Ride With Me (A Quaking Heart Novel - Book One) by Janith Hooper

Author:Janith Hooper
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: inspirational cowboy romance

Chapter 21

Clint's eyelids fluttered, but he couldn't open them. He heard a chair scrape, and his heart shot into fourth gear. Rose Marie? He jumped slightly at a cold cloth against his eyes.

"Sorry. Trying to loosen the crusties. Hold still a minute."

Ah, Mary. Good. He heaved a breath and his heart settle back into tempo.

Mary pressed the wet cloth against his right eye, then the left, rubbing until the lashes were free of gunk. "Okay. Try that."

Clint slowly forced his lids open to narrow slits and stared at Mary. The light shining through the little bedroom window stung his eyes.

"You lucid?"

"I'm here." His voice was hoarse and weak. "Water?"

"Of course. Here." She raised his head to give him a sip. "Better?"

He nodded.

"Now, tell me how you're feeling."

He cleared his throat and averted his gaze from her. "Tired. Beat up. Sad about wasting my life on the wrong women." He coughed and swallowed. "Anxious to see Jessie."

Mary laughed. "Well, at least you have your sense of humor intact."

"I meant every word of that." His voice was gaining strength. He looked directly at her. "How long have I been out?"

"Three days."

"Three days? Not possible!"

"I wish it weren't true. We thought we were going to lose you." He saw the fear in her eyes and knew the truth. "Your fever got so high we had to douse you with stream water to keep it down. I don't know what bug you had in you, but I hope it's finally gone now."

"I've got to get to Jessie. It must be torture for her, thinking I'm up here having my way with Rose Marie." He winced. "She might have gone back to California or done something else rash. I gotta get back to the ranch. Help me up!"

"Wait just a gall-darn minute, young man! The last time you tried to sit up, your eyes rolled back in your head and you didn't come out of it for three days. Now, let's take this a bit easier this time. Can you do that?"

"Fine. But help me, will you?"

Mary tugged at one arm and with his help managed to pull him to the edge of the bed with his feet flat on the floor. He leaned against Mary as she settled in next to him. After he sat for a spell she gave him small sips of water. Tugging the sheet over his hips, she said, "Okay, sit for a bit to get your bearings. I'm going to warm you up some broth. We have to get your strength up."

When Mary left the room, Rose Marie came gliding in, looking every bit the beauty she was. Her day dress was pale blue, the color of her eyes, and her shiny blonde hair hung in waves around her pretty face. She shut the door quietly behind her. Clint pressed his forearms heavily onto his thighs and hung his head, trying to stop the spinning.

"Aren't you an absolute sight? Could they get any more inviting than you?" she whispered on a gush of breath.

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