Lori Connelly Read Online Free PDF Page A

accommodate Daisy. Although Evie sensed he’d honor their deal, she didn’t breathe a sigh of relief until he disappeared from view. In time, she hoped his anger would fade and they could mend fences someday.
    Hours passed. Evie mucked out stalls, tended the chickens, washed dishes and swept the floor. Unable to be still, she then trudged down to the creek and retrieved the sun-dried laundry. She folded clothes, put them away, hung the basket and repaired her clothesline. Even with every conceivable chore completed, she couldn’t relax. She paced outside the window in front of the cabin as the day cooled.
    It’s been so long.
Her hands twisted in the fabric of her cloak. Evie looked out to the shadowed lengths of forest. A gentle breeze toyed with loose strands of her hair. Squirrels raced along the split rail fence of the corral. A blue jay called from the barn roof. The peaceful late afternoon was driving her crazy.
    Her angst deepened with each moment that passed. A pair of coyotes emerged from the trees to her left and captured her attention and interest. Frozen, poised to run, they watched her. All at once, she heard the rumble of wheels rolling over earth. Startled, Evie blinked and the animals melted away.
    Her gaze swept to the road, scared and hopeful. She hardly dared to breathe. Minutes crawled by. At last, a team of mules lumbered into view an old farm wagon pulled behind them. Wheels tossed up a light cloud of dust as the sheriff rode around from behind the wagon, straight up to her.
    “Did you find him?”
    “Yes ma’am,” He dismounted, stood in front of her.
    An arrow of fear shot through her heart at something in his tone. “Is he …  is he … ” She couldn’t get the question out past numb lips.
    “He’s hurt pretty bad. I sent a man for the doctor.”
    His somber expression spoke volumes. Tension twisted her gut. Fear rose up, stole her speech. Evie could only nod she understood as the wagon pulled up near them. The driver climbed down. He and Sheriff Green walked her to the back.
    Evie leaned against the rough wood frame as the men lowered the tailgate. She drew in a long deep breath for courage then looked in at Ben, bloodied and beaten. His face was almost unrecognizable. Tears almost blinded her. Twice, her mouth opened and shut without uttering a sound.
How much can a man lose without dying?
    All sound faded to the edge of her awareness. Evie stretched forward to hold a hand above his mouth. Breath feathered her palm and a fraction of her apprehension eased. Her gaze unfocused, she straightened.
    “If you’ll step back ma’am, we’ll bring him inside.”
    For a second Evie stared at the sheriff uncomprehending then his words filtered through. She moved, “Thank you.”
    Adrenalin pumped through her veins. Evie darted into the cabin, ripped quilts off the bed as the men entered. They laid Ben down on his back on the mattress. She thrust a pail at the Talbert hand, John, and asked him to fetch some water from the creek. With hands that shook, she lit the lamp. She set it on the dresser, looked down at her husband.
    Ashen skin made a stark contrast with blackened eyes. His nose was easily twice its normal size and new smudges marked his jaw, chin and left cheek. Evie reached down, touched his arm and whispered his name. He didn’t respond.
    A single tear ran unheeded down her face as she started to tend her husband. Evie pulled off his worn boots. The sheriff helped her strip off his pants. The long, muscular legs sported a few bruises on his thighs but otherwise seemed unharmed. She moved on to his once green flannel shirt.
    Stained with dirt and wet with blood, the fabric clung to his shoulder. She gently peeled it away and uncovered more than a battered body, discovered a source of the blood. Heart in her throat she stared at the ugly wound. Her fingers, one by one, loosened the flannel. The ruined shirt fell to the floor. Dying was a real possibility.
    “Ben?” Evie touched