Thank you so much to the reviewers last chapter. Muses, as always, I LOVE hearing your thoughts. And Guest, thank you so much for taking the time to tell me you are invested in this story. :) It means so much to know you're enjoying this story.

Chapter 9

Chris didn't know what to make of Lucy's silence. Her watchful, distrustful eyes unnerved him. He was used to men looking at him like that, as if he would gun them down if they made one wrong move. But not women. Not his wife.

He stopped his horse in front of the house and dismounted. Lucy managed to dismount easily before he reached her side.

"I'll take care of the horses," he said. "You go on in."

Her brow wrinkled like she had expected to take care of the horses, but she didn't say anything contrary, just nodded and reached for her light bag. But Chris carried it and set it inside before going back out to tend the horses.

Chris led both horses to the barn. Vin would be able to take the horse Chris had rented for Lucy back to the livery tomorrow.

He took his time with the horses, brushing them down longer than was necessary. The rest of his horses were out to pasture. He only made it out to his ranch a few times a week, leaving the horses to graze alongside the cattle. Now that he would be staying put on the ranch, he would be able to put more time into the herd, maybe buy a few more head.

He checked on the herd that didn't need checking, watered his horse and the rented one again, even swept out the mostly unused barn. He looked up toward the small house, saw a lantern on in there against the setting sun.

With a heavy sigh, he figured he couldn't put it off much longer. He was going to have to face a stranger living in his house. He hoped she had found the spare room and gone to bed already. They could figure out how to work around each other tomorrow.

Thoughts of his wedding to Sarah had been pricking at his mind all day. Her laughter, his joy at the knowledge they would have a lifetime together. The way she had looked at him with happiness and trust and no small amount of love in her eyes.

For a minute, annoyance flared at the intruder in his house. It should be Sarah in there waiting for him. Sarah with her bubbly laughter and confidence, Adam ready to wrestle or read a book together. Not a terrified victim running from some murderer in Texas.

It wasn't fair, he knew that. Vin's sister wasn't to blame that she wasn't the woman Chris wanted in his house. And she didn't deserve Chris' anger at his own losses coming toward her. He took in a long breath and ran a hand over his face as if he could scrub away the past that easily.

This wasn't the house he had lived in with Sarah and their son. That one had burned to the ground with his entire life, his compassion and humanity. He had sold the land that held the charred remnants of that era and drifted until he had found an uneasy peace as the law in Four Corners, found men he counted as brothers and settled in to a life that was built on whiskey and fights to keep him from thinking of what he had lost. He closed off any further thoughts of the past and left the barn.

The lantern was out by the time he went up to the house, only twilight coming through the windows in a soft blue light. Chris' boots sounded loud in the silence of the house as he crossed the kitchen to the small hallway both bedrooms were located off.

The spare room door was tightly closed and Chris breathed out a small sigh of relief. He could face the girl in the morning.

His door was open and crack and he went in, ready to kick off his boots and put an end to this day.

But she was there.

Standing in front of his bed in a long white nightgown, bare toes peeking out from under the hem. Her long braid fell over one shoulder and for the briefest breath, attraction warmed his traitorous body.

She swallowed hard, pressing her lips together, meeting his eyes just long enough for Chris to see the stark fear there. That was when he saw her hands shaking as she tightly wound her fingers together. Saw the fright that kept her slim shoulders in a taut line. But she didn't move away. She stood there, waiting for him.

That was when the anger filled him. Not at her. At Eli Joe. At the man who had used and terrified this innocent young woman and left her thinking she had be available to meet whatever needs Chris might have without any regard for herself.

"This ain't your room," Chris managed to get out. Judging by the way she flinched, he hadn't managed to temper his words.

#

Lucy dozed fitfully, one ear listening for Chris to make his way to her room and demand his due as her husband. She was exhausted by morning, but relieved to be out of bed and have made it through the night without incident.

She tried not to think of the fury in Chris' eyes when he had found her in his room last night. He hadn't taken the anger out on her last night, but she knew better than to let her guard down today.

Lucy slipped her blue calico dress over her head and quickly did up the buttons. She pulled on worn work boots and tied them before heading to the kitchen in the dim predawn light. She moved quietly, hoping that a good breakfast would go a long way toward heading off any anger Chris may still be holding onto this morning.

