Liam Read Online Free PDF

that.”
    “Well, so what?” she asked defiantly. “I’m thirty-two years old, Liam Anderson, long past the marriageable age and long past the age where I let my father tell me what to do.”
    She stood on her left leg, her right leg bent at the knee and her toe lightly resting on the ground. Hopping on one foot, she turned and opened the tent flap.
    Liam held the flap open for her and took her boot from her.
    She placed the crutches under her arms and froze.
    “I don’t know what to do,” she admitted.
    Liam stood in front of her. “Put your weight on your left foot and then place the crutches forward the distance of one step. Not too far.”
    She did as he said, perhaps even a short step.
    “Now lean on the crutches, let them hold your weight, and hop forward landing on your left foot. Keep your right leg bent and off the ground.
    She tried and lost her balance but Liam was there to catch her. She tried again and though awkward, she moved forward about a foot.
    Liam got her a chair. “Here, you sit and watch me.”
    He walked, using the crutches, up and down the aisle between the rows of chairs set up for the Sunday services. There were five rows of seven chairs on each side of a main aisle. The back of the tent was curtained off and he guessed the living space for Eleanor and her father was behind it. He hadn’t been in the ‘church’ before and was amazed that so many people would attend in a camp like Deadwood, where every sin known to man was practiced with impunity.
    He turned his attention back to Eleanor. “There, you have the idea. Do you think you can do that?”
    “Yes, I think so.”
    He handed her the crutches.
    She took them and used the long sticks of wood with handles and a curved piece that went under her arms to help her stand. Then she walked up and down the aisle just as Liam had done.
    “I think you’ve got it,” exclaimed Liam.
    She beamed at him. That same brilliant smile that transformed her face from pleasant to absolutely beautiful. For a moment he was mesmerized.
    “Mr. Anderson? Liam?”
    He gave a small shake of his head to clear it. “Well, you, uh, should be able to get around fine in here. I’d listen to the doc if I were you, and not venture out until your ankle heals some.”
    “I will. It’s only a couple of weeks.”
    “What about the children? Do they come here for school?”
    She nodded and practiced using the crutches while she spoke. “They do. Speaking of school, why haven’t David and Hannah been coming? It would be good for them both. They need the companionship as well as the education.” She turned a little too quickly, lost her balance. Liam caught her…again. “Oh my! I do seem to wind up in your arms a lot today. You must forgive me.”
    “Nothing to forgive. I’m glad I can be of service. As to David and Hannah, as you know I’ve been out of town. I’ll right the situation when I get back home.” He looked down at her, but not far. She was tall and fit perfectly against him. Though slender, he felt all her curves and his body did not fail to respond. He had to get out of here before he disgraced himself or scared her to death. “Well, I best be going.”
    “Yes, well, um, thank you. I appreciate all you did for me today. I’m sure no one else would have gone out of their way like you did today and they certainly wouldn’t have carried me to the doctor and back. That was very gallant of you.”
    He picked up his package of meat. “Perhaps I’ll see you again when I come to camp or at least when I bring the kids for school. Today is Friday, do you think you’ll be ready to teach on Monday?”
    “I think I will but won’t I see you on Sunday for services?”
    “No.” His voice was louder and more forceful than he intended. “I don’t go to church.”
    She closed her eyes for a moment and nodded. “I’d forgotten.”
    “Goodbye, Miss Smith.”
    “Ellie. Please, after today, I’d say we’re close enough for you to call me