Wild Is My Heart Read Online Free Page B

shut.
    “You may as well tell me, Sam, I’ll find out sooner or later.”
    “Now I remember!” Sam cried, appalled by what her memory had dredged up. “Hellfire and damnation, you shot me! Who are you and what are you doing in my house?”
    “I saved your life, Miss Samantha Howard, you should thank me.” His use of her full name made Sam aware that he knew more about her than she would have liked.
    “Thank you? You could have killed me,” she spat.
    “Where is your pardner?” Colt asked angrily. “Where did he take the gold?”
    “Why should you care?”
    “My name is Colt Andrews. I’m a Texas Ranger. Mayor Mohler of Karlsburg wired Cap’n Ford for help with the Crowder gang. Seems like they’re terrorizin’ the town and disruptin’ business. I was on my way there by stage when the holdup occurred. Are you and your pardner mixed up with Crowders?” Colt really didn’t believe that, but one never knew. Looks were often deceiving.
    “N…no! They killed my father! How could you think such a thing?”
    “Perhaps you’d like to explain.”
    “Vamoose, Ranger, can’t you see I’m hurting? Haven’t you done me enough harm?”
    An unaccustomed twinge of guilt contorted Colt’s rugged features. He had seen so much suffering during the war he had become immune to it. “Okay, Miss Howard, I’ll let you rest—for now. Sooner or later you’ll be well enough to pay for your crime.” He turned to leave.
    “Wait!”
    Colt halted but did not turn.
    “Who took care of me? Sanchez lacks the ability to remove a bullet. Did he bring the doctor from town?”
    “No time.” Colt smiled with lazy amusement, swiveling to face her. “I took care of it. As well as your…other needs.”
    “You…you are a doctor?”
    “Hardly.”
    “You undressed me!” It was more an accusation than a question.
    “I wasn’t aware you had a maid to perform those duties.”
    “How dare you!”
    “Would you rather I let you the?”
    Closing her eyes, Sam swallowed convulsively, weakness and outrage driving her back to the edge of darkness. The thought that this ruthless man had seen her completely unclothed, indeed had actually undressed her, sent her spinning away into shock. She managed to hiss one word before blackness claimed her. “Bastard!”
    The next time Sam awoke, Sanchez was sitting beside the bed holding a bowl of steaming broth. “You must try to eat something, Senorita Sam,” the old man urged. “You need to keep up your strength if you wish to get well.”
    “Why?” Sam complained bitterly. “So that beanheaded lawman can put me behind bars?”
    “You did a very foolish thing. You and Will could have gotten yourselves killed. You risked much, Senorita Sam. Where is your brother?”
    “I…I was desperate, Sanchez,” Sam admitted, choking on a sob. “It would have worked if that Ranger hadn’t been riding the stage. Of all the rotten luck! But at least Will got away. Did you tell the Ranger about Will?”
    “No, Senorita Sam, I wouldn’t do that. And if Will has any sense he’ll stay away. Senor Colt is one smart hombre.” He tried to spoon hot liquid into Sam’s mouth.
    “I’m really not hungry, Sanchez,” she said listlessly.
    “I’ll take over, Sanchez.” Colt’s deep, resonant tones had a quality that under other circumstances would have thrilled Sam.
    The old man took note of the implacable look on Colt’s face, nodded somewhat reluctantly, and handed him the bowl and spoon. Then the old man shuffled from the room with a resigned sigh.
    “How are you feelin’?” Colt asked, taking the chair Sanchez had vacated.
    “Like hell,” Sam grumbled peevishly.
    “You have a nasty mouth for a young woman. A simple answer would do. Even a ‘much obliged’ would be appreciated, considering I saved your life.”
    “What are you going to do with me?” Sam asked between swallows of broth.
    “Take you to Karlsburg and turn you over to the sheriff as soon as you’re well enough,” Colt