Faithful Heart Read Online Free Page B

telling Breanna about different medical procedures she had seen her father use, and Breanna listened intently.
    Their conversation was interrupted when a rugged-looking sergeant stepped up and said, “Excuse me, ladies. May I butt in?”
    “It appears you already did,” Carolyne said. “What can we do for you, Sergeant?”
    “Pardon my forwardness, but I’ve been wantin’ to meet the pretty nurse here, and I thought now would be as good a time as any.” He looked down at Breanna, grinned, and said softly, “Miss Breanna, my name’s Bill Finley. I … ah—”
    “Are you not feeling well, Sergeant?” Breanna said, rising to her feet. “Tell me what’s hurting. I have medicines for various sicknesses and hurts.”
    Finley grinned and replied, “I’m fine, ma’am, except …”
    “Except what?”
    “Except I’d just like to get to know you. I really have a strong feelin’ toward you.”
    “I appreciate your straightforwardness, Sergeant,” she said, smiling, “but let me say as kindly as I know how—I’m already spoken for.” Breanna had been in this position more times than she could remember.
    “Words ain’t that bindin’, ma’am. I don’t see a ring on your left hand. I figure there might be a chance for a fella to come into your life and mean more to you than some fella who’s only spoken for you but not made it official.”
    “There is
no
chance, Sergeant. You may be excused.”
    “Whoa! Wait a minute now,” Finley chuckled, lifting palms forward. “I’m not one to back off easy. I think when a woman says no to a friendly man, she really means yes.”
    “You can take my word for it, Sergeant. When I say
no
, I mean
no
. Now, as I said, you may be excused.”
    Finley grinned, shook his head, and said, “Don’t you beat all? You see, honey, it’s a little feisty filly like you that really sparks interest in me. I like a gal with spirit.”
    Breanna’s attention was drawn to the towering figure of John Stranger, who stood six feet behind Finley. She had not noticed his approach and had no idea how long he had been standing there.
    “Are you hard of hearing, Sergeant?” she said. “I said you may be excused!”
    Finley took a step closer to her and, grinning broadly, said, “I can tell you like me, honey. Why not drop the indignant facade and admit it. You and I could make beautiful music together.”
    “Not with the discord you bring, Sergeant,” Stranger said. “Now move on.”
    Finley turned to face the owner of the voice. “What business is it of yours?” he gruffed.
    “Miss Baylor happens to be
my
woman, and we both like the arrangement. I have the utmost respect for the uniform of the United States Army, and I’d hate to bloody it. But the one you’re wearing
will
get bloody if you don’t move on. I heard the lady excuse you twice.” Few men had ever spoken so boldly to Bill Finley.
    “I was only tryin’ to make friends with the lady, mister. That ain’t no crime.”
    “It is when she doesn’t want to make friends and tells you to make tracks.”
    Neither man was aware that people were staring at them from every direction.
    “Well, I just decided I ain’t movin’ on unless you can make me,” Finley said, his eyes sparkling with the anticipation of battle.
    Breanna saw Stranger bristle. She rushed around Finley to face him, her back to John, and said, “Sergeant, believe me, if you force John, you’ll be sorry. You’ve never fought a man like him. I know what he can do, and I’m the one who’ll have to try to put you back together after he’s done with you. Take my word for it, you can’t win.”
    Finley lifted his line of sight to Stranger and felt the power of those icy gray eyes.
    “Listen to me,” Breanna said. “I can see that you’ve been in many a fight. Correct?”
    “Yeah.”
    “You win them all?”
    “No.”
    “Well, just think of the worst beating you ever took. Would you want to fight that man again?”
    The sergeant frowned.