The Outlaw Takes A Bride (The Burnett Brides) Read Online Free PDF Page A

throat was she able to get coherent words out. “Where am I?”
    “A hotel room in San Antonio,” he acknowledged, pushing a strand of hair away from her face.
    She shook her head, becoming agitated. “Fort Worth. I must get to Fort Worth.”
    “Once you’re well,” the man soothing her burning brow stated.
    “Can’t wait. I need to go.”
    He bathed her face, trying to soothe her.
    “What happened?” she asked, wondering why she hurt.
    “Your shoulder. You were shot during a holdup.”
    Groggy, she glanced at her shoulder, bare except for the white gauze bandages covering the wound. She tried to move the joint, and pain assaulted her in undulating waves.
    With a cry, she lay back against the pillows, closed her eyes, and breathed deeply, trying to ease the throbbing.
    “Are you all right?” he asked. “Stupid question.”
    She nodded her head, feeling dazed from the pain and fever.
    “You’re the man from the stage. You were sitting across from me.”
    “Name’s Tanner.”
    The memory of sitting across from him and the elderly woman who had talked most of the journey slowly returned. She remembered thinking he was a handsome man in a unique sense. Not classically handsome but more rugged and rough. There was an edge to him that spoke of danger and defiance. The evidence of a man who had lived a hard life showed on his face. No, he was certainly no pretty boy, at least not like the boys back home.
    “I’m going to get you some soup. I want you to take a few sips, at least. I’ll be right back,” he said, walking out the door.
    Beth dozed off, but minutes later Tanner came back into the room, a tray in his arms. The aroma of beef broth teased her long-denied stomach, which insisted she open her eyes.
    “I got you some broth. You need to eat a little, just to keep up your strength.”
    “Must get to Fort Worth,” she whispered weakly.
    “Later, Miss Anderson, when you’re well.”
    But she didn’t have later. She needed to be there on Wednesday. It was her only chance for the future.
    With a great effort she reached up and pulled on his arm. “Have to be in Fort Worth.”
    He shook his head. “You’ve been shot. You’re not well. You can’t travel until that arm is better.”
    She shook her head, but he ignored her and lifted her gently to a sitting position in bed. The slightest jostle caused her to moan, and she closed her eyes until the pain subsided.
    Pulling a chair up next to the bed, he sat beside her with a bowl in his hand. He dipped the spoon into the broth and gently put it to her lips. The aroma was delicious, and she sipped from the spoon.
    “Stage,” she croaked.
    “Yes, you were on the stage, but you were shot during a holdup.” He brushed her fevered brow. “You’re safe now. Eat some more broth.”
    He put another spoonful to her lips. She sipped, the warm liquid somehow soothing. He held the bowl of hot broth in his hands, which were large and strong, rugged from hard work. She glanced up at him and noticed the way his long, dark lashes seemed to shield his blue eyes. She wondered if the brief flashes of pain she seemed to sense in him were real or just her feverish hallucinations.
    It felt so odd to have someone feeding her when she’d taken care of her family members all their lives. Never the patient herself, she was the one who spoon-fed the others. But for a man to be taking care of her, a complete stranger, seemed odd and certainly out of character for the men she’d known.
    Yes, Mr. Tanner was certainly dangerous looking, but handsome and pleasant to look upon also. Quickly, she reminded herself that she was all but engaged to a man she’d never met.
    He continued spooning the soup to her until she’d eaten almost half of the bowl’s contents and pushed his hand away.
    “No more.” She grabbed him by the arm; her eyes felt droopy with fatigue. “Fort Worth. Must get to Fort Worth.”
    “If you’ll relax, I promise you I’ll find a way for you to get to