Page 12 of Mountain Man's Bride

She’d scared me today. Terrified me. And I was determined never to feel like that again.

Two days later, she was finally released from the hospital. Dr. Turner had specially made a trip into the city to see her, and he reprimanded her for going backward in her recovery. He stressed alarms—not phone ones that could easily be missed but regular alarms on alarm clocks—and someone keeping track of her meals.

What she didn’t know but I quietly informed Dr. Turner about, was that she would no longer be alone. I’d already had my brothers move her things into my room, and we would all be trading off shifts throughout the day so someone was with her at all times.

I hated treating her like a child, but until she stopped being so forgetful, I didn’t have a choice. Her health and her life were way too important to keep letting this slide.

She sighed when I turned the truck off in front of the house. My brothers were all sitting on the porch, drinking coffee, ready to welcome her home. But they were also here so she had an army standing against her when she began to rant and yell when she realized what I’d done and the fact that she was going to be babysat.

I already knew she wasn’t going to take this easily.

“They were worried about you,” I calmly told her when she just frowned at them through the windshield. “Stay there until I come to let you out.”

She nodded and began to unbuckle her seatbelt. I pushed my door open before hopping out. Striding around the hood of the truck, I opened her door and then grabbed her hand in mine so she could step out of the truck with ease. All of my brothers stood from their perches when I led her to the porch, and Weston shoved the front door open.

“Let’s sit in the living room,” I told her.

“I’ve got this distinct feeling that you all are ganging up on me,” she said, cutting me the side-eye.

I sighed. “Because we sort of are.” I led her to the couch and took a seat, gently tugging on her hand. “Come on. Sit down.”

She sighed and sank onto the couch next to me. My brothers all took up seats on the other couches. Releasing her hand, I leaned forward, bracing my elbows on my knees.

“So, here’s the thing,” I began, turning my head to look at my wife, “I’m worried I can’t trust you to take care of yourself.” Her look soured. I pushed on. “My brothers and I came up with a plan to make sure someone is with you at all times. We’ll switch out throughout the day, and I, of course, will be with you at night time.”

Her face pinched. “I don’t like the way you said that.”

Nash chuckled. I shot him a dark look. Jesse elbowed him in the ribs, and in return, Nash shoved him so he fell against Eli. Eli grunted, shooting them both a dirty look.

“I moved you into my room,” I told her.

It took a moment for my words to register, but when they finally did, she exploded. I shot up from the couch at the same time she did. Her face was turning red, and her hands were clenched into fists.

How she still managed to look so sinfully good while raging, I had no clue.

“I am not staying in your room with you!” she yelled at me.

“Too late,” I calmly said with a shrug, crossing my arms over my broad chest. “Your things have already been moved.” I stepped closer to her. “And if you think you can pull a fast one on me and sleep in your old room, I’d advise you to remember I have a key to every room in this house. You cannot hide from me.”

“I could slap you,” she seethed.

I shrugged. “Do it,” I taunted. “If it’ll make you feel better, go on and slap me. Give it your all. But it’s still not changing anything I’m doing.”

Tears brimmed in her eyes, and I couldn’t tell if they were from anger or sadness. Either way, they gutted me. But I knew I was doing what was best for her. “You’re ripping away my independence.”

I shook my head at her. “We’ll worry about your independence when your health isn’t on the line, Everlee. Until then, we’re doing things my way.”

“I hate you,” she spat at me. “I hate you with every fiber of my being, Tripp Walker.”

I gripped the side of her neck, tired of her arguing and childlike behavior. She squeaked when I kissed her, effectively shutting her up. The kiss didn’t last but a second, but it left me reeling.

“Hate me, sweetheart,” I rasped. “But remember, there’s a thin line between love and hate.”

My brothers stood up, and Nash tipped his hat at Everlee. “See you in the morning, sister-in-law.”

She was still too stunned by my kiss to respond.

CHAPTER 7