Finding Promise by Scarlett Dunn

where her family was located in Colorado and make sure she got to them. He wanted to go back to Dodge and track down those killers, but he knew that right now his priority was to protect the woman. But he made a vow to himself that he would find them if it was the last thing he did on this earth.

Chapter Six
    Shorty had good news for Jake when he rode into camp a few hours later. “I just checked on her and she’s moving.”
    â€œThat’s the best news I’ve had all day. I’ll watch her for a while,” Jake told him. He climbed in the back of the wagon, removed his hat, and sat on the side of her pallet. “Honey, Shorty tells me you moved today. I hope you wake up soon so you can have something to eat. Shorty is a pretty good cook, but don’t tell him I said that.”
    The words had barely left Jake’s mouth when Shorty threw back the canvas opening and popped his head inside with a plate of food in his hand. “I’m more than good! I’m the best dang cook you’ll ever find on a wagon train.”
    â€œYou’ll get no argument from me there.” Jake accepted the plate Shorty shoved at him. “Thanks.” Shorty left and Jake turned back to the woman. “Honey, you need to wake up and have something to eat.” He shoved a spoonful of food in his mouth. “This is real good.” He looked over at her and this time he was certain he saw her eyelids flutter. Placing the plate of food aside, he leaned over her. “Sweetheart, are you awake?” He put his finger to her neck to feel her pulse. “Come on, sweetheart, open your eyes.” There was no question her pulse picked up when he spoke to her.
    Promise heard someone calling her sweetheart. The voice sounded familiar, but she didn’t know why. It was a deep, commanding voice, full of authority. But who was it? It wasn’t . . . who? Why couldn’t she think of anyone? She tried to open her eyes, but she felt so tired she couldn’t seem to manage. Had she been ill? Where was she?
    â€œCome on, honey, I see your eyes moving,” Jake coaxed.
    Slowly, Promise blinked her eyes open. When she was able to focus, she found herself staring into the black eyes of a stranger calling her sweetheart.
    Jake smiled at her. “Well, hello.” He’d wondered what color her eyes were, and when he finally got to see them he wasn’t disappointed. Just like the rest of her, they were more beautiful than he imagined. They were a warm golden whiskey color and so large they dominated her small face.
    Promise stared at his face. She didn’t think she knew him, because she couldn’t ever imagine forgetting such a formidable man. His darkly tanned face was very masculine with a strong, chiseled jaw, a straight nose, and intense black eyes. His penetrating stare might have been more threatening if not for the unbelievably long, thick lashes. As it was, she couldn’t pull her eyes from his.
    â€œWould you like a drink?”
    She nodded, and he gently lifted her head with one hand. He didn’t have anything else in the wagon to drink, so he put his cup of coffee to her lips. “Go slow.”
    When she finished, she whispered softly, “Thank you.”
    â€œAre you hungry?”
    â€œNo.” Her voice was raspy, like she hadn’t talked in months. She continued to stare at him. “Who are . . . ?” She was so weak she couldn’t finish her question.
    â€œI’m Jake McBride. This is my cattle drive, and we’re headed to my ranch in Wyoming.”
    â€œWhere are we?”
    â€œRight now we are in Indian Territory.” He watched her as she processed that piece of information.
    Her brows knitted together as she tried to remember . . . anything. Why would she be in Indian Territory? “Have I been ill?”
    â€œYou don’t remember what happened to you?” The doctor’s warnings smacked him in the face. He tried to