Montana Secrets Read Online Free Page B

Look at her! ” she ordered when his glance left the window. “Look at her and tell me what you’d do if she’d been the one thrown off the horse. Would you let her stop living? Stop playing? Would you let her shove everyone away and hide in her room? Or would you love her so much you’dhelp her cope? Let her lean on you for strength when she was tired and sad? You’re only a cripple—” Lord, how she hated that word! “—as long as you cripple yourself. It’s time to stop feeling sorry for yourself and do something about it.”
    â€œGo to hell.”
    â€œI’ve already been there,” she countered with a laugh, the sound emerging from her so bitter and flagrantly pained, she drew Seth’s narrowed gaze. Inhaling deeply, she wished she could have taken the words back. Seth didn’t know why she’d left him, why she’d run, and he never would.
    â€œAll I’m saying is, give that little girl out there some credit. She wants you any way she can get you, and she doesn’t care if you walk or crawl or roll. ”
    â€œHere’s the other tray.”
    Grace turned to find Maura standing just outside the doorway. Reining in her scattered emotions, she crossed the room to retrieve her lunch, but Seth’s sister-in-law wouldn’t let go of the dishes.
    â€œDon’t give up. He’ll fight for Lexi if he’ll fight for anyone. Jake’s always said Seth is as much her father as he is.” Maura gave her a hesitant smile of encouragement and released her grip on the food-laden tray.
    Grace watched Maura leave the room before she retraced her steps to the chair and sat down. Seth’sstomach growled once again, and he spared her a glare before his hand shot out and picked up a chicken leg. He took a bite, another and another, as if he hadn’t eaten in years. At least she’d made him hungry. Seth’s body had recognized the exercise and extra expenditure of energy even if Seth’s nerves hadn’t. But eating once wasn’t going to replace the weight or muscle tone he’d lost. Nor give him the nutrients he needed to fight off winter colds and flu.
    â€œWhat about dessert?” he demanded suddenly, not looking at her. “If Maura made my favorites, there should be a raspberry cobbler in the kitchen.”
    She hesitated, noting with no small amount of surprise that his plate was nearly empty while hers remained virtually untouched.
    â€œI think she mentioned a cobbler earlier when I arrived. Want me to go see?” she asked, balancing her tray on the table by his as she stood. She could use the time to regain her composure.
    Seth shrugged, not looking at her.
    â€œFine,” she said. “Sit tight and I’ll be right back.”
    Seth waited until Grace left his bedroom before he wheeled himself to the door and shut it as quietly as possible, his fingers hesitating momentarily before he twisted the lock into place.
    Mind made up, he wheeled himself to the door connecting the spare bedroom to his and locked itas well before rolling himself back across the room and repositioning himself in front of the hospital tray. His progress was certainly a lot easier thanks to Maura and Jake’s cleaning, and like it or not, he was going to have to let them come in every once in a while just so he could get across the floor.
    And once he succeeded in getting them to leave?
    Not having any answers, he glared down at his plate. His stomach still had a curl of hunger, and he glanced at the door and frowned, wishing he could’ve gotten his piece of cobbler before locking Grace out.
    â€œSeth?”
    The knob twisted until it encountered the lock, and he heard Grace’s gusty sigh through the door and all the way across the room where he sat.
    â€œOkay, I get it. We’re done for the day,” she called, her voice muffled by layers of wood. “I have your cobbler, though,” she said in