Heart of the wolf Read Online Free PDF Page A

Despite his size—one of his hands must have equaled two of her own!—he was amazingly careful. If he was one of Summers's men, he could have snapped her neck by now.
    Closing her eyes, Sarah groaned as Wolf's hands closed around the hiking boot on her left leg. When he carefully moved her foot, Sarah bit back a cry.
    "Hurt?"
    "Yes. . ."
    "Not broken, though. That's good." He checked her right foot. Both of the sturdy leather shoes were badly cut and scarred. "You're lucky you didn't break both your ankles," he said when his inspection was complete.
    "Can I turn over?" Sarah chattered. Even his warm coat was becoming damp in the mud.
    "Let me help you," Wolf said, coming to her side. "My guess is that you have torn muscles or damaged ligaments. Either way, too much movement on your own will worsen your injuries."
    Sarah jerked up her head as Wolf slid one hand beneath her left shoulder. "Easy," he crooned, and with one smooth motion he brought her onto her back and into his arms. Then he helped her sit up.
    Though she felt his intent gaze on her, Sarah evaded his glittering gray eyes. They were like shards of clear, transparent sapphire, hard and probing. He'd lifted her into his arms as if she were a baby, cradled her for just a moment and then settled her on the drier ground. A deluge of emotions broke loose within Sarah, and she bowed her head, allowing her straggly curtain of dirty-blond hair to hide her expression from Wolf.
    "Listen," he told her after a moment, resting a hand lightly on her shoulder. "I need to get you to the hospital in Philipsburg. If I take off those hiking boots, your feet will swell like balloons. You need to have your feet packed in ice—"
    "No!" Sarah lifted her chin. "I'm not going to the hospital!"
    Wolf studied her intently. The jut of her lower lip confirmed something he'd sensed all along about Sarah Thatcher: She was stubborn as hell. "You'd better have one good reason why—"
    "I don't have to have a reason, mister. It's what I want," Sarah retorted. "Just take me to my cabin. It's five miles down this road. I'll take care of myself once I get home."
    He eyed her. The silence was brittle between them. "Look, you've got serious injuries, Sarah," he said, trying to keep the exasperation out of his tone. "You need professional attention. The doc will probably put you on crutches for several weeks to let you heal up."
    Frustration mingled with an inexplicable desire to simply throw herself into Wolf's arms and be held. Sarah was stunned by her reaction. Wolf Harding was an utter stranger to her. Combating her heart's idiotic yearnings, she gritted out, "Please, just take me home. I'll do everything else."
    Grimly Wolf watched as her face paled even more. Shock was probably the cause of her poor decision. "I'm taking you to the hospital," he said firmly.
    "No!" The cry was animal-like.
    Wolf's head snapped up, and his eyes narrowed.
    "You don't understand!" Sarah cried, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Summers! If he knew I was hurt, if he knew I was in the hospital, he'd jump my claim. I can't stay away from it. If he knows I'm hurt, he'll steal it from me. I can't risk it! I can't!" Sarah threw herself over onto her hands and knees. Making a supreme effort, she awkwardly flung herself upright.
    A cry ripped from her as excruciating pain shot up through her legs. Her knees buckled, and blackness engulfed her as she felt herself falling, falling. . .
    Wolf caught her as she crumpled into a heap. With a curse, he scooped her up. Her small form was diminutive against him. Her head lolled against his chest, and her lips parted, telling him she was unconscious.
    "Little fool," he whispered, starting down the slope toward his pickup. Wolf debated with himself. Should he take her to the hospital as good sense dictated, or take her back to her cabin? Skeet leaped to Wolf's side as he negotiated the slippery slope covered with pine needles.
    Wolf knew a lot about injuries. Torn muscles and ligaments