To Tame a Renegade Read Online Free PDF Page A

bedroom was dark when Chad entered. He saw a lamp on the nightstand and lit it, turning it down low. Sarah was still sleeping but she looked uncomfortable with her skirts twisted around her legs. Chad knew most women wore corsets and hers had to be digging into her ribs by now. Cursing her parents for being such callous bastards, Chad realized it was up to him to make her comfortable.
    Determination tautened his jaw as he strode to the dresser and rummaged in the drawers for a nightgown. He found a white shapeless garment and pulled it out, giving it a shake to free it of wrinkles. Plain, high-necked, and worn thin from countless washings, it didn’t look like a nightgown a whore would wear. He carried it to the bed, wondering how he was going to get Sarah into it without hurting her.
    Fortunately her dress buttoned down the front. He made short work of the buttons then slid his arm beneath her to lift her so he could work her bodice down her shoulders. Sarah moaned but didn’t awaken.
    Damn, he felt like a blasted nursemaid! He had to find someone… anyone! to take over this burdensome task. Tomorrow he was out of here for sure. Chad still hadn’t spoken with Sarah’s brother or sister. Surely one of them would be willing to help their injured sister. Regrettably it would have to wait until morning.
    Carefully Chad worked Sarah’s dress down her shoulders and over her injured arms. Then he removed his arm from beneath her and concentrated on pulling the dress down her hips and legs. That wasn’t too difficult, he thought as he removed her shoes and reached beneath her petticoat to where her stockings were fastened with ribbons above her knees. His fingers skimmed along smooth white flesh and abruptly he withdrew his hand as if burned. He gave a shaky laugh, chiding himself for being so skittish. Sarah was only a woman and he’d seen and felt more than his share of women’s legs… and everything else.
    He quickly stripped off her stockings and released the tape on her petticoat, tossing it atop the dress on the floor. Trying to keep his gaze from settling on her full breasts, he wondered how he was going to undo her corset strings since they laced down her back. He was still pondering the situation when Sarah opened her eyes and stared at him.
    “What are you doing? Why are you still here?”
    “I’m still here because your parents refused to help or acknowledge you,” Chad said in a low growl. He didn’t mean to sound surly but his patience, what little he possessed, was hanging by a slim thread. “What I’m doing is trying to get you out of your clothes and into a nightgown.”
    She glanced down at her nearly nude body and gave a cry of dismay. “You can’t… you shouldn’t…”
    “There’s no one else,” Chad said grimly. “Turn on your side so I can unlace your corset. You’re much too thin to wear one of these contraptions, anyway. My sister-in-law Zoey wears denim trousers and plaid shirts. Makes sense to me. In my opinion nothing is worse than lacing yourself so tight you can’t breathe. Don’t argue, just turn and let me do the rest.”
    Sarah didn’t have the energy to argue. She hurt like the very dickens and was still groggy from the laudanum the doctor gave her. When Chad nudged her on her side, she did not resist She even sighed in relief when he used his knife to cut the strings then slid her corset away from her body.
    “Now the chemise,” Chad said as he raised the hem on the brief garment that saved her from total nudity.
    “No, please.”
    Chad ignored her as he eased the chemise up over her head. He reached for her nightgown, pausing a brief, unintentional moment to stare at her nude body. Her pale flesh gleamed silver and gold in the lamplight and his breath caught in his throat. She was exquisitely made; small, delicate, and all female. Generous by any standards, her full breasts were tipped with delicate pink nipples. Her waist could easily be spanned by both his hands and