Rachel's Cowboy Read Online Free PDF Page B

been. Then, after Madge went to bed, J.D. would creep into Rachel’s room and sit in the chair by the bed, watching her sleep. He’d tell himself that he hadn’t thought about her all day, hadn’t worried about her as he went about his ranching chores. But the truth was he found himself looking forward to Madge retiring to her room after puttering in the kitchen.
    Was it right that he anticipated his visit with Rachel as much as he did?
    The question nagged him every night, but he never answered it.
    Occasionally, he’d even permit himself to touch her cheek, just briefly, to see that she wasn’t too hot.
    Until the night her eyes opened.
    He jerked back, unable to look away. “Uh, I wanted to be sure you weren’t running a fever.”
    To his surprise, she smiled wanly at him and closed her eyes again, as if he’d interrupted her dreams. After waiting a moment, he stood and tiptoed out of the room. The sight of her blue eyes went with him.
    The next morning, Madge reported that she was going to get Rachel out of bed that day to sit for a while in the kitchen.
    He looked at her sharply. “You don’t think you’re rushing things?”
    “No, I don’t. We’ve finished all the antibiotic packs and she hasn’t run a fever for three days. She’s getting bored and restless in bed. I think she’ll do better for the variety.”
    “I could move my television into her room.”
    “That would be nice of you, J.D., but she’s not going to stay in that bedroom all day. She’s going to join me in the kitchen for lunch.”
    He frowned. “Is she eating real food?”
    “What did you think I was feeding her?” Madge asked with a grin.
    “Soup, I guess.”
    “No, she eats real food. Why?”
    “I thought I’d have lunch in today. I’m going to be working close by. A warm meal and a good fire would keep me going in that cold wind this afternoon.”
    “Terrific. I’m sure she’s tired of seeing only my old face all day long. Come in for lunch.”
    He really had planned on joining Madge for lunch before he heard about Rachel’s getting out of bed. He told himself that over and over again. Then he got angry with himself. It was his house. He owned it now. He and the bank. If he wanted to come in for lunch, he could.
    But at noontime he approached the house with trepidation. What if Rachel got upset at seeing his face? Madge would have some questions for him in that case. Using the facilities in the closed-in porch, he cleaned up before he came into the warmth of the kitchen.
    “Oh, good, you’re here,” Madge said with a cheerful smile. “I told Rachel you’d carry her to the table so she could save her energy for eating.”
    “And she was okay with that?”
    “Of course. She’s waiting for you,” Madge assured him as she bustled around the kitchen getting their meal ready.
    J.D. rapped softly on the closed door of Rachel’s room.
    “Come in,” she called.
    He pushed open the door and found her sitting up in bed, her hair in a neat braid and lipstick on her full lips. She looked good, and suddenly the thought of holding her body against his was making him very nervous. He should have eaten with the men. “I’m here to carry you to lunch. Ready?” Not that he was anymore.
    “Yes, thank you.”
    He started talking as he approached her, hoping to distract her from his nervousness. “You’ve improved a lot in one week, Rachel. I guess Madge knows what she’s doing.”
    “Oh, yes, I think so.” She shoved the covers back and slid her long legs over the side of the bed. She was wearing a pink nightgown and a matching robe that complemented her lipstick.
    Staring straight ahead, he slid his hands under her legs and around her shoulders and lifted her against him. “But you still haven’t gained much weight.”
    At his remark, Rachel turned to give him a look, and her mouth was mere inches from his, way too close for his comfort. He whipped his head straight as she said, “I’ve been eating as much as I