A Hero's Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

enjoying.
    His body was molded around her back, his legs and arms curled about her. The realization that more than just his stomach was pressed against her buttocks was enough to make Rachel jump. She disentangled herself from Wade, breathing a sigh of relief when she didn’t wake him.
    As she sat up, blood seemed to gather in her temples and pound in a fierce tempo. She raised her hand to her face, groaning.
    The last thing she remembered from the previous night was sitting around the campfire drinking coffee and crying. With a start, she realized her hair was loose and flowing around her waist. The memory of Wade taking down her curls, one pin at a time came rushing back. He’d run his hands through her locks and called her beautiful.
    What else had he done?
    With sudden recollection she remembered Wade’s lips caressing hers. He’d kissed her, but worse she’d returned his kiss enjoying the way his lips felt on hers.
    She glanced down noticing her worn muslin dress and dingy apron, the same clothes she’d worn the night before. Every button was buttoned, every lace was laced. There was no evidence of any impropriety having taken place.
    She couldn’t resist glancing at Wade. Lying on his side, he slumbered on, unaware of the volcano brewing beside him.
    Noise from the tent drew her attention, and she knew the children were awake. Becky would be coming out of the wagon at any moment, and here she sat beside a sleeping Wade.
    Before she could scramble away, her thoughts of Becky seemed to conjure up her sister, who walked around the back of the wagon. When Becky saw Rachel sitting beside Wade, she paused, her eyes widening in a stunned expression.
    As white hot lava flowed over rock, Rachel’s face burned with embarrassment. Becky hurried to her side.
    “You look like you just woke up.” Her tone was accusing.
    The high pitch of her voice made Wade jump. His emerald eyes opened wide.
    Not for the first time, Rachel wanted to wrap her hands around her sister’s fragile neck.
    “I don’t know,” Rachel said as she glanced at Wade. “I think I fell asleep outside last night.”
    Wade stretched his taut body and rose, his full lips turned up in a smile.
    “Beautiful morning, isn’t it ladies?” he asked as if he woke every morning with a woman at his side.
    “If our Papa were here, you’d be looking down the barrel of a shotgun right now,” Becky warned Wade.
    He stood, his height overshadowing Becky. “What for? Sharing body heat with your sister?”
    Becky glanced down at Rachel, shaking her head in disbelief. “What did this scoundrel promise you to entice you into his bed?”
    Rachel rubbed her temples, her headache increasing in intensity. “Nothing happened.” At least, she didn’t remember anything happening.
    “Oh, honey, how could you forget last night?” Wade teased his voice low and seductive.
    “Please don’t, Mr. Ketchum. You’re only making things worse,” Rachel pleaded. She willed the previous nights memories to reappear. “Nothing happened.”
    “Well, it doesn’t look that way to me,” Becky snapped. “Just look at you. Your hair is hanging down around your waist, your lips are puffy and swollen.”
    Rachel jumped up, unwilling to listen to another word of Becky’s tirade. Her stomach reeled from the sudden movement. She felt as if an army had tramped through her head and mouth last night, and this morning they were holding drill practice.
    Two quick steps later, she embarrassed herself by losing everything in her stomach. “Oh,” she moaned.
    Becky followed across the short distance, her voice anxious. “Rachel what’s wrong with you?”
    “Please Becky. Get me a dipper of water,” Rachel managed to gasp as she drifted over to a willow tree and eased herself down upon the soft ground. She laid her head against her bent knees.
    Distantly, she heard Becky ask Mr. Ketchum, “Why did you lay with my sister? Rachel’s not experienced with your type of man. She’ll