Rocky Mountain Match (21 page)

Before he released him over to the sheriff, he wrenched the man’s arms up even tighter and dipped his head down to the villain’s ear. “You will never—” he warned through a clenched jaw, grinding the attacker’s face down into the dirt, “—come near my wife again.”

Katie’s attacker struggled to jerk his head back. “You must like your women soiled, blind man,” he hissed into the dirt, his voice low and barely audible. “’Cause that’s all she is.”

Joseph wanted to jam his fist down the rogue’s mouth and rip his tongue out for saying such a vile thing about Katie. He ground the attacker’s face into the dirt and held him there for a long moment. He gave one last power-packed push and propelled himself to standing, thankful the filthy words weren’t loud enough for Katie to hear.

When the sheriff approached from the side and Joseph backed away, he heard a small scuffle, a single gunshot and an evil curse as the man collapsed to the ground.

“Stupid move.” Goodwin spoke as if he was inspecting a piece of meat. “This time we stopped ’im fer good.”

A shudder of relief reverberated through Joseph while the man lay silent on the ground. And Boone sniffed around the body, as if ensuring that the job was done.

“Wish my bullet had’a done the job the first time,” the sheriff apologized, grunting as though he was hoisting the body. “Your husband, he done the right thing, Miss Kate. This dirt-poor excuse for a man won’t be hurtin’ you no more.”

“Thank you.” Her whispered words tore at Joseph’s heart.

He stepped toward Katie as Goodwin dragged the body away.

“I’ll just get his sorry be-hind out’a the way for ya.”

Joseph nodded, letting loose a pent-up sigh. “Thanks. By the way, could you maybe send Ben over with his bag?”

Although he wished he could just ignore the wound and escape into the security of his house with his wife, the warm, moist feel of blood dripping down his leg made him think twice.

“Sure ’nough.”

Joseph moved toward Katie, Boone at his side. He held out his hand to find her. “Darlin’, are you all right?”

She stepped into his arms and melted into his embrace. “I’m fine. But Joseph—your leg—you’re bleeding.”

“Nothing that a stitch or two won’t fix.” Joseph nestled his face into her hair and dragged in her light lily scent. “You had me so worried. He could’ve hurt you. You should’ve stayed inside.”

“I knew you wouldn’t let him hurt me. And I couldn’t let him hurt you.”

He cupped her face. “Thanks for your help, darlin’.”

Clenching his jaw, he closed his eyes as her words cycled through his mind. Not long ago the idea that he’d needed help would’ve pricked his dignity, infecting him with stubborn pride. But tonight, for the first time, he saw that the measure of his strength and ability to protect didn’t necessarily lie in his hands alone.

But in God’s.

And in those around him who loved enough to sacrifice.

Feeling Boone’s weight leaning heavily against his leg, Joseph knelt down next to the dog. Drove his fingers through Boone’s long, thick fur. “Thank you, my friend.”

“Y
ou’re all patched up, Joseph. Good as new.” Ben snapped his bag shut and walked into the kitchen. “And you, Katie, are looking very well considering the night you’ve had.”

Walking beside his brother, Joseph felt the tight pull of the dozen or so stitches Ben had sewn in the privacy of the bedroom while he’d cleaned up and changed. “Thanks, Ben. I appreciate you coming out so late.”

“What are brothers for?” He braced a hand on Joseph’s shoulder. “But the next time I dismiss the idea of getting an assistant, remind me of this moment, would you? It has been a whirlwind day—a whirlwind week—and I’m tuckered out.”

With a chuckle, Joseph nudged his brother. “Get out of here, then. Go home and get some rest.”

“Can I send some of Marta’s cooking along with you?” Katie asked, stepping up beside them.

Ben blew out a full breath of air. “Much as I love her food, I’m so tired I don’t think I could eat. I just want a
bed,” he said, opening the front door. “And a pillow. And a blanket.”

“Go.” Joseph laughed and gave his brother a playful push out the door.

“I’ll check in on you two tomorrow. But not too early.”

Joseph hooked one arm over the top of the door. “Fine by me. Thanks.”

“Good night, Ben,” Katie called, dipping her head beneath Joseph’s arm and nestling into his side.

