Tempting Prudence: The Bride Train Read Online Free PDF

it.”
    He ordered the dog off the bed and handed her the cup.
    She’d prepared a strengthening broth from bone marrow for her parents when they were ailing, but this soup smelled like dirty water. “Thank you, but I think I’m strong enough.”
    “Go on. It tastes all right. You need to eat something.”
    Using one arm to hold the quilt so she wouldn’t expose herself, she returned the mug to its owner. “Thank you, but no. If you could bring me my clothes, I’ll get dressed and you can take me back to town. There’s plenty to eat at the hotel.”
    He sat in the chair and leaned to one side to put the mug down. She peeked over the edge of the bed. A deer hide partially covered the packed earth floor. Beside the bed was a bucket filled with water.
    “Miss Walker? We need to talk.” He appeared more solemn than he had been up to this point.
    “About what?” She rubbed her aching temple. Her head would likely throb for days.
    “Your head hurts.”
    “Is that what you wanted to talk about?”
    “No. But if your head is hurting, you won’t be in any mood to talk.” Reaching into his back pocket, he withdrew a small medicine bottle and popped off the cork, held it out to her. “Here, have a swig.”
    Her former betrothed had carried on his person a flask of liquor, although he had insisted it was for medicinal purposes.
    “If you’re offering me liquor, I’m not interested.”
    He waggled the bottle. “It’s a tonic my Ma makes for headaches. From a plant the Indians call the five-fingered friend . You’ll see why when your head starts feeling better.”
    Prudence took the bottle and sniffed. Smelled of herbs. Doctors prescribed tonics all the time, so how bad could it be? Considering her head felt like a split pumpkin, she might as well try his mother’s home remedy to see if it would help.
    She took a timid sip…slightly bitter, but not horrible. Tipping the bottle, she drank more. Before she could down another swallow, he swiped the container out of her hand.
    “Go easy. That’s strong medicine.”
    She did feel a slight rush of warmth, although the throbbing didn’t subside. “What did you say your mother called it?”
    “Headache tonic.” He corked the bottle and returned it to his back pocket, watching her with an expectant expression.
    “When will it work?”
    “Soon.”
    “Maybe the headache will go away after you find my clothes.”
    He braced his hands on his knees and pinned her with those piercing blue eyes. A jolt of excitement bounced from the top of her head all the way down to her toes. Did he experience the same reaction? If so, his face didn’t give anything away.
    “There’s no need for you to wrestle into a dress. You aren’t goin’ anywhere. You got to stay in bed and rest. I’d say, a week.”
    “A week?” She hugged the quilt, incredulous. Her head hurt, granted, but she wasn’t so frail she needed to be coddled. Sick or not, staying here alone with a man who wasn’t her husband or a family member was out of the question. “I’m sure I’ll be well enough to travel. After I get dressed.”
    “Miss Walker…” His solemn expression sent a chill down her spine. “You’ll need to stay in bed at least another week, or you risk falling ill again. Being a well-bred lady, you know how it’ll look with you disappearing and being out here with me for so long…alone.”
    “Of course I know what people will think, which is why I need to go back. Now. No one needs to know,” she added in a low tone.
    She would be glad to keep her mouth shut and tell no one about her shame. Except, his brothers might decide to snatch another unsuspecting woman, so she had to warn her friends.
    He regarded her steadily. “Hard to keep something like this a secret. The way I see it, there’s only one thing we can do.”
    A shiver passed through her. Despite the warmth of the air, her skin grew chilled. “What…what’s that?”
    “We got to get married.”

Chapter 3

    Prudence