Liam couldn't quite believe he was riding into town. Hadn't he just made the same trip yesterday? Didn't he usually go weeks, sometimes even months, between trips to town?

The answer to those questions was yes. He was man enough to admit—to himself at least—that Emma had gotten under his skin and was the reason for his coming into town today.

He did at least attempt to convince himself that it was only worry for the woman that had him wanting to check on her and not anything more tender or meaningful....but he wasn't a very well-practiced liar.

Liam's thought of Emma were interrupted by loud shouts from the nearby mercantile. Turning his head, Liam saw three boys closing in on a woman. They were yelling and insulting her—threatening violence.

All of that would have been enough to send Liam to intervene—then Liam realized who the woman was and his temper flared to life.

Hopping off Honey and leading her by the reins, Liam stepped up behind a trembling Emma and put his hand on her shoulder. "Is there a problem here?" he demanded, forcing his voice to remain even and calm.

The last thing Emma needed just now was to have him yelling and showing proof of just how angry he was.

"Liam...?" Emma's soft voice whispered. Her shaking stopped and she leaned back into him. Her tiny body, barely more than five feet, would have fit perfectly against Liam's chest had he slid his arm around her.

Damn.

Liam's legs shook and his heart pounded.

Emma did things to him that no other woman had ever done before.... And he was sure she didn't even realize it.

"Mr. McIntyre?" Liam recognized the boy who'd been taunting and threatening Emma the loudest.

"William?" Liam's gaze narrowed at the boy. "Does your mama know you're in town bullying ladies?"

William's face paled. "Don't tell her Mr. McIntyre," he pleaded. "She'll whoop me good."

"She should," Lauren spat.

Liam smiled at the feisty dark-haired girl. His aunt certainly had her hands full with that one.

"Lauren, could you and Sally take Emma back to my Aunt's while I have a talk with the boys?"

Emma turned and those wide blue eyes stared up into his. She appeared frightened, confused and ashamed. Liam fought the urge to gather her tiny body up into his arms and protect her, shield her, from all the bad in the world.

"Can ya..." Emma swallowed hard. "I'd like it if ya could..."

Liam somehow knew what she wanted without having to hear her say it. "I'll be along shortly," he promised.

Liam watched the trio of ladies walk down the road before turning his attention back to the trio of boys. "Please, don't tell my mama, Mr. McIntyre... I didn't realize the mountain lady was special to you."

Liam grumbled. "What she is or isn't to me doesn't matter. What matters is how you treated ladies. A man doesn't bully someone weaker than he is. And he certainly doesn't attack a weakness when he sees it."

William kicked at the dirt while the other two boys stared at their feet. "Yessir..." all three mumbled.

Liam sighed. "A man helps when he can, leads by example and is someone others can count on. If he doesn't have something important, helpful or meaningful to say, then he keeps his mouth shut."

This time William met his gaze. "Yessir."

"Now, if you'll give me your word that you'll apologize to Miss Emma, Miss Sally and Miss Lauren the next time you see them, I won't tell your mama."

William smiled and nodded whole-heartedly. "Yes sir, Mr. McIntyre. We'll all apologize!"

Liam nodded at the boy. He knew his friends would do whatever William did. William was the ringleader among them. If Liam could help send William down a good path, the other two would follow.

A smile formed on Liam's face. "And William?" he added. "If you like Miss Lauren, you really should just tell her. Girls don't understand the pushing and shoving."

Liam turned and walked away, leaving William red-faced and stuttering while his friends laughed.

Knowing he had to check on Emma, Liam headed that way. He wasn't sure why she'd gotten so worked up over young boys teasing her but he had to see her now and ensure she was okay.

Liam couldn't go home until he saw her smile at least once.....

Stepping into his Aunt's home, Liam found Emma in the kitchen surrounded by Anita, Sally and Lauren. A cup of tea was in her hand and a weak smile was on her lips as everyone fussed over her.

Liam didn't need to speak. It was clear that Emma sensed his presence as her eyes found him. "Hello Liam..." she greeted weakly.

"Hi there, Emma."

