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

was cool to her touch, and she felt a stab of guilt about keeping the man from warming up.
    He carried her out the side door of the kitchen, and in spite of the spring sunshine, Lily shivered, missing the warmth of the stove. They walked between the house and the barn, past a garden, henhouse, smokehouse, and pigpen. In the middle of a small meadow on the other side of the house, she saw a majestic oak, rising in solitary splendor. The outstretched limbs canopied a picnic table and benches.
    A small stream ran placidly through the meadow and danced over rocks as it neared what Lily assumed were the hot springs, disguised behind tall, weathered wooden fences. She supposed the one covered with climbing roses, just starting to bud, was for the women.
    When Tyler carried her around one of the fences, she saw a pool of water lined with big rocks that looked like they’d been moved into place to provide comfortable seating. The stream ran alongside the hot pool. A thick board dammed the channel between the two. The board was raised to allow the cold water of the stream to flow into the spring.
    The two-sided fence made half a box around the pool, screening out the house and the sight of the “men’s” hot spring downstream. From the open sides, Lily could see the view of the grassy meadow and distant purple mountains. A rock garden with flowers nestled under the shade of a willow tree. The fluttering leaves cast dancing shadows over the pool.
    “It’s so lovely,” she murmured.
    “My mother wanted beauty around her when she bathed. So she planted the flowers. Said her soak was her only quiet time, and she wanted to enjoy it.” Tyler set her down on a bench tucked against the fence. “I think that’s as fur as I can help ya, Lily,” he said in an exaggerated drawl. “Although…” His words trailed off, but mischief sparkled in his gray eyes.
    Heat rose to her cheeks, and she looked away. “I’ll be fine with Mrs. Pendell’s help.”
    The housekeeper hurried around the side of the enclosure, her arms full. “Off you go, Tyler. I’ve put dry clothes out for you.”
    He flashed Lily a wink and a grin, then strode off.
    Pursing her lips, the housekeeper stared after him. “Well, Miss Maxwell, you just may be the tonic that man needs.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I haven’t seen him so light hearted since….” The housekeeper shook her head, her cottony white hair fluttered. “That’s not my story to tell. I’m just glad to see him in good spirits.” She set the clothes and towels on the bench, and then extended her hands. “Here, grab hold of me and stand.”
    Lily put her hands into the work-worn ones of the housekeeper and allowed the woman to pull her to her feet, knowing with the amount of pain she was in, she couldn’t undress without help. At the thought, she flushed with embarrassment.
    “Pretend I’m your personal maid.” Mrs. Pendell carefully helped her out of her clothes. “Perhaps you’ll think us uncouth, bathing without clothing. Sometimes, visiting ladies will keep on their undergarments. However, as you see we are perfectly private. No man at this ranch would even think about peeking.”
    Naked, Lily stood shivering and self-conscious in the open air. She’d thought she’d long since lost her notions of personal privacy, given the help she needed for so long after her injury for her most basic needs, and sometimes on the bad days ever since. But she’d never before bared herself to the sky. A breeze blew over her, popping goose bumps on her skin.
    Mrs. Pendell pointed toward a flat rock on the edge of the pool, “That’s where the steps are. Let me help you in. I’d join you, but I have dinner on the stove.”
    “I understand. I can’t have you burning Mr. Dunn’s dinner.”
    Leaning on the housekeeper’s strength, Lily hobbled to the stone, then with Mrs. Pendell’s support, she crouched to a sitting position, placed her hands on the flat rock to brace herself, and lowered