After Joseph closed the door, he turned and wrapped his arm around Katie, ushering her to the front room where he’d built a fire. He sat next to her on the sofa, breathing deep, taking in the room’s comforting atmosphere. The crackling of the fire and radiating warmth. The popping sounds as flames licked up the dry wood, and mellow, earthy scent as it burned in the hearth.

And the wonderful feel of his wife here beside him, safe.

“Joseph, I have to tell you something,” Katie whispered.

He reached for her hand. “I’m sorry, darlin’. You’d started to say something earlier and I—”

“I know. You heard the sounds. I understand you were protecting me.” Katie threaded her fingers through his. “But really, this time I have to just say it.”

Joseph hooked his other arm around the back of the sofa, setting his focus completely on her. “I’m listening.”

“I—I knew him, Joseph. I know who he is.”

When he heard the faintest, muffled whimper come from his bride, his stomach knotted. Blood slammed through his veins. He remembered the vile words the man had spoken—that he must like his women soiled—and his heartbeat ground to a staggering halt.

Had her attacker really violated her like that?

She dragged in a long breath. “Remember after I woke from the fever and you said that you were—that you were glad that man didn’t take my innocence?”

God, no…. No. It couldn’t be.

He couldn’t have….

“Well, he did. He took my innocence.” She jerked her hand away from him. “He was a deacon in my church back home. I thought I could trust him. I had no idea. No idea,” Katie muttered the words over and over as if she’d unlocked an ancient door, the foul secret finally spilling out into the light.

He wrestled to control the rage that instantly rose within him as he reached out and pulled her into his arms. She shuddered uncontrollably against him, and thoughts of his beautiful, sweet wife being used like that coursed through his mind, feeding the fierce anger boiling within him. How could someone do that to her?

“You’re safe now,” he whispered. He smoothed a hand down her hair, his throat gone raw with emotion. His eyes burning with unshed tears. “Shh…. It’s all right.”

Katie stiffened and pushed away from his embrace, sniffling. “No, it’s not all right.” Bravery and courage as he’d never seen girded her voice, making his eyes pool with tears.

She scooted away from him, the distance feeling like some wide chasm. “You thought you were marrying a spotless bride. But I’m not. I never will be.” Katie sniffed again. “Nothing can ever, ever,
ever
give me back what I lost to him.”

Joseph reached across the sofa, to find her hand. “Everything’s going to be all right, Katie.”

“Don’t you understand?” she pleaded, her voice rising
in volume as she backed farther away from him. “He attacked me more than once. I fought him, but it didn’t do me any good. I was desperate to tell someone, but he said he’d kill me or my family. I didn’t know where to turn, what to do. And he was always there in church, staring—”

The sofa shook with her violent trembling, and his heart weighted with sorrow. To think that she’d carried this devastating secret alone sent stabbing pain straight through him.

And righteous anger coursing through his veins.

That her attacker lay dead was of little value or comfort.

“I shouldn’t have let him do that to me,” she whimpered, her voice so small, so innocent that he wanted to hold her and never let her go. “I could’ve somehow stopped it.”

Joseph slowly edged next to her, then scooped her up and settled her onto his lap, being careful to avoid his freshly stitched wound. He wrapped trembling arms around her. Gently pulled her head to rest against his shoulder. “Katie, sweetie, it’s not your fault. None of it is your fault.”

“But it is,” she whispered, as though it was her duty to convince him. She was all tense and quaking like a harmless rabbit cornered by a hungry wolf. “He said that it was—all my fault. He said that I was the one who brought it on myself.” She drew her arms into a tight ball at her chest and wrestled in a shaky breath. “That I had flau-flaunted myself in front of him. But I don’t see how. I—I didn’t think I did that.”

Joseph cupped her chin and raised her gaze to his. “He was wrong, Katie. He was a sick man and he was wrong.”

“But, Joseph!” Katie grasped his hand at her chin and held tight. “He took away the one thing I could’ve given to you and you alone.”

Closing his eyes, Joseph shook his head at the lies—the filthy, sick lies that man had planted into her sweet, innocent head. “No, he didn’t.”

Her grip grew tighter. “How can you say that?” she cried in a voice so full of agony that it broke his heart.

