Emma's Blaze (Fires of Cricket Bend Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

as naked as the day she was born. Though he tried not to notice, in accordance with how his mama raised him, he certainly hadn’t missed seeing her. The memory of her fine form, even in the shadows, would stay with him for many a night. Long-limbed and delicately shaped, she’d seemed more a piece of sculpture than a real woman. But she’d ridden behind him. He’d carried her in his arms. She was real, and every bit a woman.
    And she’d slept only feet away from him.
    His body stirred at the realization, and he chased the thoughts away. By the time he dealt with his bedroll, ran a hand through his hair, and went off a polite distance to relieve himself before returning to Appie’s cooking area, Sparrow was hobbling around using a broom as a makeshift crutch. He arrived just in time to hear a snippet of conversation.
    “What else needs to be done?”
    “There’s dishes need washing.”
    “I’ll do it.”
    Appie put his hands on his hips. “You don’t have to prove yourself to me.”
    “I told Mr. McKenzie I would work hard, and I intend to.”
    “And that’s fine, but from what I can tell you’ve been through Hell, and you’re gonna need time to heal. Don’t work yourself so hard you forget that. Morning, Bill.”
    “Morning,” Bill replied. “Your new assistant giving you trouble?”
    Appie shook his wooden spoon at Sparrow. “She won’t sit down and rest, that’s the trouble.”
    “You listen to Appie,” Bill said. “He’ll take that spoon to you if you don’t. Hits hard too.”
    Appie waved the spoon in agreement. “I’ve paddled each one of these boys in their time. Don’t think just cause you’re a lady I won’t do the same.”
    Sparrow held up her hands in a mock surrender and sat down on one of the crates. She poked at the bacon cooking in the frying pan over the fire.
    Bill looked at the sky. Though there were clouds, the air didn’t smell of rain. “Reckon it’ll be another mild day. Probably won’t rain until late, if it rains at all.”
    Appie’s jovial nature dimmed as his eyes grew worried. “Andrew never came back last night. Your pa is fit to be tied.”
    Bill’s hackles raised as Appie handed him the pot of coffee and a cup to pour it into. Andrew frequently rode off from the group, in a huff or looking for something, but he always managed to come back by morning. Damn. Riding off and never returning was how Theo had met his end, and Bill wasn’t interested in losing another brother to stupidity. “I’ll find him.”
    Sparrow looked over her shoulder at his words. “Do you know where he went?”
    “Probably to the nearest saloon.”
    “Appie, Bill, ma’am,” Ollie greeted as he came to the fire and was handed a plate. “Good morning.”
    Bill set down his coffee cup. “It’d be better if my damn brother wasn’t set on dying before his time.”
    “Andrew doesn’t want this life,” Appie informed Sparrow. “He’d rather play cards than work, and rather live in a big city than on a ranch. Surprised he’s hung around this long. ’Course, he owes Bill for bailing him out of trouble and jail more than once. He can’t stay away from drink and cards. He’s drawn to them.”
    “Like a moth to a flame.” Sparrow nodded at Bill.
    “Something like that. You from a big city?”
    She shook her head. “No, but I’ve lived in a few.”
    “Part of that story of yours, I presume.” Bill straightened his hat. “I’ll have some breakfast and go looking for him. Probably waste my time, only to find him sleeping off drink in the bed of some woman somewhere.” For a second, he felt embarrassed to speak of such a thing in the presence of a woman, but Sparrow chuckled. She wasn’t flustered by talk of such things. The mysteries of the red-haired beauty seemed endless. He nodded to Appie. “Keep an eye on her for me, would you?”
    “I surely will.” Appie handed him a plate of food and a cup of coffee.
    Bill ate and thought. The nearest town to them would be