Chapter 6

The filthy wrangler spun her around and pinned her face first to the wall, and she squeezed her eyes shut and whimpered as he started gathering her skirts with his free hand. The smell of his whiskey fouled breath caused her stomach to turn and she choked on a sob at the thought of what he had planned for her. Then, after hearing a solid thumping noise and a pained grunt, she was free and being scooped into the now familiar arms of Peter Whitlock. "Lock that no-good up Ray. I'll be there in a while after I see to the lady."

"Sure thing Pete. I'll start the paperwork, you can add to it later."

Ray hauled the dazed criminal up to his feet and dragged him out of sight by one arm and the scruff of the neck.

Bella kept her face pressed close to Pete's chest, just taking in his calming scent while trying desperately to slow her racing heart and calm her nerves. Her tears just wouldn't stop however, and she began to shake uncontrollably as the shock of what nearly happened really set in.

Pete sat down on a nearby bench and pulled the distraught girl close as he spoke in low, soothing tones. "Hey now, you're all right Miss Isabella, it's over now. You're safe, I gotcha."

She buried her face in his shirt which she clutched with both hands while crying quietly. "He didn't…hurt you did he? We got to you in time?"

She nodded and Pete felt relief wash through him as he held her just a little bit tighter. He closed his eyes and gave a silent prayer of thanks that she was spared such a horror.

Being a Texas Ranger, he'd seen the aftermath of such a violation of a woman and he knew it was something that they never really got over; something they simply learned to live with. He also knew that some never did.

Her shaking was beginning to ease, so he reached into his pocket and withdrew a clean handkerchief which he handed to her.

"Thank you Mr. Whitlock." Her voice was still somewhat choked with her tears as she began to dry her eyes and clean the smeared blood off her chin. "I don't know what I would have done…" Her voice caught and she covered her face as a fresh wave of tears assailed her.

He pulled her to his chest, his warm hand rubbing her back as he soothed her. "It's all right sugar. You're safe now. Try not to think about it. You're safe."

Her tears eventually slowed and she began to try to pull herself together again. She felt a bit embarrassed about blubbering all over this gorgeous man's shirt. Now, how to exit this situation with at least a shred of dignity intact?

She sat up and tried to smooth out his now very rumpled, tear and blood-stained shirt. "Oh god, I've completely ruined your shirt. I'm so sorry."

He chuckled quietly. "It's quite all right, sugar. Don't worry yourself, it's just a shirt and I have a bunch more just like this one. I'll change when I get back to the Ranger's office. What I'm more worried with is you. You gonna be all right now, darlin'?"

She sat up straighter, becoming a bit embarrassed that she was sitting in his lap now that she wasn't too distressed to notice. She felt herself blush. "Yes, I'll be fine now. I think I was just a bit shocked at being roughed up."

He nodded. "Understandable. Anybody would have been. It was a close call. I just thank the lord that we got to you in time."

He was silent a moment, but she could tell that he had more he wanted to say, so she waited.

He cleared his throat and fidgeted a bit and she blushed even more at the feel of his body so close to hers. Now that she wasn't about to go to pieces, she was very aware of the muscular thighs she sat upon and the warm, solid chest she was nestled against. She had to do something before this turned into a very awkward situation.

She lifted her head to look at him and was caught off guard when their gazes locked as he looked down at her in turn. He was so close, his perfect lips so close...an inch forward and she could taste those lips…lose herself in that mouth...draw him in and sate her desire... It didn't help matters that he was slowly leaning in, looking almost entranced, drawing closer, slowly closer. Should she let this happen so soon, though? Would a kiss this soon ruin things? She didn't know but she didn't want to risk it.

Her voice came out in little more than a whisper when she was just a fraction of an inch away from having his lips on hers. "I think I'll be fine now Mr. Whitlock, if you could help me to my feet, I'd be grateful."

The speed at which he acted was almost breathtaking and she blinked at finding herself sitting on the bench while he paced a few feet away, his hat in his hand as he ran the other through his sandy hair, his body noticeably tense. "My apologies Miss. It wasn't proper of me to hold you for so long."

She smiled a small smile at his obvious embarrassment. "It's quite all right Mr. Whitlock. I appreciated the comfort. You made me feel…better…very safe."

He stopped and stared at her for a moment, then nodded. "I just didn't want to be seen as taking advantage of your distress for less than gentlemanly purposes." He stared at the ground as a blush colored his cheeks. She thought it was adorable, in a very masculine way of course.

"Not at all, Mr. Whitlock."

He smiled, a small, nervous smile, looking very relieved. "Good. That's good. I wouldn't want to offend you or overstep my bounds."

He scrunched the brim of his hat in his hands, now looking troubled by something "Miss Isabella, I don't want to seem forward, but what are you doin' in town by yourself? It's a dangerous place for a beautiful young lady, as you unfortunately discovered."

She thought of her purpose and gasped, looking around frantically for her satchel. "My satchel! Have you seen it?! Oh god, it has everything that's important to me in it!"

He raised a placating hand while placing his hat back on his head. "Calm down Miss and wait right there. I'll look for it. You probably dropped it when that scoundrel grabbed you." He walked off toward the mouth of the alley and just at the corner of the building, she saw him bend down and pick something up. As he walked back, he smiled and held it up to show her. "Found it, sugar."

He handed it to her and she heaved a breath in relief. "Thank you. I don't know what I would have done had I lost it. It has my means for living in it." She shot him a dark look. "Which reminds me, I owe you some funds for the boarding house and the doctor."

He was shaking his head before she was even through speaking. "No ma'am. You don't owe me a dime. I did that because I wanted to."

"It's still too much Mr. Whitlock. I can't have you paying my way! You barely know me. It's not right."

He narrowed his eyes at her and she crossed her arms over her chest, narrowing her's right back at him. Then he cocked his hat back and smirked and she thought she may have ovulated on the spot. Jesus, but he was gorgeous…

"Tell you what Miss...I'll let you pay me back...if you agree to have dinner with me... and... you allow me to escort you to where you need to go whenever you've a need to go somewhere."

She studied him for a moment, then gave a nod. "I would've had dinner with you anyway, so that part's a deal." He smiled brightly but it fell when she held up a finger. "However … I can't possibly put you out every time I need to go somewhere Mr. Whitlock, really. You have a job to do and a life to lead, and following me around as I shop for underwear is just a ridiculous notion."

He cleared his throat, probably at the mention of her underthings, but his expression was steadfast, determination in every line of his body as he responded.

"Those are my terms Miss Isabella and I won't alter them."

She fumed for a moment, tapping her foot as her mind worked furiously to find an acceptable loophole. Then she thought about all the grueling shopping she still needed to do...for clothing and all the other trappings that a woman of means in this time required, and she smirked. She was sure that after being dragged around for an entire day to all the shops for that alone, he would be begging for mercy by the end of it. Then he'd see reason…surely.

"Fine Mr. Whitlock. If that's your final word on the subject, our first stop is the bank." She stood up from the bench and smoothed her skirts, then marched off, leaving Pete frozen where he stood for a moment, wondering what the hell just happened to change her mind so quickly.

At the mouth of the ally she paused and looked back with a raised brow. "Well? Come on, then, daylight's burning and we have a lot to do!"

He settled his hat back on his head with a bemused chuckle, then began walking as he called out, "Yes Ma'am."

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