Rocky Mountain Wild (Rocky Mountain Bride Series Book 6) Read Online Free PDF Page A

little bucket. “Will you show me where to get water?”
    *
    Later that night, Calum MacDonnell watched his new housekeeper limp around his lodge. Pale and slender, with dark lashes fringing large blue eyes, she was the loveliest lass he’d ever seen. Her mouth was pinched a little with pain, and she often winced and rubbed her leg when she thought he wasn’t looking.
    She’d matched him stride for stride that day though, learning where to get water and the way around the bull’s pen that jutted between her land and his great cabin. And she made the best biscuits he’d ever tasted, blushing hot when he praised them over and over again.
    “They were a favorite of Mrs. Covey’s boarders, too,” she’d murmured in her sweet voice.
    “I bet they were. I’m surprised one of them didn’t propose marriage on the spot.” He slathered butter onto one and crammed the whole thing in his mouth, only catching her pinched, frightened expression when he looked up after brushing crumbs out of his beard. He’d changed the subject, but filed the incident away. In light of a bad situation with a man or marriage, her cringing ways made more sense. Not just shy then, his wee Phoebe had been abused.
    The thought made him burn. She’d be safe enough with him, of course. If only he could get her to accept more help.
    It pained him to think of how she insisted sleeping in that godforsaken hut, but it made one thing clear: wee Phoebe Wilson didn’t have anything in the world but her pride. It was all he could do to not to throw her over his shoulder and install her in his house where she belonged.
    More than anything, he wanted to gather her up in his arms and comfort her, rub balm into her leg until she relaxed. Even though she’d tried to hide it, he’d caught a glimpse of her twisted foot poking out from under her skirt, and it didn’t look too bad. Nothing Dr. Shepherd couldn’t correct, although he had a feeling she wouldn’t like it if he called the doctor in to look at her. Stubborn lass.
    Fortunately, he could be even more stubborn.
    After dinner, his little miss settled by the fire, tucking her feet under her. Instead of joining her and working on his woodcarving, he pretended to be busy back in the bedroom, peeking out every so often to see if he could catch her head drooping.
    Once she fell asleep, he’d put her to bed in the second room. No sense in her going elsewhere, no matter what she thought. When she argued with him back at the hut, almost visibly digging her heels in for a fight, he’d felt a fierce surge of pride at the way she’d challenged him. Thin, penniless, with that heartbreaking limp, she made her way through life through sheer force of will. She would not accept pity.
    It had been a long time since he’d felt so protective of anyone. In fact, it had been a long time since he felt such strong feelings for anyone at all.
    Checking on his new housekeeper again, he found his chair empty. A quick search of the lodge revealed she’d wasn’t there. His wee bird had flown.
    Throwing open the door, Calum pulled a bearskin over his shoulders before grabbing the lamp and stomping out. It wasn’t safe for wee lassie to be walking about at night, but she couldn’t have gotten far on that leg. He’d catch up to her, and then he’d explain the rules. She was in his care now.
    He’d examine his new, tender feelings later. Now he had to catch up with his new ward, and tell her how it was going to be.
    *
    Under a velvet night sky, Phoebe stumped along the trail to her side of the land, hoping she could remember the way. She’d waited too long to leave, but she had so wanted to stay curled in the giant chair, rubbing her leg and gazing into the fire. Even after her employer had retreated for the night, she’d been reluctant to leave the warm hearth, but had forced herself to slip out quietly. Wolfie trotted along beside her; she’d tried shooing him away but once the great dog had gotten to know her, he’d