Debra Cowan - Whirlwind Wedding

Interest sparked in his eyes. “And it worked?”

“Yes. He was finally able to walk. He did limp, but he was pleased with his progress.”

“It’s worth a try,” Davis Lee said.

Jericho’s gaze measured her. “And you’d be willing to do that for me?”

“Of course.”

For a long moment, he was silent.

Catherine added, “If you want.”

He gave a curt nod. “Thank you. When do we start?”

“Dr. Butler wants to check you again tomorrow. He can tell us then when to start and how often it needs to be worked.”

“Good.” Jericho’s gaze went past her to the door. “Hello.”

She turned to find Andrew standing there. By the saints, the boy moved as silently as a ghost. No wonder she hadn’t known about his nightly disappearances.

“Hi.” She smiled warmly and stepped toward him. “How was school today?”

“All right.” His blue gaze locked on Jericho.

“Hello, Andrew,” Susannah said.

The boy’s gaze jerked to the blonde and he smiled, one of the few Catherine had seen. “Hi, Miz Holt.” His gaze moved to Riley and Davis Lee. “Mr. Holt. Sheriff.”

The two men greeted him warmly.

Catherine put an arm lightly around her brother’s shoulders, pleased and a little surprised when he didn’t pull away. “This is Lieutenant Jericho Blue. I don’t think the two of you have been formally introduced.”

“Hello, Andrew.” Jericho’s voice was nearly hoarse.

Beneath her touch, her brother stiffened slightly. “Hello.”

“So you’ve been to school today?”

He nodded, staring in rapt fascination at the big man.

“How old are you?”

“Twelve.”

Catherine thought Andrew’s voice shook slightly. Maybe he was as intimidated by Jericho Blue as she was. Well, the man was imposing, even laid up in bed.

As Jericho thanked Riley and Susannah for coming, Catherine noticed how her brother studied the Ranger. Perhaps his interest was due to the fact that Jericho was a lawman. Or the way he dwarfed the bed with his door-wide shoulders and long legs.

Jericho didn’t seem to notice her brother’s unrelenting study, but Catherine gave his shoulder a warning squeeze. She walked Riley and Susannah to the door, biting off the silly urge to ask them not to leave her alone with the big man in her room.

She wouldn’t be alone with him. The sheriff was still here. And so was Andrew, though she instinctively knew it would take more than those two to discourage Jericho Blue if he decided to cause trouble.

Surprisingly, Andrew followed her to the door.

Riley helped his wife into the buckboard. “Please let us know if you need anything,” Susannah said.

“Or if Jericho gets restless.” Riley walked back to where she stood on the porch, tapping his gray hat lightly against his thigh. “We really appreciate all you’re doing. He said the doctor advised against moving him because of all the blood he lost.”

She nodded.

“He also said you saved his life.” The big man extended a hand. “We’re much obliged.”

“I’m glad I have some nursing skills.”

“Thank goodness,” Susannah interjected.

“Davis Lee or I will check in every day,” Riley said. “Don’t want him wearing you out.”

“Visitors will be nice. That will help him along.” Their presence would also keep her from being alone with him.

The younger Holt leaned toward her and said in a low voice, “Don’t feel obliged to eat those biscuits. My wife hasn’t quite mastered the recipe.”

“I’m sure they’re fine.”

He chuckled. “If you break a tooth, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Riley Holt, I can hear you.”

Catherine smiled at the saucy grin on the blonde’s face as she shook a finger at her husband. The affection between the two glowed on both their faces.

“Good day.” Riley levered himself into the buckboard and picked up the reins. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”

“All right.” She waved as they drove away, then turned to see her brother standing uncertainly with his hands jammed in the pockets of his trousers. “What is it, Andrew?”

“Nothing.” He shook his head and moved with her into the house. “I thought maybe they would take him.”

“Shh.” She glanced toward her bedroom. “You know Dr. Butler said he’s too weak.” Why did her brother’s young face look so solemn? “Would you take the milk Miss Susannah brought and put it in the spring house?”

He hesitated. “Will the sheriff be here for a while?”

“I’m not sure. Did you want to ask him something?”

“No. Just curious.” He picked up the crockery jug and started out the door. “I’ll be right back.”

Bemused, she nodded. What was going on in that head of his? She stepped into her bedroom doorway and saw that Davis Lee had pulled a chair over to the bed.

Sweat glistened on Jericho’s face, giving witness to the effort it cost him to sit up for so long. She walked across the room. “You should probably lie back down.”

He nodded, grimacing as he braced his weight on his left arm.

She dipped a damp rag into the bowl of clean water she’d left on the bedside table. “Sheriff, would you like to stay for supper?”

“I can’t, Miz Donnelly, but thank you. Maybe another time?”

“Of course.” She reached over to gently wipe Jericho’s face with the damp rag.

He grabbed her wrist with his left hand. “I can do it.”

Her gaze jerked to his and she released the rag. “Of course.” Her voice sounded shaky and she curled her fingers into the pleats of her apron. “I’ll go start supper.”

“I won’t stay long, Nurse,” the sheriff said.

She walked out, her skin burning from Jericho’s touch, her nerves as raw as if he’d hooked an arm around her throat. It took a minute to steady herself, and as she stoked up the fire in the stove for cornbread, she tried to dismiss the stamp of his touch on her skin. Had that jolt to her bloodstream been fear? Or something else?

The sheriff could stay all night as far as she was concerned. She was in no hurry to be alone with Jericho Blue.

D avis Lee raised an eyebrow and gave him a steely-eyed look. “What was that about?”

“What?” Jericho said. He shouldn’t have touched her. Her skin was every bit as silky soft as it looked. She smelled like spring rain with a hint of lemon verbena, while he probably smelled like he hadn’t bathed in months. At least his drawers were clean.

“You were harsh. All she did was try to cool you down.”

“I can still do some things by myself,” he muttered, unsettled by the quick surge of blood he’d felt when she reached for him.

“So it was just pride?” The doubt in his cousin’s eyes echoed inside Jericho.

“Yes.” The plain fact was that every instinct he had honed over the last thirteen years as a Ranger screamed at him to keep as far away from Catherine Donnelly as he could. But even if he’d been able to move, he wasn’t going anywhere.

Andrew Donnelly was the boy he’d seen at the ambush. Maybe the one who’d shot and killed Hays. And Jericho had known by the flare of wariness in his eyes, clear blue like his sister’s, that the lad had recognized him, too.

Did his pretty nurse know that baby brother was riding with the McDougals? Was she protecting him? Was she involved, too?

Davis Lee leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his thighs. “I suppose you’re watching that door like a hawk because you don’t want her coming back in here to tend you some more?”

“Actually, I don’t want her coming back in here.” Jericho jerked his gaze to his cousin, relying on his ears to keep him apprised of her movements. “What do you know about her?”