the
whole time? While Kid undressed him? The undeniable heat of
a blush racing over his face made Snake swallow and close
his eyes again. He didn't have any drawers on beneath his
britches. What was Kid thinking, letting her be in the room
like that?
"No," he snapped. "I don't need any medicine. I just need
to be left the hell alone. That's what I need."
He didn't bother to open his eyes to make sure she left the
room, but at the sound of the door clicking shut the sting of
shame hit his guts. He hadn't meant to sound so rude, Ma
65
Guardian Bride
by Lauri Robinson
didn't abide bad manners no matter what the situation and
would probably come storming into the room at any moment.
When the door remained closed and the hushed voices in
the other rooms faded, he let the muscles bunched up around
his neck relax and begged the constant ache surrounding his
wounds to ease. Ma must have put his boorish behavior off to
his injuries, which was true. He'd never known getting shot
was so painful. He'd be more sympathetic to those inflicted
with a bullet next time the need arose.
In the distance, the clop of horse hooves and the creaking
and rattling of wagon wheels mingled with the chirping
crickets. Even though the barn was on the other side of the
house from his room, Snake opened his eyes and gazed at
the window. It would be Kid and Jessie along with their
children Joel and baby Winifred leaving. He blew the heavy air
out of his lungs. Had he even thanked them for thrashing the
wheat? His fuzzy mind couldn't remember. It seemed visions
of the dark haired Summer were the only things filling the
space between his ears.
More sounds filtered into the room, the ones of a
household preparing for bed. The creak of the floorboard
overhead as someone thudded across the upstairs loft. A
swoosh of water—the hightail sign someone had used the
tank toilet he and Kid had installed a few years ago in the
water closet.
The twinge of a smile tugged at his lips. Dang if Ma didn't
like that thing. She'd walked around prouder than a French
hen for months after they'd installed it, as if indoor plumbing
had somehow elevated her status in life. He and Bug had
66
Guardian Bride
by Lauri Robinson
promised her they'd install hot and cold water, just like Hog
had in his Dodge City hotel as soon as thrashing season was
over. That would have to wait for a bit longer now, at least
until he could put weight on his injured leg. How long did it
take for bullet wounds to heal? He couldn't fathom lying
around for days on end. He'd become as loco as a cross-eyed
bull—and most assuredly as ornery.
The water sounded again, and this time he wondered if it
was Summer using the water closet. Did she like indoor
plumbing as much as Ma? Most likely all women did. His
sisters-in-law sure gaggled about it while everyone was in
Dodge. They went on about those porcelain bathtubs as
eagerly as they did about a new born babe. Which was
something else he never quite fathomed—a baby was a baby.
Not a whole lot new about anyone of them. Yet, now that he
thought about it, his brothers had all carried on like their
babies had been the first kids ever born. Raved about their
hair, the tiny fingers, their bright eyes...
His gaze went to the door. Summer would have some
pretty babies—especially if they had her striking midnight
eyes and hair. A frown tugged at his brows. Now, why the hell
was he thinking about her babies and getting kind of giddy
about it?
Because she's your wife, a little voice inside his head
proclaimed.
"No, she's not," he argued out loud.
Yes, she is.
"No, she's not. Not really anyway." Snake squeezed his
eyes shut, as if that could stop the little voice. "Aw, hell," he
67
Guardian Bride
by Lauri Robinson
muttered. "What's the matter with me? I'm arguing with
myself."
A soft knock rapped on the door seconds before it opened.
"Are you doing all right in here? Need some
whole time? While Kid undressed him? The undeniable heat of
a blush racing over his face made Snake swallow and close
his eyes again. He didn't have any drawers on beneath his
britches. What was Kid thinking, letting her be in the room
like that?
"No," he snapped. "I don't need any medicine. I just need
to be left the hell alone. That's what I need."
He didn't bother to open his eyes to make sure she left the
room, but at the sound of the door clicking shut the sting of
shame hit his guts. He hadn't meant to sound so rude, Ma
65
Guardian Bride
by Lauri Robinson
didn't abide bad manners no matter what the situation and
would probably come storming into the room at any moment.
When the door remained closed and the hushed voices in
the other rooms faded, he let the muscles bunched up around
his neck relax and begged the constant ache surrounding his
wounds to ease. Ma must have put his boorish behavior off to
his injuries, which was true. He'd never known getting shot
was so painful. He'd be more sympathetic to those inflicted
with a bullet next time the need arose.
In the distance, the clop of horse hooves and the creaking
and rattling of wagon wheels mingled with the chirping
crickets. Even though the barn was on the other side of the
house from his room, Snake opened his eyes and gazed at
the window. It would be Kid and Jessie along with their
children Joel and baby Winifred leaving. He blew the heavy air
out of his lungs. Had he even thanked them for thrashing the
wheat? His fuzzy mind couldn't remember. It seemed visions
of the dark haired Summer were the only things filling the
space between his ears.
More sounds filtered into the room, the ones of a
household preparing for bed. The creak of the floorboard
overhead as someone thudded across the upstairs loft. A
swoosh of water—the hightail sign someone had used the
tank toilet he and Kid had installed a few years ago in the
water closet.
The twinge of a smile tugged at his lips. Dang if Ma didn't
like that thing. She'd walked around prouder than a French
hen for months after they'd installed it, as if indoor plumbing
had somehow elevated her status in life. He and Bug had
66
Guardian Bride
by Lauri Robinson
promised her they'd install hot and cold water, just like Hog
had in his Dodge City hotel as soon as thrashing season was
over. That would have to wait for a bit longer now, at least
until he could put weight on his injured leg. How long did it
take for bullet wounds to heal? He couldn't fathom lying
around for days on end. He'd become as loco as a cross-eyed
bull—and most assuredly as ornery.
The water sounded again, and this time he wondered if it
was Summer using the water closet. Did she like indoor
plumbing as much as Ma? Most likely all women did. His
sisters-in-law sure gaggled about it while everyone was in
Dodge. They went on about those porcelain bathtubs as
eagerly as they did about a new born babe. Which was
something else he never quite fathomed—a baby was a baby.
Not a whole lot new about anyone of them. Yet, now that he
thought about it, his brothers had all carried on like their
babies had been the first kids ever born. Raved about their
hair, the tiny fingers, their bright eyes...
His gaze went to the door. Summer would have some
pretty babies—especially if they had her striking midnight
eyes and hair. A frown tugged at his brows. Now, why the hell
was he thinking about her babies and getting kind of giddy
about it?
Because she's your wife, a little voice inside his head
proclaimed.
"No, she's not," he argued out loud.
Yes, she is.
"No, she's not. Not really anyway." Snake squeezed his
eyes shut, as if that could stop the little voice. "Aw, hell," he
67
Guardian Bride
by Lauri Robinson
muttered. "What's the matter with me? I'm arguing with
myself."
A soft knock rapped on the door seconds before it opened.
"Are you doing all right in here? Need some
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