Page 21 of Honoring Freedom

She removed her gaze from him and went back to conversing with the smooth talker across from her.

Whoa, Keller. Calm down.

He felt the urge to stand on a table and challenge every interested man in the room to a duel. God forgive him. He was one frayed nerve away from unraveling.

The need had such a tight hold on him that it cut off the oxygen to his brain.

Thankfully, Ned Cooper, an old buddy approached Keller and occupied his mind. They talked about their college days, girls they loved and lost and all the parties they used to attend. Keller didn’t remember any of the girls’ names, or even the parties. He either had a bad memory or he was preoccupied with Freedom who gave him a curious smile.

It was a good thing that they weren’t alone and had a length of planked floor between them because he would have only the filthiest of words spewing from his mouth right now because she was heading to dance with a cowboy—somecowboy. Keller didn’t care who the man was. He felt the need to rush over, scoop her over his shoulder and carry her out the door of the bar. They might make it to the truck before he did fifty sinful things to her that would tattoo a goddess blush on her cheeks.

He hoped she didn’t make the mistake of thinking he was the shy, unskilled young man he used to be.

The air flowing through the open doors rolled in and lifted the ends of her hair off her back. A good portion of her skin was exposed in the dress and his mouth watered. The cowboy she was dancing with laid his fingers on her back and Keller wanted to throat punch the man.

Forcing his beer down his throat, Keller didn’t like the anger rushing through him. He’d never been one to pick a fight. Yet, the night was young.

Ned said something and Keller blindly nodded.

“That’s wonderful. How long have you two been together?”

Keller focused on those words from his friend. He only half heard but it didn’t take genius to figure out that Ned was referring to Freedom and the fact that Keller just confirmed that they were a couple. He couldn’t recant now. “A few months,” he tossed out randomly.

“She’s quite the looker. You’re a lucky man, my friend.” Ned elbowed Keller’s shoulder. “I don’t know if I could handle another man touching a beauty like her.”

If only Ned knew…

Keller tossed his cup into a trash can and strolled over onto the dance floor. “Excuse me, I think it’s time for me to cut in,” he said brazenly to the cowboy.

The man swiped his gaze around on Keller but the taller man, not by a lot but only an inch or two, must have seen the steely glint in Keller’s eyes because he didn’t make a peep of resistance. He dipped his hat to Freedom and wisely took his leave.

Taking the man’s place, Keller wrapped his arms around her slender waist and held her close. He could feel her heat through the thin fabric of the dress and her soft gaze on him. Holding her felt right and he had a glimpse of his future, holding her every day, comforting her and protecting her, not that she needed protection.

“That was very rude of you,” she whispered.

“And it was very rude of the cowboy,” he grunted.

“What was he doing?”

“Touching you,” he said blatantly.

She closed her eyes a second as if to gain equilibrium that she’d lost under the spell of his words. “Mathew is a friend.”

“He wants more.”

“How do you know?”

“I’m a man. I know these things.” He cupped her cheek, not caring if the entire world saw. “Did I tell you how beautiful you are tonight?”

“Yes.” Her radiant smile made her eyes twinkle. “That scowl tells me you’re not enjoying yourself.”

He lowered his hand to her waist. “Immensely.” He was fully aware that his voice was tinged with the turmoil happening inside his gut.

They glided across the floor, and he kept her close by. The smell of alcohol was heavy in the air. The ranchers were starting to get drunk as was the norm at these celebrations. Most of the guests were men, and with only a handful of women there, including the bartender, Keller felt the urge to keep Freedom even closer. He knew his worries were silly, but he understood the game. When there were only a few women around, cowboys tended to make fools of themselves trying to get noticed by a pretty lady.

“How much longer do we have to stay?” he asked, noticing that the circle of men near the bar seemed to have special interest in Freedom.

“You were the one who wanted to come, remember?”