His Aunt came rushing forward, her face flushed and her gestures animated. "I won't tolerate this, Liam!"

Liam laid his hand on her soft shoulders and nodded. "Aunt Anita, I spoke with the boys...."

She snorted. "Yes, those hellions were bad but I'm talking about Mrs. Ryan and the trouble you caused!"

Liam noticed the brown paper packages and frowned. "I caused trouble? How?"

"Did you have to go in that dress shop and leave money for Emma? Of all the times for you to finally take an interest in a woman, did you have to announce it to that heifer?"

Liam scratched at his thick brown hair with confusion. He could only focus on part of that rant at once. "I put money there because that's the shop you always use, isn't it?"

Anita rolled her eyes, clearly exasperated by her nephew. "Yes, but, did you have to use it? All you accomplished was to draw more anger toward Emma!"

Liam felt lost. "Why?"

"Because you showed a special interest in Emma. To Mrs. Ryan of all people. Bethany's mother," Sally informed him.

"Get it now?" Lauren demanded.

Liam let out a long sigh. People were complicated. Relationships were complicated. That's why Liam avoided both and kept his dealings with them to a minimum.

He rubbed roughly at his face and glared at the three woman standing between himself and Emma. "Can we have some privacy? I'd like to speak with Emma."

Anita put her hands on her ample hips. "You better make things right, Liam...."

Liam motioned toward the door. "Let me talk to Emma."

"We'll leave you to talk," Anita relented, leading Sally and Lauren from the room.

Liam sat down at the table across from Emma. He let out a sigh. "Emma, I... I'm sorry if I caused trouble for you. I'll admit I'm a simple man and don't often put much thought into how other people might react to things. People confuse me."

Emma stared into the cup of tea in her hands. "No... Ya didn't cause trouble. At least not too bad, really."

Liam shoved his hand through his hair causing it to fall across his brow. He wished she'd look at him. He wanted to see those blue eyes. "I should have thought before I gave that woman the money though. Aunt Anita was right about that."

"She wouldn't have like me anyhow," Emma assured him. "She doesn't seem to like Anita's girls."

Liam surprised even himself when he reached out and took her hand. "Don't you worry about her. She's got her nose so high in the air, it's a miracle a bird hasn't nested in a nostril."

Emma laughed lightly, a smile remaining on her lips as she finally looked at him. Liam felt his heart tighten almost painfully in his chest. This woman had him wrapped around her finger bad... and he wasn't sure yet if that's where he wanted to be.

Silence fell as they simply stared at one another. Liam didn't mind. He enjoyed quiet. He stroked Emma's soft knuckle with his calloused thumb and felt a peace come over him that he'd only ever felt in the last few days since knowing her.

"Liam....?" Emma began quietly. "Why did ya help me again? Why would ya leave that money? Ya had to know that Anita buys her girls the clothes they need."

Liam shifted in his chair. "My aunt always taught me to help others. I was just trying to do as I was taught."

Emma bit her lip and Liam was certain he saw pain and disappointment in her blue eyes before she averted her gaze. Liam grumbled under his breath.

What did the woman want him to say? That he helped her because she had gotten to him and he had to know that she was protected and provided for?

No, he wasn't about to say that.....

"I'm sorry again for any trouble I caused," he muttered as he pulled his hand away and stood up. "Don't mind them boys too much. I spoke to them and they won't be bothering you anymore. Most boys go through a stage where they think bullying makes them tough. Hopefully, I showed them different today."

"I've heard worse than they said," Emma whispered, not looking away from her tea.

Liam's fists clenched. Damn but he wanted to touch her. He wanted to hold her close to him, breathe in the scent of her hair and kiss away every line of worry and pain etched so deeply into her face.

"I'll see you around, Emma...."

Without waiting for Emma to reply, Liam made a run for it. He needed to go back to his uncomplicated life. His solitary life.

As he slid onto Honey's back another description of his life entered his mind that had Liam's heart hurting.

Lonely.

But lonely was better than broken.... He'd seen the harm that love could cause.... He wasn't eager to end up in that shape.

Liam pointed Honey toward the road out of town and headed that way quickly.

e