The Christmas Gift
Chapter 5
By Alias
e-mail: [email protected]
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Disclaimer: See part one.
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What the hell had he just said?
He’d expected Cates to try to force Sarah into marriage, had known he
would in fact. However, he’d also expected Buck and Kyle to be there
when it happened. Instead, they were off making sure no more of
Cates’s men were lurking around the place where Woods had been
shot…and Chris had just said that he was Sarah’s fiance. Stupid stupid
stupid stupid STUPID!!!!!!
"You Sir, are Miss Woods’s fiance?" asked the preacher, clearly not
believing it. "That I am." Chris saw how shaky Sarah was, and
moved to stand beside her, placing an arm around her waist to support
her.
"And you would be?"
"Chris."
"Chris…?"
"Just Chris."
"I see." The man obviously wasn’t thrilled with that. What was the
obsession people had with attaching two names to a person. Wasn’t one
enough?
"What are you doing?" Sarah hissed at him.
"Trust me."
"Are you crazy?"
"Shst!!"
"Well then Chris, are you prepared to do right by this young lady, and marry her right now?" He fought the urge to bolt.
"Of course."
"What?!?" Sarah hissed. He squeezed her waist to quiet her.
"This is ridiculous!!!" Cates cut in. "They aren’t engaged!!!"
"Obviously, they disagree. Is that correct Miss Woods?"
"Yes." She squeaked. Then louder. "I mean, yes, Chris is my fiance."
"Well then, obviously, my duty is to wed the two of you, instead of
you and Mr. Cates."
"You can’t do that!!!" The preacher scowled at Cates. "I mean, he
can’t marry her if she’s been with me, now can he?"
"And why not? If he is willing to forgive the young lady’s
transgression—"
"I am." Chris cut in.
"—Then I see no reason not to wed them here and now. Can you see a
reason?"
"Because…because…"
Chris hid his grin. Obviously, Cates couldn’t say that if Sarah
married Chris, then he wouldn’t get the land. A glance at Sarah
confirmed that she had realized what he was doing as her mouth formed
a small ‘O’.
"I was wrong." Cates said. "There’s nothing improper about the
situation, and I’m sure Sarah and her…fiancé…would prefer a proper
wedding. Lets go."
"Nonsense, these two wish to be married imme—"
That was all the preacher got out before two of Cates’s men
grabbed him—one by each arm—and dragged him from the room.
Chris glanced down at Sarah, who was still standing close to him.
"You all right?"
She shook herself out of the daze she’d been in and smiled up at him.
"Yes, thanks to you."
Chris suddenly realized that his hand was still on her waist, and what
could have happened if Cates hadn’t stopped the preacher. He jumped
back as if his hand had caught fire.
"Is something wrong?"
"No!" He barked. "Just…just be more careful. And stay away from
me!!!" He shouted out the last as he went back outside.
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She couldn’t believe it. One minute that…that…man was saving her from
Cates—although she certainly hadn’t appreciated the way he had kept
shushing her—and acting as if he was worried about her. The next…the
next he was acting as if she was the last person in the world he
wanted to be around. He’d backed away from her so fast, she was
surprised he hadn’t tripped over his own feet. As for staying away from him…well, it was her roof he was sleeping under, and her land that he was on right now. And she was going to let him know that…just as soon as she found him.
It didn’t take to long to find him. He was at the first place she
looked, at the woodpile, chopping like there was no tomorrow. She was
amazed he hadn’t sliced right through the stump that served as a
chopping block.
"What—exactly—was that about?"
"Thought I told you to stay away from me."
"Why should I? After all, it is my land."
"No, it’s not. It’s your fathers. And you
should be with him, not here.
"Don’t tell me you’re starting up with that
again."
"Never stopped Lady. Just more important now."
"And just why is that? I doubt Cates will try
that again, so I should…be…out…of…danger." The last was said as
Chris swung the ax hard enough to embed it in the stump and advanced
toward her.
She knew he wouldn’t hurt her. She did. Really. But she couldn’t
help backing up until her back hit the shed behind her. Chris’s arms
went on either side of her head, bracing himself and trapping her.
"This is why." He said softly, and his mouth swooped down, capturing
hers as his arms formed a steel trap around her waist and at the back
of her head.
It was meant to be a punishment, she knew that. But…behind the
hardness of his lips, the brutal movements, there was a softness, a
gentle tenderness, and she reacted to that softness, returning his
kiss. She didn’t know how long the kiss lasted, but it didn’t take to
long for it to turn from being punishing to…what was it? She couldn’t
think of any words for how Chris was making her feel right now, and
didn’t want to. Instead, she simply enjoyed the sensations. To soon,
however he broke off the kiss, pushing her back to arms length and
glaring down at her.
"Damn it Lady." He growled, and stalked off towards the stable,
grabbing his hat and jacket as he went.
"Oh."