The Men of Pride County: The Pretender Read Online Free Page A

With a frown of confusion, she drew out the slender piece of glowing oak and delivered it into his unsteady hand. She waited, expecting some explanation.
    “Miss Davis, you might want to step outside for just a minute.”
    She absorbed the quiet caution in his tone while searching his gaze for answers. He could tell the moment she arrived at the correct one. Her face lost all color.
    “Oh, my. Surely, you don’t mean to—”
    “It’ll cauterize the wound and stop the bleeding. If you can think of another way, I’d be glad to hear it.”
    Breathing in quick agitated snatches, she thought long and hard, then reluctantly shook her head. “I’m sorry.”
    “Leave now, Miss Davis.”
    She looked wistfully toward the door and its offer of escape from what was to come, but after forcing a hard swallow, she said, “No. I think I should remain, in case … in case you should need me for anything.”
    He paused, unable to phrase his admiration. Such courage for a young creature! His voice gentled.
    “At least look away.”
    Garnet turned her head, steeling herself for the worst.
    Coward! Do something!
    Chiding herself for being unable to aid him in the horrible deed, she vowed not to behave squeamishly, even as her stomach ached with anticipation of his screams … screams that never came. A sudden sickly sweet smell reached her.She clamped her lips together when she realized it was the scent of burning flesh.
    A quiet thump sounded as he fell back into unconsciousness.
    Still fighting nausea as the scorched scent overwhelmed her, Garnet looked back, then quickly snatched up the discarded bit of kindling as it singed the wool of his uniform jacket. She tossed it into the fire, then forced herself to examine the grisly injury.
    No bleeding escaped the seared edges of the wound. She let her breath go in a rattly gush. In the face of his incredible bravery, she couldn’t excuse her own hesitation. Controlling her breathing into a practiced rhythm, she also conquered her panic. She could do this.
    By the time the soldier came to again, Garnet had washed around the wound and redressed his side with clean linens. She smiled at him as his eyes blinked open, unable to conceal her awe. When he put a hand to his ribs, she answered his unspoken question.
    “The wound is closed. Hopefully, there’ll be no problem now with its healing.”
    His hand fell away as he breathed a sigh of relief.
    “Do you think you could stand with my help? I’d like to get you in bed.” A fierce blush suffused her face when she considered what she’d said. With a stammer, she amended, “You’ll be more comfortable than here on the floor.”
    “Don’t go to any trouble on my account, Miss Davis.”
    “It’s no trouble.”
    It would be a blessing to get him out of the front room, where she was constantly distracted by his presence.
    With her assistance, he was able to sit up. With an arm looped about her shoulders, he struggled to get his feet under him, while she hauled back and steadied him. She’d guessed at his height before but had been unprepared for the way he dwarfed her. Lean and long-limbed, he was nonetheless solidly made. That she discovered as she slipped her arm tentatively about his middle. His fingers bit into her upper arms as he swayed.
    “Give me … a minute.”
    Don’t let him swoon!
    She didn’t know how she’d manage to keep him on his feet if he fainted, let alone wrangle him into the bedroom. She angled under his arm, letting him drape over her shoulder with a soul-shocking familiarity. His breath pulsed hard and fast against the side of her face, quickening her own heartbeats in response.
    “Are you all right, Sergeant?”
    She felt him nod. Then slowly, to prove it, he began to straighten, relieving her of most of the burden of support.
    “Where to?”
    She directed him to the curtained doorway, pushing it aside with her free hand and guidinghim within the cozy dimness. Heavy drapes at the windows sealed out both