Following Orders

Ben & Liana

Running upstairs and through the bedroom into Ben's study, Liana wrapped her arms around his neck as he sat in his chair. "Hi. I missed you! What have you been doing all day?"

"Workin'," Ben told her, drawing her around onto his lap and kissed her soundly. "Tryin' to replace all that money you've been out spendin'," he went on with a grin.

She knew he was teasing. He was always trying to get her to spend more, to get used to the fact that she had money now and didn't have to watch every penny. "Hope you made lots then," she teased back. "I bought out every store in Coff's."

"Honey." His voice and expression became serious. "What I've really been doin' is worryin' all day."

"Worrying?" She brushed a lock of his chestnut hair back and left her hand against his cheek. "What are you worried about? Tell me what I can do to help." Her own expression mirrored his. She'd learned to take her cues from him since they'd been married.

He smiled a little. "I'm glad that's how you feel," he said, meeting her eyes. "I want you to stay away from Kate Harbor."

Liana looked puzzled. "Kate? Why? We had a good time today."

Lifting her off his lap, Ben pushed away from his desk. "I've always told you that Sid Harbor is hidin' somethin'. I don' know what it is an' I don' care, as long as it's got nothin' to do with me or with us. But there's somethin' up his sleeve. Maybe his wife knows an' maybe she doesn't, but I don't wanna take any chances."

He saw Liana's argument coming and let her talk. "But Ben- Kate seems perfectly nice. Just a little lonely because she hasn't had many friends around here. Besides, you're talking about something that probably has nothing to do with us anyway, and you don't even know what her husband is hiding."

Liana crossed her arms and faced him. "I like Kate. I've invited her over to visit one day." Her face had the stubborn look on it that Ben knew well. Most of the time he conceded to it because he found it hard saying no to her.

This time, though, was different. Keeping her and the baby safe were too important to him. Like it or not, she'd have to follow his orders.

"Then you'll have to un-invite her," he said flatly, the look in his eyes plainly saying that he fully expected to be obeyed. "You're to have nothin' else to do with her."

"That's final, Liana." His eyes warned her to say no more, as he saw another argument coming.

"Someone was in this house the other night, you know," he reminded her. "I don' know who it was, an' I've taken steps to make sure it can't happen again, but I'm gonna make damn sure there's no danger to you or the baby from any other direction either." His voice was hard.

"You married an outlaw, darlin'. Remember?" His voice was icy. "Outlaws make enemies, and there's still a few of my enemies I haven't killed...yet."

His tone and the look in his eyes reminded Liana very quickly of the fact that she'd married an outlaw. A man who'd killed other men as easily as he sat down to breakfast every morning.

As he drew her into his arms, she shivered at the coldness that she had seen in his eyes. She felt very sorry for any of his enemies who were still out there.