A tear slid down his cheek. “Because, darlin’, he didn’t take your heart.”

Katie had never felt more invigorated or alive as she stood before Joseph in their bedroom.

After she’d poured out her heart to him two days ago, disclosing her well-guarded secret about the attacks, she was emotionally spent. She knew he’d be compassionate, but had fully expected to see some kind of underlying regret evident in his eyes, or his voice, or his touch. And wouldn’t have blamed him for it.

She was sure she’d never forget the way she’d felt when he’d held her so tenderly, responding in the gentle, caring way he had. He’d shown compassion, support and love. Pure, unconditional love that gave her hope.

And for the first time in a year she took the smallest glimpse at freedom from the haunting darkness of her past.

Glancing at the welcoming glow of shadows that danced and flickered across the wall from the fire Joseph had banked in the small bedroom hearth, she knew she was home. Right where she belonged.

Her body quaked. No longer with the painful uncovering of her secret, but with the anticipation of Joseph’s touch.

“You’re beautiful, Katie,” he breathed, his voice husky as he reached up and stroked her hair. “So beautiful.”

Apprehension rose within her at what was sure to happen tonight. They’d spent the past two days and nights
recuperating, but she knew that tonight… Could she let her guard down so completely as to find joy in something that for a year had meant sorrow? She wanted to, for Joseph, but he’d told her that if she wasn’t ready, he’d wait. As long as she needed.

And although a part of her felt horribly self-conscious and utterly unworthy, another part of her yearned for the nearness with Joseph.

She peered up at him, captivated by the warmth and sensitivity she found in his gaze and the serenity she found in his expression. Compelled by the absolute gentleness with which he treated her, as though she was a priceless, treasured jewel.

She swallowed hard, fighting to ignore the residue of lies that had made a deep rut in her heart. The thick groove was there and she had no earthly idea how it could ever be removed.

The kiss he settled against her lips made her tremble all the way down to her toes. “I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect bride.”

Tears stung her eyes as his words washed over her like a gentle, cleansing rain. Her head swirled with intoxicating emotion and her breath caught.

“So lovely,” he whispered, contentment tipping his lips.

Her inhibitions began to crumble.

“So sweet.” Joseph pressed a kiss to her neck, his warm breath fanning over her in a wash of liquid heat.

He made slow work of the next kiss he placed on her lips.

“So very innocent.” He deliberately measured out the words as if he was marking her with a new name, etching it on her heart. Her soul. Her mind.

He skimmed his hands whisper-soft over her shoul
ders, then moved his hands to her waist, and Katie shivered at his magnificently tender touch.

He pulled her close to his warmth and strength. Every caring touch of his hands bringing her another measure of healing.

Joseph’s eyes were closed as he trailed his fingertips, feather-light, down her neck, shoulders and arms.

He cupped her face in his hands then and stared down at her, the depth in his gaze drawing her, beckoning her. “Katie, I love you,” he ground out. “Do you hear me? I love you.”

Her shame fell away then, shattering into a million pieces.

She stared through joyous tears up at Joseph, her heart soaring to heights she’d never known.

When he settled his arms gently around her and pulled her close, she felt completely encompassed by a love that gave her wings to fly. To explore the beautiful, wondrous, God-given design of intimacy.

“Joseph, I feel so safe when I’m in your arms,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around his chest and splaying quivering fingers against his back.

Joseph wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to express to her how much those words meant. With them she restored a foundation that had crumbled eight weeks ago when he’d lost his vision.

When she rested her cheek at his heart, his throat tightened with instant emotion. He nuzzled his face into her hair, loving the way she felt in his arms.

Her heart belonged to him and him alone.

He gloried in the revelation, unable to keep the smile from washing over his face. He’d seen beauty around
him all his life. The mountains. The streams. The innocence of a child.

But to be entrusted with a heart so giving, and pure, and beautiful brought more joy than he’d ever known.

“You are so beautiful, Joseph. So perfect for me. I love you.” Katie’s sweet voice was laced with a strong sense of relief—as though she’d finally found what she was looking for.

He dipped his head to settle his mouth on hers, his lips brushing hers with a promise. The way she melted to his touch made his heart squeeze and allowed him another glimpse of God’s abiding love and power to restore.