The pantry was well stocked with dry goods. She found a basket with a few eggs and butter on a top shelf. His kitchen didn't have much in the way of cookware and dishes, but Lucy was able to find what she needed. She stoked the wood cookstove, before turning her attention to mixing up batter. She managed to make a batch of pancakes and found a jar of honey to set out on the table. There were a few apples in the pantry on their way to shriveling so she sliced those and added some sugar before placing them in a pan with a little water and butter to soften and sweeten.

She tried to move as quietly as possible, unsure of what time the unyielding man in black woke.

She was just about to put the pancakes into the warming drawer when Chris came into the kitchen. Lucy quickly changed course to set the pancakes on the table before moving away.

"Good morning," she murmured, keeping her eyes down, bracing herself for whatever his mood may be after a solitary wedding night.

"Mornin'," he responded, but he didn't move to the table right away.

Lucy held her breath.

"You were up early," he commented. "Didn't hear you."

Lucy didn't answer, deciding to risk silence.

The only sound in the kitchen was the crackle of the fire in the cookstove.

"Smells good," Chris finally said. He crossed to the table and took a seat, but didn't make a move toward the food.

Lucy scanned the table , trying to find what was missing. Coffee. He was waiting for his coffee. She whirled back to the stove, grabbing a mug and using a dishtowel to protect her hand from the hot handle while she lifted the pot and poured him a steaming cup. She set it in front of him, quickly stepping back and waiting to see if he needed anything else.

"Sit down," Chris finally said.

Lucy wasn't expecting that command, but complied without hesitation. Chris glanced at the empty place on the table in front of her and stood, going to the cabinet and getting another plate. He set it in front of her with a fork and sat back in his seat.

He moved a couple pancakes to her plate before dishing himself up.

He added a generous amount of honey to his plate and took a bite. When he saw that Lucy wasn't eating, his brow furrowed and Lucy held her breath, tensing.

"Not going to eat in front of you," Chris commented.

Keeping an eye on him, Lucy cut her pancakes. She took a tasteless bite. It seemed to satisfy the man across from her and he dug into his breakfast.

"If you tell me what the morning chores are, I can get started on them while you eat," Lucy ventured after her bite of food. "I didn't know if you had a milk cow, or chickens, or…" she trailed off. He was staring at her. She dropped her gaze and spoke quickly. "I'll do the dishes of course. And anything else that needs doing." Her words tumbled out, trying to smooth over whatever had him fixing that hard gaze on her.

His chair scraped against the wood floor and Lucy jerked back, pressing her back against the ladderback chair. She fisted her skirt in her hands and everything in her tensed, waiting for the blow.

Lucy kept her eyes fixed on the table, her trembling jaw clenched. She heard his steps go to the stove, heard him get a mug and lift the coffee pot. She risked lifting her eyes to see him filling a mug, then quickly looked down again when he started toward her.

Had his coffee not been hot enough? Had she not poured it full enough? Her mind raced, trying to figure out what she had done wrong as quickly as her thoughts tripped one over another trying to figure out what this stranger was going to do. For a brief second, she wished she had gone back to Eli Joe. At least he was predictable.

Chris set the mug of coffee on the table in front of her without comment then went back to his chair and picked up his fork.

Lucy's eyes swung from the steaming cup next to her plate, to the man across from her.

"Eat breakfast," the man said, without looking up from his plate.

Lucy obediently lifted the coffee as if he had given an order, blowing on it and keeping a wary eye on the man across the table from her. The stranger she was married to.

#

Chris couldn't get out of the house fast enough. He had filled the water reservoir in the woodstove for Lucy, got out the soap to shave into the dishpan once the water was heated, but the way she kept darting out of his way, pressing her back into the cabinets as if wishing she could disappear. Or he would disappear. He finally left her on her own to clean the kitchen, figuring she might pass out if he didn't give her some space.

Eli Joe had done a number on Vin's sister. Chris hoped the man showed up sooner rather than later so he could meet him. Personally.

The sound of a rider coming drew Chris' attention and he instinctively moved his hand loosely to his side, aware of exactly how far his hand had to move to reach his gun.

Spotting Vin on his horse, Chris relaxed slightly. He changed course to greet Vin.

Vin glanced toward the house as he swung off his horse. "She ok?" he asked.

