Read Loving Lachlyn (Ashland Pride Two) for Free Online Page B

Jericho’s mom.”
    “Perhaps you’ll meet your mate here in Bracks.  But regardless, I want you and Jericho to treat our home as your own, for however long you need it.”  Gwen hugged her.
    The bedroom door opened and her Aunt Sarah, carrying a medical bag, walked in.  Lachlyn stood and hugged her, and then Gwen left them alone in the room, shutting the door softly.
    “Let me see what your psycho former king did to you, alright?”  Sarah said, putting the bag on the bed and opening it.
    She wasn’t wearing a bra, so when she pulled the oversized shirt over her head, she kept the material bunched around her breasts.  She wore a pair of boxers under the pants, and she kept those on.  Sarah pulled the bandages away from her shoulder and thigh and inspected them.
    “The prongs didn’t go in deep enough to do any lasting damage, which is a very good thing.  They’re healing slowly.  Even though it’s unlikely that you’ll get an infection because bears don’t get them, I’m going to give you a course of antibiotics to take for the next five days just to be sure.  That prod could have come from some disgusting, filthy barn, so no telling what awful stuff it had stuck to it.  I’m going to clean the wounds and put on fresh bandages, and then you can get dressed.”
    “Can I take a shower?” Lachlyn asked.
    “You can take a bath before bed, but try not to get the bandages wet.  Have Jericho help you.”
    After her wounds were cleaned and bandaged, Sarah helped her pick out a loose skirt and shirt, and they headed downstairs together.
    Jericho’s face lit up when she walked into the kitchen, and he stood abruptly from where he’d been sitting at the kitchen table.  He urged her to take his seat and stood next to her, looking at Sarah.
    “How is she?”
    Sarah smiled.  “Good.  The wounds should be healed completely in a few days, and I’ve got her on antibiotics for five days, so make sure she takes one pill twice a day.”  Sarah fished a yellow plastic bottle out of her bag and tossed it to Jericho, who looked at the label and nodded.
    “I’ll make sure she is taken care of,” Jericho said.
    Sarah met Lachlyn’s eyes and smiled further, a dimple forming in her cheek.  “I need to get back to work.”
    Lachlyn thanked her aunt for coming to help her, and Sarah kissed her cheek.  “I’ll see you Sunday night.”
    “Sunday?” Lachlyn asked.
    “Yeah.  It’s Don’s birthday, and it also happens to be the monthly Sunday get together with a bunch of his pals from Ashland.  Gwen goes all out with cooking, so I definitely make sure to free up my night to come and stuff my face.”
    “I’m making Don’s favorite,” Gwen said.
    “Pot roast and veggies?”
    “Of course.”  Gwen winked at Lachlyn and then laughed as Sarah practically swooned.
    “It’s my favorite, too.  I haven’t had pot roast in far too long.  Make enough so I can take leftovers home.”
    “Yeah, right,” Don chuckled.  “You know those cats are like big furry locusts.”
    “Cats?” Lachlyn asked.
    Don said, “My friends are mountain lions.  You’ll enjoy their company.  They’re really great people.”
    They sat in the comfortable kitchen and had chocolate chip pound cake with fresh strawberries and talked.  Lachlyn had forgotten how good being around family felt.  She’d definitely missed her aunt and uncle, and although the circumstances sucked, she was glad to be with them now.
    When exhaustion plucked at the edges of her consciousness, Jericho took her upstairs to the bedroom after they both said goodnight to her aunt and uncle.
    “I really want to clean up first,” she said as he turned down the bed.
    His movements stilled and he looked at her.  “Do you need help?”
    She flushed and cleared her throat.  “Yeah.  I’m not supposed to get the bandages wet until tomorrow, but Sarah said I could take a bath tonight if you helped.  Would you?”
    He nodded and strode past her to the