Nick couldn't find Lydia fast enough.

After Samantha had given him the letter, he rushed through town to find people who might have seen what had happened. Only two men reported seeing a large man carrying an unconscious woman and placing her on his horse near the hotel. At least the men both pointed in the same direction where they had seen Jakeson ride. However, in the dark, finding a rider carrying a woman was like a blind man trying to see the stars.

Although the odds were stacked against him of ever catching up to the outlaw, Nick couldn't give up. Lydia needed him, even if Jakeson had set a trap. Nick would find her no matter what obstacles fell before him. Fighting danger was something a Pinkerton agent did on a weekly basis, and he wouldn't let Jakeson win.

He had no clue how long he'd been riding, but when he noticed the small shack with smoke coming out of the chimney, he decided to take a peek to see who was inside. Keeping his horse as quiet as possible, he rode closer to the shack.

Nick found a place to dismount and tie his horse. There wasn't much light from the moon to see if anyone was lurking in the trees or another horse nearby. But he still moved cautiously toward the shack, holding his gun, ready to shoot and injure anything that moved.

His heartbeat thudded crazily against his ribs as he snuck toward the shack. Off in the distance, a wolf howled. Riding through this part of Montana at night was not wise, but he had no other choice. He would do anything to save Lydia, even if it meant putting his own life in danger.

Just as he neared the window, he stepped on a stick, breaking it. Silently, he muttered a cuss. Hopefully, only Nick and the crickets outside were the only ones to hear that.

He stepped to the window. The glass was filthy dirty, and cracked. Light from the fireplace inside the shack danced and created shadows, but he couldn't see anyone inside. Of course, that did mean someone wasn't hiding. They must have heard him approach, no matter how quiet he tried to be.

Slowly, he stepped toward the door. Trying to keep calm, he placed his hand on the doorknob.

Nick swallowed down the panic rising inside him and carefully twisted the knob. He paused, waiting for the person on the other side to yank open the door and try to surprise him. But it wasn't Nick who would be surprised.

He knelt on one knee, keeping his hand on the doorknob. Taking several deep breaths for courage, he gritted his teeth and prayed that he wouldn't get injured trying to save Lydia. She needed him now more than ever, whether she wanted to believe it or not.

After waiting a few, very long, seconds without nobody jumping out at him or shooting through the door, Nick pushed it open and lunged inside, still keeping low just in case. Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed something coming at him. In a split second, he tucked and rolled away from the object, stopping on his back. He pointed the gun toward the person who tried to cause him harm.

The moment he recognized Lydia, he gasped and shoved his gun back inside his holster. Her face was pale, and she swayed. Immediately, he scrambled to his knees, catching her as she crumpled to the floor.

Nick cradled her as he scooted away from the door, kicking it with his boot to close the door. If she was trying to hit his head with the log, that meant she was in her alone. Whether or not this was what Jakeson planned, Nick didn't know. But at the moment, Lydia needed medical attention.

"Lydia, it's me." He swept her hair out of her eyes.

She blinked several times as if trying to focus on his face. "Nick?"

"Yes, my sweet Lydia. I'm here now."

A heavy sigh escaped her mouth, and she leaned against him. He gently caressed her colorless cheek.

"Lydia? Where is Jakeson?"

"Who?"

"The man who took you."

"I don't know." She closed her eyes, and her head rolled against his chest. "I think I'm here alone."

"Well, if you are, it won't be for long." He adjusted her in his arms. "Can you stand?"

"I don't know."

Slowly, he helped her up as he rose to his feet, keeping a steady arm around her. Once she was standing, she opened her eyes and looked at him. Seconds later, she swayed against him, and he quickly tightened both arms around her waist to hold her up.

"I'm very dizzy, and my head hurts," she said.

"I'll carry you, then." He kissed her forehead. "We cannot stay here a minute longer."

He lifted her in his arms and carried her out of the shack. It was difficult to listen for the outlaw and focus on not dropping Lydia, even though she was as light as a feather. He prayed the whole way to his horse and then placed her on top of the horse first before mounting behind her. He took the reins tightly. She used his chest and the brace of his arms to fall against.

