A Lethal Lady
Chapter 19

Even though she was hurt, her skin was quite soft and, he dared to think, delicate. Why was he so curious about this woman, having her like that made his blood bubble. And that rarely happened, in fact he couldn't remember the last time a woman made his blood boil. Stimulated by his most primal instincts, Tom slowly remembered the space between him and Rouse and without thinking too much about it, he grabbed her by the neck until he brought her close to his lips while looking into her eyes. He still didn't understand why he was doing this with a suspicious stranger, but strangely enough she was causing his body a certain amount of disturbance and it wasn't exactly because she was getting on his nerves.

With surprise reflected in his eyes and his lips half open in surprise at their impending contact, Tom pulled Rouse closer to his mouth and unabashedly took hold of them. He devoured her lips as he knelt between her thighs. Taking the attribute that seemed to be bestowed upon him, the sheriff wrapped his arm around Rouse's waist and with that movement pressed his body to hers.

The kiss grew fiercer, and perhaps more urgent. She responded in kind, though he didn't know if it was her own idea, but he could feel her withdrawing a little.

She was torn between pushing the man away and hitting him, or letting him continue kissing her like that. Even if she really wanted to push him away, Tom's kiss gave her goose bumps. And it was that feeling that was pushing her not to push him away. Then, in the tiniest space of time, their mouths parted in an attempt to catch their breath. And in that split second, they both looked into each other's eyes, with their lips still brushing and their breathing a little labored, the couple still close.

Neither of them said a single word, they just stayed like that, looking into each other's eyes. But at some point one of them had to say something, and that was Rouse, this was a nightmare, how had she ended up making out with the sheriff? Or rather, how had she allowed him to kiss her?

But as she attempts to pull the man apart and object to his inappropriate behaviour, she notices that Tom is looking down with a frown on his face. Curious, she looks in the same direction as his and instantly widens her eyes.

-I must take you to Jesey's house," she says, standing up.

Rouse looks at the huge bloodstain reflecting on the fabric of her dress, it was so much blood, Tom's hand was covered in the reddish liquid. The strange thing was, he felt no pain at all.

-You're bleeding badly, come on.

And suddenly, the sheriff took her in his arms. Rouse was more than surprised by the man's attitude, what did he want to achieve by being nice to her?

-What are you doing? You don't have to carry me to the doctor's house, I can walk on my own.

-I doubt if you can walk, perhaps you haven't had a good look at your feet. And that bleeding from your side is not normal, are you trying to die? -He stares into her face as he walks with her in his arms.

Fortunately, at that hour, the streets were devoid of citizens. So there were not going to be many witnesses to speak of him carrying the outlaw in his arms once more.

Tom hurried to Jesey's house, and when he saw the lantern of her dwelling he hurried on. He knocked at the door with his boot, and at once it was the wife who opened it.

-Mr. Wesley, Miss LeRoy! -she exclaims in astonishment.

-Is Jesey there?

-Yes, come in. What happened? -The woman looks down at the blonde's bare feet. My God, her feet.

At that, the doctor came out of a room to replace the scene unfolding in his house. Seeing Rouse's state, the doctor frowns.

-I warned him.

-Attend to his wounds, Jesey. I think they're serious," Tom cut to the chase before the doctor could begin his speech.

After half an hour, Jesey leaves the room where the blonde was resting. Tom looks up to see him leave.

-The wound on her side has reopened, she was losing a lot of blood, if you didn't get her back in time she would have bled to death. He needs rest, his feet...

-What's the matter with them?

-She won't be able to walk for at least three days, she needs to recover. If he doesn't, he could lose them.

The sheriff clenches his jaw tightly, he wasn't so wrong after all. He knew the severity of those wounds, he knew they were delicate. She was just a woman, why did she want to pretend to be something she wasn't? -She wants to go back to the hotel, she doesn't want to spend the night here. I think she should stay, Tom.

-Yes, she'll stay.

-You don't decide for me, Mr. Wesley.

Tom looked behind the doctor, noticing that she was standing under the doorframe, holding onto the door.

-What the hell is she doing standing up? I didn't tell her to lie down," the doctor objected, coming to her aid.

-I knew very well that Mr. Wesley would be taking on powers that were not his to take, which is why I have stood up.

The sheriff stands up and looks at her in a rather defiant manner, it was amazing how strong-willed this woman was. She was certainly an interesting lady.

-Jesey will tend to your wounds here at home, you'd better stay.

-I said no," she answers faithfully.

-All right, I'll take her back to the hotel. And she won't leave.

She keeps staring at him defiantly, not hesitating for a moment. Which Tom found somewhat intriguing.

-Remember that you can't work for at least three days, otherwise....

-I know, you don't need to remind me that I'll lose my feet, doctor.

-The wound you have on your side is also important, I remind you that you can't use any kind of force.

-If that's all, then I want to leave right now.

With no other choice, Tom approached the blonde to take her in his arms again....

-What are you doing? -she asked in surprise.

-You can't walk, or do you intend to hurt your feet more?

-It is convenient for the sheriff to carry her in his arms," suggests the doctor.

-It is most inappropriate for him to carry her like that, my dear.

-There's no other means of transport, and besides, he's the sheriff, isn't he?

Jesey looks at Tom, but Tom ignores him completely. He takes Rouse in his arms and carries her over to him. She moans at the wound in her side, but then remains silent. Without looking at Tom, she waited patiently to be taken back to the hotel. Now she had enough problems, for example; how the hell was she going to solve the job problem? She needed to work in order to pay off the debt that was growing every day with that sheriff. And on top of that, there was the kiss, what was I supposed to do with that event?

-What's wrong with him? Don't even think about going to work, I'll talk to Hilary so she won't give you a job these days.

-I'm not going to be living in that hotel for free, you're crazy.

-I'll take care of it.

-Don't even think you'll pay for my stay, don't take rights I didn't give you.

-Do you plan to live on the street? Or better still, work till you lose your feet, or die?

-And you'd be pretty quiet if that happened. What the hell do you care if I die or not?

Tom enters the blonde's room, laying her down on the bed carefully, looking at her for a moment in silence, causing some discomfort in the atmosphere.

-I told you I'm not a f*****g bastard, I'm not going to let you die or lose any of your limbs because of your stupid pride.

At that moment, Rouse's heart exploded. No one in his life had ever said such a thing to him. That someone would feel concern for her wellbeing was rare. Despite feeling a little strange and uneasy, one question kept nagging at the back of her mind. Why was she doing this? -What is the point of this, Mr. Wesley?

The sheriff takes off his hat, becoming less domineering and more of a common man... at that the blonde looks down and notices that gold star badge hanging on his chest, even so, he was still an officer, the authority... the law.

-If it is in my hands to save someone in this town, I will do it, and even if you are not, I will not allow anything to happen to you," he said with a soft voice that accelerated his heartbeat. So I warn you not to do anything stupid," he adds in an irritated tone as he puts on his hat.

She blinked, feeling stupid, at first he spoke softly, even as if he was genuinely concerned, then he went back to being the same idiot he was before. She turned her face away.

-You can't force me to stay locked in this room for life, Mr. Wesley.

-Do you think so? -She widens her eyes, but without looking at him.