Whirlwind Reunion Read Online Free PDF Page B

you have no idea what they could’ve used, Matt?” Davis Lee moved around to the front of the bed.
    â€œEverything’s a blank after I got hit on the head.”
    Except for those shadowy images of Annalise. Her touch fluttered like a butterfly against his mangled flesh. He felt the occasional wash of her breath against his neck and back, and it put him on edge.
    As Davis Lee, Russ and J.T. discussed going after the men who had attacked him, Matt realized he could be stuck here with her, completely at her mercy. Like hell.
    â€œThe men who jumped Matt could’ve gone in any direction afterwards,” J.T. said.
    â€œIf it was the Landis brothers, maybe to Abilene?” Russ suggested. “To try and free the others?”
    Davis Lee shook his head. “The guard over there has been tripled. They won’t get within a hundred feet of the jail now.”
    Annalise came around to feel Matt’s forehead, her hand cool and soft against his skin. “Good. No fever.”
    Says you. She still spoke in that detached emotionless voice and it bugged the hell out of him because he knew how she could burn beneath that prim exterior. How she could make him burn.
    He cut off the thought. That was the last thing he wanted to remember.
    The fatigue etching her fine-boned features didn’t detract from her beauty or dull the peaches-and-cream skin that was so fine-grained it was almost translucent.
    He’d known he would have to see her again, but why this soon? And why like this, when he was injured and hurting?
    She again moved behind him, the warmth of her body flirting with his. Every muscle from his calves to his shoulders drew tight. Being this close to her put a knot in his chest. He had to get away from her.
    â€œAre you dizzy?” she asked.
    â€œA little.” Growing weaker, his frustration mounted. “Headache?”
    â€œYes, and my back hurts like hellfire.” So why couldhe even feel how close she was? Why was he even this aware of her? He sure as hell didn’t want to be.
    â€œRuss, Jericho and I can fan out from Whirlwind, each of us in a different direction, and see if we can find any tracks leading from the spot where Matt was found,” Davis Lee was saying to J.T. and Russ. “I doubt I’ll have trouble getting another volunteer to ride with us. Jake or Bram Ross would gladly help.”
    Matt was sure the Ross brothers would agree, but he wanted to go. He didn’t care that he was as weak as a newborn kitten. “I can do it.”
    â€œIt’s not a good idea,” Annalise said firmly.
    Her touch was feather-light on his back, yet he felt it like a red-hot brand. Frustration and resentment had him snapping, “Leave me be!”
    Conversation abruptly stopped and the three men in front of him stared warily at Annalise.
    Matt thought about apologizing until she leaned in and whispered, “I can’t. I’m the doctor, you’re the patient. I need to check all your wounds.”
    The brush of her lips against his ear sent a shaft of heat through him and his muscles twitched in reaction, sending a wave of pain over him. Hell!
    He looked at his brother. “Bring me a shirt and my horse. And my boots.”
    Russ grimaced. “Uh, well, they stole your boots.”
    A red haze of anger misted his vision. If there had been one ounce of energy in his body, he would have punched the wall. As it was, he could barely sit up.
    J.T. frowned. “Son, Annalise is right. You’re in no shape to ride out right now.”
    Davis Lee and Russ nodded in agreement.
    Matt didn’t want to admit it, but he was about to give out just sitting here. He would be worse than useless ona horse. It didn’t help that Annalise was torturing him under the guise of doctoring him.
    Andrew spoke up. “I could check that spot by the creek bed where the McDougal gang used to rendezvous. They might not be the only outlaws to use it and someone