Heartstrings Read Online Free

rider who were just arriving in town. “Stop!” she screamed at the man on the silver steed. “Stop immediately! You’re going to injure my parrot! Please—”
    Her shout died away when John the Baptist left the ground and flew directly into the huge gray horse’s chest. The skittish stallion reared suddenly, pitching his rider into an enormous pile of discarded stable flooring that lay on the side of the road.
    Knowing the man’s landing into the soft odorous heap couldn’t have hurt him, Theodosia raced past him, still intent on catching John the Baptist.
    The fallen rider started to rise, but fell back again when a flurry of blue skirts swiped him full across his face. Disbelieving, he watched the young woman weave along the dusty road in an effort to overtake the hysterical bird.
    Anger curled through him, as well as a hint of embarrassment. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been flung off a horse, and he’d certainly never been thrown into a smelly mountain of horse manure.
    He rose to his feet. While he brushed off his clothes, the squawking bird scurried toward him.
    Theodosia gasped in astonishment as the man scooped up her parrot with one smooth motion. “Oh, thank you!” she gushed, holding up her arms to receive her bird.
    The man did not relinquish the parrot. Lifting it higher, he stared up at it.
    John the Baptist stared back. “Would you be willing to impregnate me?”
    The man’s forehead furrowed into a deep scowl. “What the hell—”
    “Sir, please relinquish my bird to me,” Theodosia asked. “He’s unaccustomed to strenuous movement in such sultry heat.”
    He decided she was from one of those northeastern cities, where people dressed real fancy just to sit on little satin sofas and drink hot tea. People from there talked as she did, with a clipped accent sharp enough to slice leather if put to the test.
    “Sir,” Theodosia continued, “I must take prompt measures to provide my parrot with a cool place in which to reconcile himself to this change of environment.”
    He frowned in bewilderment. “What?”
    “He must rest.”
    “Lady, I’ve got a good mind to put this damned bird to rest for all of eternity!”
    Theodosia peered up into eyes so blue, they defied description. One moment they appeared turquoise; in the next they rivaled the clear true blue of cornflowers.
    The intensity of his gaze caused a fluttering sensation inside her. It warmed her, tickled a bit, and quickened her breath and heartbeat. Disturbed by the unfamiliar feelings, she bowed her head for a moment to seek composure and found herself staring at the lower part of his anatomy.
    “What are you gawking at?” he demanded.
    She continued to stare, completely unable to stop herself. “I am astonished by the size of your vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, and vastus medialis. Why, even your sartorius is clearly defined and equally amazing.”
    He had no idea what she was talking about, but he saw that she’d directed her total attention to the area below his belt.
    He felt a profound urge to drop his hands to his groin.
    But he didn’t. He still held her bird and wasn’t about to take the risk of being turned into a eunuch by a pecking parrot. “Here, take your stupid bird.”
    His command snapped Theodosia out of her deep state of contemplation. Quickly, she slid John the Baptist out of the man’s hands. “Your irritation toward my parrot is totally unjustified. He can in no way be held accountable for the fall you took. Apparently, you don’t ride well. Riding requires superb equilibrium, something you obviously do not possess. Moreover, I refuse to believe you are injured. Your little tumble was cushioned by that mass of—”
    “My little tumble never would have happened if that feathered maniac hadn’t scared the hell out of my—”
    “Feathered maniac?” Theodosia clicked her tongue and shook her head. “Sir, that is a very poor choice of words. You may not refer to a bird as a