Chained Apache Woman Begged Him to Do Anything — The Cowboy Did the Unexpected Thing
Chapter 15
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"I could use a week, but I'll settle for what I can get."She smiled and left. Caleb sat on the bed, feeling the softness of a real mattress for the first time in what felt like forever. The adrenaline that had kept him moving was finally fading, leaving only bone-deep exhaustion.But he didn't sleep, not yet. Instead, he stood at the window, watching the compound's activity, trying to understand what he'd walked into.A knock at the door. Ayla entered without waiting for an invitation."How are your ribs?" he asked."Hurt like hell, but Clara's doctor re-wrapped them properly." She moved to stand beside him at the window. "This is real, isn't it? This rebellion, this war.""Seems like it.""And we're in the middle of it now.""Also seems like it."She turned to face him. "Caleb, you still have a choice. You could take one of Clara's horses tonight. Ride west. By morning, you'd be far enough away that none of this would follow you.""Why do you keep trying to get rid of me?""Because I care what happens to you! Because you didn't ask for any of this! And because..." She paused. "...because I've seen what war does to people. I've seen my father and the Carvers turn into monsters in the name of power. I don't want that to happen to you.""It won't.""You can't know that. War changes everyone.""Then maybe I need to be around people who will remind me who I am. People like you."She looked away, but not before he saw something flicker in her eyes: gratitude, maybe, or hope."I'm not good at this," she said quietly. "At trusting people. At letting them in. My father taught me that everyone wants something, and if you can't figure out what it is, you're the one being used.""What do you think I want?""I don't know. That's what scares me."Caleb moved closer, but didn't touch her. "I want to see you safe. I want to see you free. I want to see you make choices because you want to, not because someone's forcing you. That's all I want.""Why?""Because in a world full of people who take, I'd like to be someone who gives. Even if it costs me everything."She studied his face, searching for deception or hidden motives. Finding none, she did something unexpected: she stepped forward and rested her forehead against his shoulder."You're a good man, Caleb Roark. I'm not used to good men."He carefully put his arms around her, mindful of her injuries. For a moment, they just stood there: two broken people holding each other up.A sharp knock interrupted them. They stepped apart as Thomas entered. "Clara wants to see you both. Now."The war room was full when they arrived: 20 people crowded around a large table covered in maps and papers. Clara stood at the head, her expression grim."We have news," she said without preamble. "Marcus has heard about the attack. He's calling a gathering of all family heads for three days from now. He's claiming I've kidnapped Ayla, that I'm using her to try to seize control of the family."