"Close your eyes, my darling Lydia. The ride will hurt your head, and I apologize for that now, but there is no way we can stay here."

She snuggled next to him and rested her cheek against his chest. "I understand."

He led the animal away from the shack but didn't go very fast. He couldn't forget about Jakeson and worry that the outlaw might still try to stop him. "You will probably feel sick to your stomach. Let me know, and I'll stop so that you can throw up."

She patted his thigh. "Is this how you felt after you'd been beaten?"

"Yes, and even how I felt when the doctor kept drugging me to sleep."

"Perhaps the doctor shouldn't have done that to you. I don't know how you handled feeling this way for all those days."

He smiled, and his heart melted. "I didn't feel like that the whole time. I was asleep a lot of the time, remember?"

"Uh, huh."

When Nick could finally see the moon, he dared to urge the horse faster. It didn't take long before she groaned and tried to scoot closer to him. He wrapped one arm around her waist, trying to hold her from bouncing all over. His heart ached for the discomfort she was going through right now. He if could take it away from her, he would in a heartbeat.

"Where... are we going?"

"Shhh." He kissed the side of her head. "Try not to talk. It will only make you sicker. But I know a cabin out of the way. It's about an hour's ride, but it will be safe. I doubt Jakeson knows about it. At least, I hope he doesn't. This place was purchased so that the Pinkerton agents had a safe place to go in case of trouble."

"All right."

He urged the horse faster, holding her against him as they rode. From time to time, he heard her groans, and he nearly couldn't stand being the reason she was in pain. However, once they were at the cabin, he would wait on her hand and foot until her pain was gone. Head injuries were dangerous, but he was used to it and could recover quickly. Not Lydia. She'd probably never had anything worse than a bump on the head.

A few times, he wondered if she had lost consciousness because she crumpled in his arms. But then he felt her stiffen and resume somewhat of her posture. He almost wished she would stay unconscious. Then she wouldn't be in agony.

Finally, they reached the cabin. No lights were on, and there was no fire in the hearth. They would be alone, but he didn't mind. Of course, she might when she realized where they were. Unfortunately, taking her back to Stumptown wasn't an option, mainly because Jakeson found her there once, the outlaw would surely find her there again.

It was easier to carry her this time. She fit so well in his arms and cuddled nicely against him. Of course, he wouldn't say anything to her about it. He didn't want her upset at him in any way.

Thankfully, he knew where the closest couch was and could see well enough to not trip on anything in the darkened cabin. Once he had her lying on the cushions, he lifted the Afghan blanket off the back of the couch and spread it over her.

He quickly moved to the fireplace and stacked the kindling in the hearth. It took a little longer to start the fire, but only because he was impatient. Lydia was probably freezing by now, and due to her weakened state from the loss of blood, he would have to help warm her up any way he could.

Once the flames had taken to the logs, he moved back to the couch and lifted her gently so that he could hold her. She didn't complain about the closeness between them, for which he was relieved. But she was trembling terribly. Using the palms of his hands, he rubbed her arms and back.

Several minutes passed, with the only sound being the popping of the logs. Soon, her shivering subsided. She moved her hand up to her neck. Suddenly, she gasped and pulled back.

"My necklace is gone!"

He studied her neck for a moment. The necklace she toyed with from time to time was indeed missing. "Do you think Jakeson took it from you?"

She nodded slowly as tears filled her eyes. "Why would he do that? The locket wasn't worth any money. It was given to me by my mother."

"Oh, my darling Lydia." He bundled her close to him again. "Once we find him, I'll make him give it back to you."

Gradually, the trembling in her body subsided. "Nicholas?"

"Yes."

"Were you able to get a good look at the cut on my head?"

"Not yet, but I will. I wanted to warm you up first."

"I think the bleeding has stopped."

He nodded. "Your hair is coated with dried blood, but I'll wash it out. You won't have to move a muscle." He kissed her forehead. "Since you took care of me while I was recovering, it's my turn to do the same for you."

