LITMIR.BIZ

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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.

      “The men who jumped Matt could’ve gone in any direction afterwards,” J.T. said.

      “If 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.

      “Are you dizzy?” she asked.

      “A little.” Growing weaker, his frustration mounted. “Headache?”

      “Yes, and my back hurts like hellfire.” So why could he even feel how close she was? Why was he even this aware of her? He sure as hell didn’t want to be.

      “Russ, 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.”

      “It’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 on a 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 might’ve been there recently.”

      That outlaw gang had been wiped out a couple of years earlier. Thanks to Jericho, Jake, Davis Lee and Riley, the men who had murdered Cora Wilkes’s husband as well as Josie Holt’s parents and former fiancé were gone for good. Matt really wanted to make that happen for the Landis brothers and anyone else involved in the rustling.

      Davis Lee squeezed the boy’s shoulder. “That’s a good idea, Andrew. Take my deputy with you. He’s at the jail.”

      Andrew nodded, his young face earnest as he looked at the lone woman in their midst. “I won’t go until we finish for the day, Dr. Annalise.”

      “You can go on, Andrew. It’s important.” There was a smile in her voice.

      The answering smile on the boy’s face was blinding and pure adoration. He looked to be this close to falling at her feet.

      Hell, Matt thought. Andrew should watch out or she’d kick him in the teeth while he was down there.

      It was an effort, but he said, “The longer we talk, the further they get.”

      Russ gave him a flat stare. “You’re not going. We’ve got it handled. You need to heal up ’cuz we both know this is going to start all over now that two of them have escaped.”

      Matt knew Russ was right to insist he stay here and it blistered him up, but the only thing keeping him from passing out was sheer will and his pride. He refused to let Annalise see how right she was about his being shaky.

      “How about moving me out of here?” he asked his brother in a low voice. “Maybe to the Fontaine?”

      “I already talked to Annalise about that and she said it wasn’t a good idea.”

      “She doesn’t have the last say.”

      “Until you’re stronger, she does,” J.T. said. “I’ll stay here with you.”

      She helped Russ situate Matt on his side. Her movements were brisk, impersonal. Still, he felt her touch all the way through his body.

      Davis Lee turned for the door. “One of us will let you know what we find, Matt. I’m going to see who can ride with us.” He nodded.

      “When Andrew gets back from checking the McDougal’s old rendezvous spot, I’ll wire the sheriff in Abilene and those in the surrounding counties to let them know what’s happened so they can keep an eye out for anyone suspicious and for the Landis brothers, too.”

      “That’s good.” Though what little strength he had was slipping away, Matt still chafed at being left here. He called out to his brother as Russ reached the clinic door. “Bring me some boots before you leave Whirlwind.”

      Russ agreed and walked out. Annalise went to the door with Davis Lee and Matt caught her conversation with his friend.

      “How’s Josie doing?” she asked quietly.

      “So far, she’s following your orders.”

      “I’m glad to hear it. I’ll be over in a bit to check on her.”

      “I appreciate it. Lydia offered to stay with her if Russ and I needed to go after Matt’s attackers so she won’t be alone.”

      “That’s good.” She gave the lawman a warm smile as she closed the door behind him. A friendly smile.

      A smile Matt hadn’t seen in years.

      She moved back into the room and gathered his dishes.

      “What’s wrong with Josie?” he asked. “Is it the baby?”

      Surprise flashed across her face then she shook her head. “It’s not for me to say.”

      “Is she going to be all right?” He hated the thought that pretty, vibrant Josie Holt might lose another child or otherwise be in a bad way. “Can you tell me that?”

      She hesitated, then said, “She’s taking every precaution.”

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