Lonely In Longtree by Jill Stengl

Author:Jill Stengl
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2012-05-01T04:00:00+00:00

Nine

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Genesis 2:24

“Miss Obermeier? Marva!” Monte caught the canteen, then grabbed Marva’s arm before she could fall out of the dogcart. But she flopped forward and would have smashed her face on the dashboard if he hadn’t caught her. “Marva!” Clutching her with both hands, he glanced around, trying to decide on his next move.

“Stand, Buzz,” he told the horse. Holding Marva on the seat, Monte climbed down, then hefted her into his arms. She moaned softly and lifted one hand to her face.

He laid her on a bed of pine needles beneath a tree and removed her hat, then shrugged out of his coat and made it into a pad for her head. Next thing was to cool her off. He opened his canteen, lifted her head, and held the bottle to her dry lips. She drank a little, coughed, and tried to sit up. “No, just lie still. See if you can drink a few more swallows.”

After taking another sip, she squinted up at him, her brow furrowed. “I feel awful.”

“I think you’ve had too much sun. Just a minute.” Pulling his handkerchief from his vest pocket, he hurried down to the lakeshore. He dunked the cloth and wrung it out, then returned to Marva’s side.

Her eyes flew open when he laid the folded handkerchief on her forehead. Instead of leaving it there, he patted it over her cheeks and temples. “That’s nice. Thank you,” she murmured, her eyes drifting shut again.

He took the opportunity to study her attire. A high-necked white shirtwaist and a skirt of some stiff, shiny blue fabric flattered her coloring and figure. However, such a trim and immobile waistline suggested stays, which would also explain her rapid, shallow breathing. But a gentleman could hardly suggest that she loosen her undergarments. “You might unbutton your collar,” he suggested.

She gave him a shocked stare.

“I could toss you in the lake instead, I suppose. I’ve tried that method of cooling off, and I know it works.” He grinned, and her lips twitched in response.

“Very well.” When she reached for her collar, Monte turned away and loosened his own tie. He felt much better himself without that wool coat.

Picking his way back down to the lake’s edge, he dipped his handkerchief in the water again to freshen it. “You’d best relax and rest here awhile longer. Then I think I’ll take you to the Oasis and send for a doctor. We’re not heading back to Lakeland Lodge until late afternoon. No more sun for you today, my lady.”

She blinked up at him as he approached. Her flushed face made her eyes seem bluer than ever. “How did you come to be here?”

“I followed you,” he admitted and knelt beside her. “Had to make sure you came to no harm. These Northwoods are not as domesticated as people like to think. Too many uncivilized loggers and drifters in the area.

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