Colton's Folly (Native American contemporary romance) Read Online Free

on the bed. “Lie back,” he directed curtly. “I’ll get a cold cloth.”
    Abby did as she was told, and he returned only moments later, the chill in his tone matched perfectly by the ice-cold compresses he placed at the back of her head and on her forehead. But when she began to shiver he lifted her gently, freeing the covers, which he then tucked around her, waiting until the warmth calmed her.
    “Better?”
    Hoping to ease the tension between them, she teased, “Much better, Dr. Tallman. Thank you.” After a pause she asked, “Is your chin okay?”
    “I’m fine. And just call me Cat, please. The flattery is unwarranted... and futile.” Abby felt herself flush at the rebuke, but he chuckled. “That brought some color to your cheeks, didn’t it?”
    “You have a way of doing that to me,” she answered ruefully.
    “I’ve noticed.”
    He checked her pulse, grateful that only he knew how his own was racing shamefully at her nearness. Then he removed the cloth to look at her forehead and check the bump rising at the back of her head, his fingers pressing lightly on the bruises.
    “Sorry,” he said, as Abby winced. “Didn’t mean to hurt you. You’ll have some swelling for a day or two, I’m afraid, and a black-and-blue mark for a few more beyond that. It can’t be helped; you broke some blood vessels.”
    “Actually, I think it was your chin that broke them.”
    He looked up sharply, saw her smile and responded with a small one of his own. “Let’s say we both contributed something.”
    “See what we can accomplish when we put our heads together?” Her eyes sparkled, and her smile was open and friendly despite her discomfort.
    Too open, and too friendly, Cat thought. “Don’t waste your time trying to cultivate me, Miss Colton. I’m not that easily manipulated.” The smile faded, and the sparkle dimmed. “See you in court,” he tossed off casually.
    Then he was gone. He’s a lost cause, Abby thought. An objective that needs more patience, more energy and more desire to attain than I have to expend.
    She swung her legs slowly off the bed and very carefully stood upright. Deciding that everything was in order, she picked up her towels and clothes and made her way back to the bathroom.
    At eleven o’clock, Abby and Arthur Koehler walked into the council building and down a short corridor to the office of the school board. She had dressed simply in a silky, off- white man-tailored blouse and a softly pleated beige wool skirt topped with a tweed jacket. Her brown pumps added a good two inches to her already considerable height, but she’d honestly felt the need to present an imposing image, if only to bolster her self-confidence for this first meeting with her new employers.
    Outside the closed door she paused to gather herself together. Under one arm she tucked the envelope she was carrying; then she ran her damp palms down the sides of her jacket, took one deep calming breath and nodded to Arthur, who rapped softly.
    A voice spoke from within, and he opened the door, letting her precede him into the room. He closed the door behind him, and with a hand ushered her forward to stand directly in front of the long table behind which sat four men and one young woman, who seemed to be about Abby’s age. In her nervousness, Abby found it impossible to focus on individual features, and one face merged into another. She knew this would pass, though, and concentrated instead on the things that were being said.
    The man in the middle rose and extended a hand, first to Arthur, then to Abby. “Good morning, Arthur, and hello to our new teacher.”
    Abby acknowledged the greeting and before long found herself deep in a discussion of her plans for the children. The board members were surprisingly receptive, and for the first time she dared to hope for eventual success.
    “I’m sure you all realize that problems will arise, but I’ll work very hard to make something good happen. And I’ll be grateful for