Shelter Mountain Read Online Free PDF Page A

hands. “Kid might be coming down with something. He’s got a fever, she said. I gave her my old room because there’s no place to stay around here….”
    “Well,” Jack said, picking up his coffee. “That was nice of you. I guess. She steal the silver or anything?”
    Preacher made a face. They didn’t have silver; the only thing worth stealing was the cash, locked up tight. Or liquor—way too much trouble for a woman with a kid. Not that any of that ever crossed his mind. “She’s probably in some trouble,” Preacher said. “She’s got…Looks like maybe she’s been in some trouble. Maybe she’s running or something.”
    Again, Jack was shocked. “Huh?”
    Preacher stared hard into Jack’s eyes. “I think she needs some help,” he said, when in fact he knew she needed help. “She’s got a bruise on her face.”
    “Oh, boy,” Jack said.
    “Mel coming in to Doc’s?” he asked.
    “Of course.”
    “She needs to have a look at the kid—make sure he’s not sick. You know. And the woman—Paige—she says she’s all right, but maybe…Maybe Mel can—I don’t know—be sure.”
    “Yeah,” Jack said, taking a sip from his mug. “Then what?”
    Preacher shrugged. “She’s gonna want to get out of here, I think. She’s all skittish. She seems scared. I want her to at least see Mel.”
    “Probably a good idea.”
    “Yeah. That’s what we’ll do. Ask her to let Mel have a look. But I can’t make her, you know. I think you should do it. Talk to her, suggest it to her….”
    “Nah, Preach, you can handle this. It’s your deal—I haven’t seen her or anything. You just talk to her. Quiet and soft. Try not to scare her.”
    “She’s already scared, which is how I figure she’s in some trouble. The kid hasn’t seen me yet, though—he was asleep. He’ll probably run screaming.”
    At seven-thirty Preacher fixed up a tray with some cereal in bowls, toast, coffee, orange juice and milk. He went up the back stairs and gently tapped on the door. It opened immediately. Paige had showered and dressed. She wore the same jeans and a long-sleeved chambray shirt. A little black-and-blue spot peeked out from the opened collar and Preacher immediately felt steamed up, but he tried to keep it from showing on his face. Instead, he focused on her eyes, which were a deep emerald-green, and her damp hair, which fell in curly tendrils to her shoulders. “Morning,” he said, trying to keep his voice quiet and soft, like Jack would.
    “Hey,” she said. “You’re up early.”
    “I’ve been up forever,” he said.
    “Mom?” came a voice from behind her. He looked past her and saw the little kid, Christopher, sitting cross-legged in the middle of the bed.
    She opened the door for Preacher and he came in, putting the tray on the bureau just inside the door. He stayed by the door and gave the kid a nod. He tried to relax his features into softness, but wasn’t sure how to do that. “Hey, little buddy. You want some breakfast?”
    The kid shrugged, but his round eyes were wide and focused on Preacher.
    “He’s not so good with men,” Paige whispered softly. “Shy.”
    “Yeah?” Preacher asked. “Me, too. Don’t worry—I’ll stay back.”
    He looked at the child and tried out a smile. Then the kid pointed at Preacher’s head and said, “You hafta shabe that?”
    It made Preacher laugh. “Yeah. Wanna feel?” he asked. He approached the bed slowly, carefully, bending his bald head toward the kid. He felt a small hand rub over his dome and it made him laugh again. He raised his head and said, “Cool, huh?” And the kid nodded.
    Preacher went back to Paige. “My buddy’s wife, Melinda, she’s coming to Doc’s this morning and I wanna take you over there. Let her have a look at the kid, make sure he’s okay, and if he needs medicine or anything, she’ll fix you right up.”
    “She’s a nurse, you say?”
    “Yeah. A special nurse. A midwife. She delivers babies and that.”
    “Oh,”