worth.”
    “Fort Worth would be the closest town; besides, it’d be the direction I’m heading anyway.” He thought of telling her that Fort Worth really was where he lived, but he guessed that would only disappoint her too. It made no sense, but she seemed less interested in him now that she knew he wasn’t a train robber.
    “Anywhere sounds good to me. I need to put some miles between me and Lamont LaCroix. After that I’ll worry about getting home. He’ll figure I’m heading south toward the ranch, not west. After listening to him talk to the soldiers on the train about what his marriage would be like to me, I got so frightened I thought I’d be in much better company riding with my horse.”
    He noticed she touched the butt of her Colt. No doubt it gave her comfort.
    “So you were afraid?”
    She didn’t answer as they moved toward the wagon, and he guessed she hated admitting her fear almost as badly as she hated Lamont.
    “I made you a bed in the back of the buckboard.” She wasn’t even looking at him as she talked. “Thought you could use your saddlebags as a pillow or your saddle to lean on. It’ll be more comfortable than trying to ride on the bench while we’re traveling. I’m guessing with the muddy roads it’ll take us two, maybe three days.”
    “Aren’t you afraid to be alone with
me
?” Andrew asked as he leaned on her for support.
    “No, you’re too weak.” She looked up at him. “I could take you in a fair fight.”
    “I will get stronger, you know.” He’d have to lose