Under Starry Skies Read Online Free PDF

squinted curiously at her, then at the coffins. He hoped Brett would not further enrage her. She had the temperament of a cornered rattler.
    Beside Brett, Maria stood, obviously overwhelmed by his ribald humor and the commotion. She took one faltering step and started to speak, then collapsed, crumpling sideways onto the trunk before she rolled onto the worn floorboards of the boat.
    “Damn you.” Tye lunged at Brett. “Now look what you’ve done!” He swung his fist, connecting it solidly with Brett’s jaw. The blow forced Brett to stagger backwards, and before Tye could grab him, he toppled over into the river with his gun and the mailbag in tow.
    “The mail!” Abigail shrieked, jumping up and waving her arms frantically.
    “Forget the mail and that blackguard sinner. And stop rocking the boat!” Tye crossed to where Maria lay and stripped off his jacket. He knelt beside the fallen girl. “Help me with your sister.” He gathered Maria into his arms, turned her onto her back, then bunched his coat into a ball and settled it beneath her head for a pillow. He was so intent upon tending to the girl, he hardly gave Brett Trumble’s escape any conscious thought.
    Amos hurried to help him.
    “Get me a wet handkerchief, Amos, and my saddlebags. Then untie the skiff before it catches on a rock or collides with something, and we crash right along with it.”
    “But he’s getting away!” Abigail screamed above his head. “He’s got the mail. We have to stop him! You’re giving him his booooooat?”
    Tye glanced up to see Brett slicing through the water in clean long strokes toward the opposite shore.
    “Let him go, we’ve more serious things to worry about.” Snapping open his bag, he removed a small muslin bag and waved it under the unconscious girl’s nose.
    Abigail looked down at them. “What are you doing?” There was even more alarm in her voice. She knelt beside her sister.
    “It’s rosemary, basil, and mint. The Indians sometimes use piñon pine. After living among the Indians for a few years, I gained a little knowledge of their medicine. These are from my sister, Betsy, who runs the General Store in Golden. Even if doesn’t help to arouse those who have passed out or fainted, it sure does make my gear smell good.”
    Tye held Maria’s head gently in his hand as he placed the cold cloth on her forehead and flapped the muslin bag beneath her nose. He could feel the soft silky texture of her dark hair resting in his palm. Her delicate face was pale and flawless. How long had it been since he felt a woman in his arms? How long had it been since he touched the smooth skin of a vibrant beautiful woman such as this? A long time, he admitted to himself.
    “She’s not fainted from the excitement as much as from hunger,” Abigail admitted, her face growing red. “We haven’t eaten since noon yesterday.”
    “Why on earth didn’t you say something?”
    The girl moaned beside him. She raised her hand and pushed the bag of herbs away from her face.
    He gestured toward the bow of the boat. “I have food in a bag stashed up front. Excellent goat cheese and bread made by my sister-in-law, and some dried beef and apples. There’s a ring flask full of clear, cool water, too.”
    “We’re not charity cases,” Abigail said.
    Tye heaved an exasperated sigh. Beside him, Maria slowly came to her senses, and he gently helped her to sit upright. His hand traveled to her back where he continued to support her. “I’d take it easy for a moment,” he cautioned. “Get your bearings before standing.”
    She tried to smile. “I’m sorry. I’m not generally prone to fainting.”
    “Empty stomachs have a tendency to cause it. At least now I can be the first to offer you a meal on behalf of Golden’s welcoming committee. I’m sure my oldest brother, Flint, would want me to greet you on behalf of the school board, too.”
    “Oh, no-ooo,” Maria groaned and lowered her face into the palms of her hands.