Loving Katherine by Carolyn Davidson

Author:Carolyn Davidson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781459275355
Publisher: Harlequin Treasury
Published: 2012-01-13T12:37:18+00:00

Chapter Twelve

His scent was strong in her nostrils, and she rubbed her face against the coarse material brushing her cheek, rousing from the lethargy of her slumber. Her eyes fluttered open, then squeezed shut rapidly against the glare of the sun.

“Katherine?” His voice rumbled in her ear. “Come on honey. I’m gonna stop here. Let me see your eyes.”

He bent over her, his hat brim shading her vision from the sunlight. She peered at him, vainly attempting to reconcile the weary-eyed, grimy face above her with the voice of Roan Devereaux.

“Roan?” She struggled against his grip, abruptly aware of her precarious position. Across his lap, riding double on the bay mare, she felt vulnerable, out of control. She was at the mercy of his strength, his arms like iron bands around her, holding her firmly as he gentled the horse beneath him. Unused to the double weight, the mare pranced sideways, tossing her head skittishly as Katherine rousted about.

“Damn! Just lay quiet, honey,” Roan told her forcefully, his right hand controlling the reins, his left tucked about her hips.

“Where…” Her whisper was muffled against his shirt, but her movements stilled as she gripped him tightly, her fingers twisting in the fabric.

He bent to drop a quick kiss against her forehead, lifting her against his chest. “I have to get you down, Katherine. I’m gonna pick you up over my left leg and let you slide to the ground. Think you can stand up all right?”

Nodding, she tucked her feet beneath her, helping as best she could to accomplish his goal. Her head throbbed as though a thousand hammers had all aimed for the same place, and she grimaced at the thought. Standing, finally, beside the horse, she took a deep breath and locked her knees to steady herself, valiantly holding back the urge to slide to the ground. Roan had asked her to stand here, and stand here she would, she vowed beneath her breath, her mind cloudy, her thoughts barely coherent.

Beside her, he slid from the saddle and looked over his shoulder, his mind intent on the string of animals following him. One of them bore an ominous burden; his jaw tightened as he considered the next task at hand.

“Katherine, I’m gonna get you under that tree over there, and I want you to rest easy for a bit. All right?”

“Yes,” she hissed, more conscious than ever of the pain radiating from a spot just inches from her right temple. “My head hurts pretty bad, Roan. I don’t mean to complain, but I must have banged it on something.”

“You were shot, Katherine,” he said bluntly, lowering her to the ground, where she slumped against the rough bark of a tree.

“Shot?” Her eyes widened, then blinked as she forced them to focus on him. “I was shot.” Her whisper was unbelieving. And then she shivered as the harsh memories flooded her mind. “I was shot…I killed a man. I thought he was going to shoot you, and I aimed right for his head.

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