Heart of a Texan Read Online Free PDF Page B

tomorrow,” the doctor said.
    “I’m fine.”
    “No, you’re not. You have a low-grade fever, your wound is still draining, and you can’t sit up without help. Swallow all that broth then see if you can sleep through the night. Feed him more in the morning,” the doctor said to Roberta. “Feed him the same at midday. I’ll come back as soon as I can. Depending on how he’s doing, maybe he can have some solid food.”
    “When can I take him home?” Russ wanted to know.
    “I can’t say,” the doctor replied. “But if you want to make it longer, keep arguing over him.”
    Russ seemed angry at the doctor’s strictures on their behavior, but Roberta was chagrined. She didn’t have to like Nate Dolan, she didn’t even have to believe him, but she did have to behave in a manner she could respect.
    “Let me know when he can eat real food,” Russ said. “I’ll see he has three hot meals a day as long as he’s stuck here.”
    “I can feed him,” Roberta said.
    “I wouldn’t want to keep you from your work,” Russ sneered.
    Nate opened his mouth to say something, and Roberta filled it with broth.
    “Smart girl,” the doctor said with a grin. “You,” he said to Russ, “out of here now. I know you’re trying to take care of your boss—from what I hear he’s too good for that rascally bunch you call cowhands—but you’re just causing needless anxiety. Send someone else with those meals. I expect you’ve got plenty of work to keep you busy. You,” he said to Roberta, “make sure he eats a full bowl of broth at each meal. You can check on him occasionally, but leave him alone to get as much rest as possible. You,” he said turning to Nate, “are to ignore both of them and concentrate on getting well. Now I have to go. I have other patients who actually deserve my attention.”
    The doctor left quickly, taking Russ with him, which left Roberta facing Nate with what was left of the bowl of broth.
    “You’re going to make me eat the rest of it, aren’t you?” he asked.
    “You heard the doctor.”
    “He’s gone.”
    “But I’m here, and I intend to make sure no one can say I didn’t do everything I could to make you well. Now eat.”
    “No wonder you’re not married. Any husband of yours would be so henpecked he wouldn’t have a thought to call his own.”
    “The man I marry will love me so much he’ll be eager to do anything he can to make me happy.”
    “You’re not looking for a man. You’re looking for a slave.”
    “I’ll post a notice in town tomorrow.” She shoved a spoonful of broth into Nate’s mouth before he could reply.
    ***
    Gilbert Travis cursed in three languages. “Why couldn’t the damned woman shoot straight?” he demanded. “That would have been a perfect solution.”
    “Did you know Dolan was going to be there?”
    “Would I have had you drop his hat if I did? Would I have wasted time shooting that foolish farmer?”
    He thought it was wiser not to answer. He wished he’d never gotten involved with Travis. It was becoming clear he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. He was uneasy about his own safety once he was no longer useful. He suspected Travis had no use for those who worked for him once their usefulness was over.
    “Are you sure he’s in her house?”
    “Yes.”
    “He won’t have the good sense to die from his injury, so I’ll have to think of something else…”
    ***
    Despite being so tired she could hardly move, Roberta couldn’t sleep. She’d checked on Nate twice that evening, and his temperature still hadn’t gone down. Now he was talking in his sleep, which meant he was having a bad dream or was delirious.
    Groaning from the effort, she got out of bed. Modesty caused her to put on a robe, though she couldn’t say why she was worried about a man who wouldn’t know she was there. He probably wouldn’t care. A man as handsome and rich as Nate Dolan had probably been with enough women to populate a small town. He certainly