Page 86 of Colorado Bride

“So you sinks I’s beautiful.Hiccup.But you can’t love me, ‘causin Melissa hurted you.”

Ben’s movements became jerky as he put away the supplies.

“Hiccup.”

“You know how I feel.Love isn’t an emotion I can feel any longer.”

“But you like me, don’t you?I sinks you do.Hiccup.”

She leaned forward and rested her forehead on Ben’s shoulder as he faced her in a chair.

“Here now,” he took her by her left arm and sat her up straight.

“You’ll fall over if you’re not careful.”

“Not fall over.I’m perfectly fine.”

She was listing to the right and he saw she couldn’t seem to correct herself from leaning over.

Ben took her by the arm again and righted her.

“You just sit right there for a minute and then I’ll take you to bed.”He got up and went to the sink.

She giggled.

“I like when you take me to bed.”

“That’s the liquor talking.You’re hammered.”

She hung her head and then righted it.

“I hurt, Ben.”

He came over to her and handed her a glass of water.

“I want you to drink this down.It will help you feel better.”

She dutifully drank the water.

He picked her up in his arms careful of her injury.

“I know you hurt and, unfortunately, you’ll hurt worse when the whiskey wears off, but the laudanum I just gave you should help you sleep and ease your pain.”

She wrapped her good arm around his neck.

“I love ya, Ben.”

“I know you do.”

“Dis is where ya tell me ya love me back.”

“I know.”

She nodded.“Okay, long as ya know.”

She laid her head on his shoulder.

He carried her upstairs.