Read Swept Away for Free Online Page B

his apology. She looked fragile beyond belief. Her red hair looked black in the moonlight. It contrasted with her pale, sunburned skin scattered with freckles. Her eyes had a ghostly gray tone, though they were light blue in the daylight.
    “It’s time to go in. I didn’t like waking you, but I can’t leave you out here.”
    She rubbed her eyes and ran both hands through her hair. It was so snarled her fingers got tangled up, and he thought she might need help retrieving them.
    He eased her to her feet. She was a skinny little thing. But few people had the time or money to get fat in the West.
    Luke caught her when her knees gave out. She probably ought to be taken to a doctor, considering all she’d been through. And in this town, that was Dare, and that’s where he was taking her. Most likely, if she got some sleep and food, she’d get well on her own.
    His arm felt real good around her waist, and he didn’t let go as soon as a man might have.
    She looked up while he was still hanging on and their gazes locked. A breeze fluttered her hair, and Luke felt the curls brush his face. For one second he forgot where he was and the trouble he’d brought with him. All he knew was he was alone with the prettiest woman he’d ever seen. Watching her, her watching back. Silence stretched. The world receded until he felt as if they were the only two people on earth.

    A sharp hoot of an owl swooping nearby penetrated the silence and broke up whatever madness had come over him. He turned her to face the town. “See that—” He sounded hoarse, so he stopped talking and cleared his throat. Twice. “See those twin lantern lights nearest us?”
    “The ones in the window?” She sounded steady enough.
    It irritated Luke that what had been a confusing moment for him had apparently not bothered her much. She was still letting his arm support her, though. So maybe she was still sleep-addled.
    “Yep. We move quick and quiet to those lights. Can you walk or do you need me to carry you?”
    By way of answering she straightened away from him, wobbled for a few seconds, then steadied herself and lifted her chin. “I can walk.”
    She might be skinny and pale, but she had a solid spine. He admired that. If he’d’ve had her in his regiment, she’d’ve been one of the quiet ones who carried her weight and stuck with the troop on a long forced march.
    “Let’s go.” With his hand resting on her lower back, they left their cover and walked straight to Dare’s back door. Luke was surprised at how much he was looking forward to seeing his old buddy. When he reached the back door, he tapped with one knuckle four times. He waited to a count of five, then rapped three times, then waited and rapped four again.
    Luke waited only seconds before the door was jerked open. Dare’s eyes went from watchful to flashing with pleasure.
    “Get in here.” Dare looked past Luke’s shoulder into the darkness, checking for trouble, then grabbed his arm and dragged him forward.

    Luke went in, and only when he stepped forward, guiding Rosie, did Dare notice her. He must’ve been looking for taller trouble.
    With an arched brow, he asked, “We got to bring a date? No one told me.”
    “Yeah, like you can get a woman.”
    With a chuckle as deep and raspy as his voice, Dare slapped Luke on the back, and that turned into the closest thing a man wanted to a hug.
    “Darius Riker, this is Rosie. Dare’s the town doctor. Rosie was floating down a river, unconscious. I had to either bring her or leave her to some two-legged wolves I had on my tail.”
    “Pleased to meet you, Rosie.”
    “It’s Ruthy.”
    Dare smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I hope you’re not walking into bigger trouble than what brought you to that river, Ruthy. Go straight ahead, kitchen’s on the right. Coffee’s on. Stew pot’s hanging in the fireplace. I’ll go for Vince and Jonas. No light.”
    Dare dodged around Luke and went out, shutting the back door