She grasped one of his hands, stopping it from moving on her arm. "Nicholas? Why are you doing this for me?"

He wanted to chuckle, but he refrained. "Why do you think?"

"I wish I knew. I mean, you have confused me since we first met. One minute you're hot – so very hot, and one minute you are cold as ice. I just don't know what to think about your actions anymore."

Sighing heavily, he lost his smile. She was correct. His moods had jumped from one extreme to the other. Strange, but he only acted this way when he was around Lydia.

"Forgive me for confusing you. That wasn't my intention," he said softly.

"Will you tell me what your intention is?"

If she had asked him this the day that she had found him beaten and bleeding on the road, he wouldn't have been able to tell her. But now, he knew exactly what he wanted.

"I'm not usually a loss for words," he began as he continued to stroke her arm. "However, since meeting you a month ago, you have put my mind in a dither."

"A dither?" she said with a small laugh.

"Exactly, which is why I feel at a loss for words." He paused briefly. "First, it was your beauty that I was attracted to. You were so vulnerable, and when you realized what your sister and Alan Cartwright were doing, you were so heartbroken. I've always been a weakling when it comes to weeping women. And well, we were there at the right moment, but the timing was way off."

He moved his hand to cup the side of her face as he carefully lifted it to look at his face. "Kissing you was more amazing than I was prepared for. You are such a passionate woman, and you had fallen in my arms so fast, which made the situation that much more wonderful. Yet, I wasn't ready for a relationship. It seems I have never been ready."

Her eyelashes fluttered, and the shadows danced on her cheeks. "Is that why you left without saying a word?"

"Yes." He stroked the pad of his thumb along her jaw. "I knew if I stayed with you any longer, I wouldn't want to return to being a Pinkerton agent." Her expression relaxed, and he thought he saw a hint of a smile. "Yes, my darling Lydia, you have that kind of effect on me."

"What about now? Why couldn't you wait to get away from me after the sheriff left your room earlier today?"

"Because I knew Jakeson was in town. He was the mean man you saw who startled you before entering the hotel to find your room broken into."

"Was he the one who did that?"

Nick shrugged. "I don't think so. Jakeson doesn't just mess things up. If you had diamond or anything worth money, he would have taken them." His gaze dropped to her mouth, wanting to kiss her again but knowing it would never happen tonight. He needed to help her recover from her injury first.

"Then..." She licked her lips. "Why were you trying to apologize to me?"

He moved his gaze back to her mesmerizing gray eyes. "I wanted to tell you how sorry I was for treating you the way I did while you were taking care of me. I shouldn't have been so awful toward you."

"Why were you that way?"

"Because I knew that spending time with you would make me want to kiss you again. Plus, I knew you were only helping me out because you had made a promise to do so – not because you wanted to."

She smiled. "But Nicholas, I did want to, even though I wished I could have felt differently."

"Why?" He adjusted her in his arms just to cuddle her closer.

"I thought you didn't like me."

He chuckled softly. "Oh, my darling Lydia. I liked you too much and fought it the whole time."

She lifted her hand and touched his cheek. "I'll ask you again. Nicholas, what are your intentions?"

Heavens! Her touch melted him every time. She would be the death of him, not the outlaws he tracked.

"I want you in my life, Lydia. After leaving you a month ago, I couldn't get you out of my thoughts. And once you rescued me, I came to realize I enjoyed gazing into your lovely eyes and kissing your sweet lips." He leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. "And I pray you want me in your life, too. Because being away from you is terribly miserable."

As he withdrew, she was smiling even though her eyes were closed. "Yes... very miserable."

She was exhausted, he could tell. He wanted her to rest, but he needed to wash out the blood in her hair first. Then again, maybe she would sleep while he took care of her hair.

"For now, my darling Lydia, just relax and let me help you. I'll protect you from Jakeson, I promise."

Her eyes didn't open, but she kept the smile on her face while she drifted to sleep. She was breathtaking, and he couldn't wait for her to gain her strength back so that they could actually enjoy each other's company instead of fighting their feelings.

Now that he knew how she truly felt about him, he would never let her go.