Loving Bella Read Online Free PDF Page A

Shane set a firm grip on Ethan’s thigh, and then looked up at the woman again. “I need you to keep him calm for me.”
    Eyes wide, she sank her teeth into her lower lip. “How?”
    “Hold his hand. Speak to him.” Shane lifted a shoulder. “Whatever it takes.”
    Nodding, she braided her fingers with the boy’s. “Ethan. I want you to concentrate on me.” She waited for him to turn his head toward her. “That’s it. Thedoctor is going to have a look at your injury. Nothing more.”
    Ethan sucked in big gulps of air. “I’m scared.”
    “I know,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Me, too.”
    Shane wanted to tell them both that everything would be fine, but he couldn’t make such a promise. Not yet.
    “You talk funny,” Ethan announced. “I like it.”
    Shane did, too. The proper British accent suited her.
    “Why, thank you, Ethan. I like the way you talk, too.” Leaning toward the boy’s ear, she asked, “Do you have a favorite song?”
    His dark brows pulled together in a frown of concentration. “I…lots… I don’t know…maybe… ‘Amazing Grace’?”
    She smiled her approval. “I like that one, too.”
    In a low, hushed tone, she began the hymn. Her soft, lilting voice was no piercing soprano as Shane half expected. Rather, she sang with a rich, smoky timbre. Pure velvety warmth. The perfect alto to calm the beast in any man. Or boy.
    As Ethan’s leg relaxed under Shane’s touch, Shane found the restlessness inside him also stopping, pausing. Listening to the beautiful song.
    Torn between shock and admiration, Shane shook his head and returned to his work. With quick snips, he cut away the tattered material and pulled it aside to reveal a long, nasty gash running down the side of Ethan’s leg. Thankfully, there was no swelling or misshapen bump to indicate a break.
    As if on cue, the woman turned her gaze toward the injury, as well. To her credit, her singing never faltered. Nor did she flinch.
    Astounding.
    Shane had seen trained doctors fail to maintain their reactions so well. Stunned once again by her remarkable behavior, Shane sucked in a lungful of cold mountain air. Who was this woman? He was certain he’d never met her. Then why did he experience recognition when he looked into her eyes?
    The sound of approaching footsteps cut off his thoughts.
    Stabbing a glance over his shoulder, Shane barked out a set of orders for Marc. “I’m going to move Ethan to the kitchen. I’ll need water, clean rags and Laney’s sewing kit.”
    Having experienced his share of injuries, Marc pivoted on his heel and flicked his wrist in the air. “I’m already on it.”
    “Ethan, before we move you I want to make sure you haven’t broken anything.”
    The boy squeezed his eyes shut, sighed. “I’m ready.”
    “This might hurt,” Shane warned.
    At his words, the woman stopped singing. Shane silently willed her to resume her impromptu musical. Instead, she gently stroked the child’s hair along his forehead. “I don’t think I’ve ever met a braver boy than you, and I’ve been all over the world.”
    Ethan cracked open one eye and then the other. “You have? Wh…where?”
    Her expression never changed nor did her rhythmic stroking of his hair. “Lots of places.”
    “Tell me. Tell me,” he demanded with little-boy earnestness.
    “Let’s see.” She tapped her chin with a fingertip. “Paris. London. Ro—”
    “London?” Ethan tried to sit up, but she gently pushed him back down.
    “I’ve always wanted to go to London,” he declared. “To see the Tower and all.”
    Both grinning, they began a lengthy discussion of the infamous prison.
    While Ethan babbled, Shane took the opportunity to check for broken bones. “Tell me if it hurts when I press on your leg.”
    “What’s your name?” Ethan asked once he wound down his list of reasons for seeing the Tower of London.
    Eager to hear her response himself, Shane turned an ear in their direction and ran his hand