They rode hard even after they were back on his claim. When the alfalfa field was in sight and the cabin and barn beyond, he tugged on the reins and halted. Greta pulled her mount alongside his and glanced over her shoulder.

“They won’t follow us here,” he said.

“Are you sure?”

“Yep.” Brawley wouldn’t dare. They might not have the same law and order in Colorado Territory that folks were used to in the civilized East, but a person couldn’t get away with committing crimes—at least not forever.

As she shifted forward, only then did he notice that her face was pale and her pretty lips set tight.

His gut cinched. Blast it all. Had he gotten to her too late? If so, he’d go back after Brawley and pump him chock-full of lead. “Did he hurt you?”

“No, thank the Lord.” Her voice wobbled.

Even with her reassurance, his stomach soured worse than bad whiskey. He slid down and was at her side in the next moment. “You sure?”

She nodded but bit her lip.

“Come on down,” he said gently. “We’ll walk a spell.”

He took the grouse and rifle from her, then slung them across his saddle. She was already on the ground by the time he turned to assist her. “You alright?”

“I’ll be fine.” She swayed just a little.

He reached for her upper arms to steady her. But then for a reason he couldn’t explain, he drew her into an embrace. Maybe to comfort her, or express his relief, or assure himself that she really was fine. Whatever the case, she let her body sag into him and rested her head on his chest as though she didn’t have the energy to hold herself up any longer.

“You did real good back there in getting away.” He hardly dared to breathe for fear of frightening her.

“Did I?”

“Yep, real good.” Her bonnet had fallen down her back and now loose strands of her hair ruffled in the breeze and tickled his chin and cheek. “Couldn’t have done it much better myself.”

Tension seemed to ease from her.

“I shouldn’t have left you to fend for yourself.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Didn’t expect to run into Brawley out there today. But don’t matter. I should’ve been more vigilant.”

She nestled in, not seeming in any hurry to end their embrace.

He tried to let himself relax, but she felt mighty good pressed up against him. She was warm and soft and womanly in all the right places. He bent and let her hair brush his face, and he breathed in the scent of her, a mixture of pine and fruit.