To Honor and Cherish Read Online Free PDF Page B

you still planning on coming out later this week?”
    “Yes, it looks like the bunkhouse might be almost done and now you have your foreman. I’ll give him a few days to mend though, unless Charlotte wants to come out earlier.”
    Meg nodded, “She would only want to come to get the visit over with.” Leaving her soup, she walked him out to his carriage. He didn’t bother to respond to her comment, they both knew it was true.
    ~~~
    Meg brought in some soup for him to eat. It smelled wonderful and despite his injuries, his stomach growled. He looked at her as best he could but didn’t say anything. He wanted to talk to her, but it hurt to speak. She offered him a drink of water, putting the cup to his lips herself, somehow knowing he was too weak to do it. Jax didn’t appreciate this predicament at all. The boss-lady wasn’t supposed to take care of him. He should be taking care of work for her. Now, he was the work. At least she was gentle, he’d yet to meet a doctor quite that kind.
    Without asking him to say anything, she fed him the contents of the cup which was delicious. He had difficulty eating because his face was enormously swollen. She managed to get the food where it belonged and not all over him. He could open his mouth but only just enough to fit the spoon and the muscles he used to close it rebelled against him. He was embarrassed to need her, but there was no arguing that he did. She took the cloths that had been cool but were now heated to his body temperature and put cool water on them again. Placing them back over his face, she tried to keep the swelling to a minimum. She gave him the rest of his dinner and covered him with a light blanket and stood to leave him.
    “Jax, do you need anything else for before I go? I don’t keep alcohol in the house or I’d give you some whiskey for the pain. My father used to keep some out here, but I don’t.” She rambled into the awkward silence. He wished he could speak to her.
    He moved his head back and forth almost imperceptibly. She sighed at him and left, closing the door behind her.
    ~~~
    Meg leaned against his door for a moment to catch her skittering thoughts. Her hands shook and her breathing was shallow. It had been difficult to ignore Jax was a well-muscled and handsome man. Having his shirt off and being forced to touch him for a half hour was enough to make a nun blush. It was far too soon for a man to be anywhere near her. Father should’ve known better. She should know better.
    She walked with determination to her room. Feeling guilt-ridden about caring for this man, letting him into her home, and for even noticing anything about him at all. Worst of all, she felt guilty for enjoying it. She mentally chastised herself. Her husband was barely cold in the grave and she was blushing and shaking over some other man. She was ashamed and confused and couldn’t understand why she should be feeling anything.
    Meg got to her room, got on her knees and let out all her hurt and frustration to Him who always listens. She cried out for help and forgiveness. Meg laid her head against her bed and waited for calm. It took her a while to focus her breathing and quiet herself to listen. She needed to listen, to be honest, she needed to hear.
    When she’d managed to calm down, she felt words walk over her heart, “ Take care of my sheep .” It wasn’t so much speaking as it was words making themselves heard inside her. If she hadn’t been paying attention and quiet, she wouldn’t have heard them at all. She held her breath, waiting for more.
    After a few minutes had gone by with no other sounds, she asked, “So, are you saying Jax is Yours, too, and I need to watch after him?” She heard no verbal confirmation, but her whole being was more at peace than she’d been in a long time. “I’ll do what you say, Lord, but please guard my heart. I’m so lonesome right now. It’d be easy to fill that need with Jax.” Again silence. If the Lord had any plans