Page 18 of Teton Sunrise
“There. That wasn’t too deep,” Aimee said after a few minutes. “Let me sew this up, and you’ll be good as new. Like a seamstress, Aimee’s arm moved up and down, a needle and thread in her hand. With a quick snip of a pair of scissors, she cut through the ends of the sting. Had she actually sewn Alex’s skin back together?
Sudden anger coursed through Evelyn. Why was she hiding out, watching this woman care for the man who had shattered her world to pieces? Her eyes fell to the knife lying on the ground next to Aimee. Without contemplating her actions, Evelyn pushed through the tent opening and lunged for the weapon. With trembling hands, she held it in a tight grip and took a step back. Aimee jumped to her feet, and so did Alex. Blood covered his chest.
“Why do you help him? You should have driven this knife through his black heart,” Evelyn shouted, her wide eyes darting from Aimee to Sarah.
Aimee held one hand out in front of her, the other motioned for Sarah to stay back. She shot a quick look at Alex, whose eyes briefly widened in surprise before his brows furrowed. He took a step toward her, and Evelyn thrust the knife out in front of her. Quicker than she could blink, Alex’s arm snaked out and his hand wrapped around Evelyn’s wrist. With a soft cry of surprise, she dropped her weapon.
“Hello, Evie,” Alex said slowly. “I figured this would be the sort of greeting I would receive. You certainly didn’t disappoint.”
She pulled away from him, but his hand of steel held tightly to her wrist. His grip intensified, and his cold stare sent a wave of dread down her spine.
“You vile, evil monster,” she spat. “You killed my parents. After all they did for you, why did you kill them?” She swung back with her free hand, then brought it forward in an attempt to strike his face, but Alex’s reflexes were faster. He grabbed her other wrist, then pinned both her arms to her sides, stepping closer to her. His bushy face was mere inches from hers. Evelyn stared up into his deep blue eyes, her heart pounding fiercely in her chest.
“Let’s get one thing straight, Evie,” he said in a low, menacing voice. “I don’t know who gave you or Henry the idea that I killed your folks, but whoever is accusing me of that is a liar.”
“Release me, you savage.” Evelyn gritted her teeth. The more she squirmed, the tighter he squeezed her wrists until his hold was almost painful.
“Alex, let her go,” Aimee said softly. She stepped to his side and placed her hand on his arm. “You’re hurting her.”
As if Aimee had slapped him, Alex’s head whipped around to look at the blond woman, breaking his intense eye contact with Evelyn. Then he glared at his hands gripping her wrists. He released her as if she’d burned him and took several steps back. His eyes wide with surprise, he cursed under his breath, and turned toward the fire. His hands balled into tight fists at his side.
Aimee reached out and placed her arm around Evelyn’s shoulders. Too stunned to move, she stood there for a moment and stared at Alex’s back. Every muscle along his spine tensed.
“Come on, Miss Lewis,” Aimee said in a soothing voice. “I see there are some misunderstandings here, but I know we can work them out. Let’s get you back to the tent. You’ve been through quite an ordeal and need to rest.”
Her mind reeled with what Alex had said, but Evelyn allowed the woman to guide her back toward the tent. She rubbed at her sore wrists, and cast one final look in Alex’s direction. He stared back at her, his eyes filled with anguish and remorse so intense it reached out and gripped her around the heart.
Chapter 6
Alex sat along the banks of a slow-moving creek that meandered through the valley some distance from the main camp. Savoring the solitude, he absently tossed rocks into the water, the deep plopping sound amplified in the stillness of the morning. Fog hovered over the tall meadow grass, giving the entire area an almost ghost-like appearance. In the distance, the jagged snow-capped mountain peaks of the Teewinots stretched toward the sky. The rising sun cast a golden coppery glow across the tops of the three tallest peaks, the lights and shadows changing from one minute to the next. Gold and copper, just like Evie’s hair when the sun touched it just right.
Alex hurled a large stone far out and over the water, the projectile landing somewhere in the grass on the opposite bank. Clenching his jaw, he pushed himself up off the ground. The wound on his chest throbbed dully. He welcomed the pain.
Let her go, Alex. You’re hurting her. Aimee’s words from the previous day repeated over and over in his mind. How much pain would he have inflicted on Evie if Aimee hadn’t stepped in to stop him?