Painted Montana Sky: A Montana Sky Series Novella Read Online Free PDF Page A

the clip of the horse’s hooves. The nightmare of her accident teased at the edges of her mind. But the feel of Tyler’s arms around her kept the worst of the memories at bay.
    After several moments, Lily realized she’d been holding her breath. She released it and then unconsciously relaxed against Tyler’s chest.
    “’Atta girl,” he murmured. “You’re doing just fine.”
    It doesn’t feel like I’m doing just fine.

 
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    Tyler hadn’t held a woman in his arms since Laura left. Hadn’t even sought out one of the prostitutes at Hardy’s saloon. Fact was, with Laura’s betrayal, he didn’t have the urges he use to. But now, holding Lily, Tyler’s body came awake, and he vividly remembered what he’d been missing. He shifted his weight, grateful to have the bunched up folds of her skirt between them to keep secret his reaction to her.
    Lily was slender and light, not at all like Laura’s buxom curves, and he liked that she felt so different—almost fragile. But she had to have a streak of toughness in her to be out and about with that lame leg, not just staying home where circumstances would be easier for her.
    For the first time, he wondered why she was out here by the river. With her limp, he doubted she’d come to take her dog for a walk. Was she meeting someone? She’s not Laura , he reminded himself. Besides, if she came here to meet a man, I’d have seen him. Not that it’s any business of mine if she is!
    As they drew close to the ranch, Habakkuk Pendell, his foreman, strode out of the barn, accompanied by Patches, a black and tan shepherd mix. The man glanced their way, pushed up the brim of his brown hat, and hurried toward them with a bowlegged stride, worry written all over his seamed face.  
    Patches trotted beside Habakkuk, his ears and tail up in a friendly pose, although if Lily had come alone, the dog would have barked the alarm.
    “Take the dog from Oliver,” Tyler ordered.
    The foreman reached up and lifted the animal out of Oliver’s arms. He gave a bemused glance from the dog to Lily.  
    Patches pranced beside him, trying to sniff Dove.
    “Bring the dog,” Tyler ordered. “Once we’re in the house, I want you to send Hank to town. He’s to go to the livery and tell Pepe that Miss Maxwell is visiting with us, and that I’ll be driving her back to Mrs. Murphy’s.”
    Tyler urged the horse past the foreman and the dogs and toward the house, stopping in front of the porch. He dismounted and tied Domino’s reins to the porch rail. Then he reached up to span Lily’s waist. He could feel the whalebone in her corset and had a fleeting wish that she wasn’t wearing one.
    Lily’s lips were pressed tight and white with pain. She dropped her hands to his shoulders.
    Tyler lifted her from the saddle, but in spite of his care, she winced. He set her down as gently as he could, then held her to make sure she could stand on her feet. “Can you walk up the steps, or do you want me to carry you?”
    She hesitated.
    “I’ll carry you.” He swept her into his arms.
    The door to the house opened, and his cook and housekeeper, Mrs. Pendell, peered out. Her pale blue eyes narrowed, she set her square jaw.  
    “Hello, Mrs. Pendell,” said Oliver, clattering up onto the porch. “We’ve saved a dog. Its name is Dove.”
    “Tyler Dunn, who do you have there?” She took a closer look. “You two are sopping wet.” She held the door open and waved to usher them into the house. “Get inside by the stove before you catch your deaths.” She pointed at Patches, who obviously wanted to follow Dove inside. “Stay out here where you belong.”
    Tyler turned sideways to avoid knocking Lily’s feet on the frame, then walked through the main room, and followed the scent of stew and biscuits into the kitchen. He settled Lily into the rocking chair next to the stove. The heat enveloped him.
    Oliver and Habakkuk trailed after them. The foreman carried Dove, still wrapped in a