Chris saw the tight lines of Vin's face. He could only imagine how the younger man felt about having to marry his sister off to best protect her.

"She's ok," Chris responded, not really thinking there was anything ok about Lucy thinking she had to prepare food for him, then stand back, not eating anything

herself.

"She sleep ok?" Vin asked as they led his horse to the barn.

Chris figured it was best not to mention to his friend that he had found his sister at his bed, ready to let him use her in whatever way he wanted.

"Seemed to," Chris said. "Got the spare room for her," he added, more for his own conscience than for Vin.

Vin nodded.

They didn't say much more, unsaddling Vin's horse and untying the bundles he had brought with him. "From Mary," Vin said by way of explanation.

Chris led the way up the steps to the small porch and through the door.

He didn't miss the way Lucy's shoulders tightened before she turned from the sink, or the fear that flashed in her eyes when she turned to face him. But then she saw Vin with him and the fear receded so quickly Chris wondered if Vin had even noticed.

"Vin," Lucy said, his name coming out almost as a small cry of relief.

Vin crossed the small kitchen in a few long strides and wrapped Lucy in a warm hug.

Chris saw the way she clung to Vin. He quietly went back outside and left them to visit.

#

Vin felt Lucy clinging to him like she would wash away if she let go. He half worried she would. It was a miracle she hadn't been completely swept away in the disaster he couldn't imagine her marriage to Eli Joe had been.

Lucy's grip finally lightened and she stepped back.

"You doin' ok?"

She managed a weak smile for him, but it wobbled. She nodded, but didn't meet his eyes anymore.

Vin frowned, but didn't push. It was no doubt difficult for her to be staying with a stranger. "It's just for a short while," Vin assured her. "Just until we get Eli Joe taken care of."

Lucy nodded again. She turned toward the oven. "Do you want some pancakes? I have some warming in the oven still."

"Naw, I'm good." It was slightly concerning that Lucy didn't turn back to him, choosing instead to keep busy, going back to the dishes with her back to him. "Luce," he said, trying to draw her attention again.

Lucy paused long enough to look at him.

"Come sit. Mary sent some things."

Lucy's lips pressed into a worried line. She looked at the few dishes left. "I should—"

"It's fine. I'll help ya with 'em."

Reluctantly, Lucy went over to the packages Vin had set on the table. He watched her unwrap a supply of groceries and perishables.

She looked them over and Vin swore he saw a small sigh of relief escape her lips.

"I'll get these put away before Mr. Larabee comes in," she said, almost to herself.

Another prick of worry. But of course Lucy wouldn't feel at ease enough with Chris to call him by anything more familiar. And he told himself that was fine, it wasn't like Lucy would be married to Chris within a month or two anyway. She was just here for protection and that's what Chris could provide.

He helped her put the groceries away, then moved to help her with the dishes. They washed in easy silence and Vin thought of when they were young. They had been shuffled around from farm to farm in their area as charity cases, often times as extra farm hands even at their young ages.

He glanced over at Lucy's profile. Instead of looking worn and hardened from everything Vin hadn't managed to protect her from, she looked younger than her 21 years. Frail and vulnerable.

She looked up at him, caught him studying her. Her brows knit and Vin forced an easy smile. "It'll get better now, Luce," he promised. "Chris is a good man and you'll be safe here." He tried to ease his own guilt over not being able to protect her himself.

Lucy quickly looked away and gave a short nod. When she didn't say anything more, Vin ran a hand over his hair, not sure if he had made the right decision. But then boots sounded on the steps and Chris came in. Chris glanced briefly at Lucy then all but ignored her, looking back to Vin.

Lucy excused herself and headed toward the hallway. Vin heard a door click closed quietly. Chris' stoic expression didn't change.

"Inez wanted me to invite you both into town tomorrow. Said dinner's on Ezra at the saloon, but don't tell Ez that."

Chris' expression didn't move, but he nodded.

Vin looked in the direction Lucy had gone, then opted to give her some space. "Tell Lucy I said 'bye."

Chris nodded again. If it was possible, the man was less communicative than usual.

Vin picked up his hat from where he had set it on the table and stepped outside into the fresh air. He promised he'd deal with Eli Joe swiftly and get Lucy back into town. Living with Chris, this marriage she was clearly uncomfortable in, it was only for a month or two. Vin silently reassured himself he had done the right thing for Lucy.

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