A Most Inconvenient Wish by Eileen Richards Read Free Book Online Page B

the ram charged, his hands went for the horns. The rough texture chafed, keeping him from getting a good grip. The sheep was large, heavy, and moving at charging speed. Ian dug his heels deeper into the soft ground for purchase as he pushed the ram away once more.
    â€œMatthews! Get her the hell out of here.” Ian dare not look away from the ram watching him just feet away. He could hear Tony’s feet pound against the ground as he ran toward them.
    â€œI will not allow you to treat me thus,” Sophia said from behind him. Her voice trembled despite her bravado.
    The ram snorted and pawed at the ground, eying the weaker target, Sophia. She gasped behind him.
    â€œCome, Sophia,” Tony said. “Now.”
    He could hear the rustling of her gown as she stood. “I’m covered in mud!”
    Better mud than gored. His mind could picture what those sharp horns could do to her tender flesh. The urge to glance behind him and verify that Sophia was safe pulled at him, but the angry ram and its posturing kept his focus.
    â€œBut what about you?” Sophia asked in a worried tone.
    Now was a fine time to show concern for him, he thought. Still, he clung to those four small words, letting them feed the kernel of hope he’d felt when she’d returned his kiss. The ram snorted again, pulling his focus back. “Let me know when you’re safely through the gate, Matthews.”
    Ian stood perfectly still, holding eye contact with the beast. He dare not blink. The ram glanced at the ewe nearby.
    â€œShe’s safe!” Tony yelled from the fence.
    Ian took several steps backward, watching every move the beast made, ready to move in case of another charge. The ram lowered his head, his eyes back on Ian.
    Ian moved deliberately backward toward the gate, not relaxing his stance until he saw the sheep lose interest in him and go back to the ewe. Finally, Ian stood upright, the muscles in his back protesting from being held so tensely for so long.
    With the danger past, anger coursed through him like lava from a volcano. He wanted to shake her until her teeth rattled. He sprinted the rest of the way to the gate, closing it behind him with more force than necessary.
    Sophia jumped at the loud clang. Her face was pale and there was a smudge of mud on her cheek. She clenched her hands in her skirts.
    â€œWhat in the bloody hell were you thinking?”
    Sophia’s eyes widened at his roar and she took a step back. “You have no right to be angry with me, sir. How was I supposed to know that the stupid sheep would charge after me? Usually they just stand there and eat grass.”
    Ian stepped closer to her, crowding her, trying to intimidate some sense into her. “Never cross a pasture like that, especially during mating season. You could have been seriously hurt.”
    Her lips parted with a gasp as the gravity of the situation finally settled in. He waited for an apology, but she said nothing, just stared up at him and trembled.
    It was the trembling that got him. Ian fought the uncontrollable urge to take her into his arms and hold her. His hands tightened into fists.
    â€œYou didn’t have to push me into the mud,” she grumbled. “I’m a filthy mess.”
    Tony sniffed. “I don’t think that was mud.”
    Sophia looked at her hands and twisted to look at the back of her dress, her nose wrinkling at the smell.
    Ian couldn’t help it; his lips twitched with humor at the disgust on her face.
    â€œDo not laugh at me, Mr. McDonald. This is all your fault. I wouldn’t be in this condition had you not shoved me to the ground.”
    â€œNo, you’d be bleeding all over the blasted pasture,” Ian barked.
    Tony stepped between them. “Sophia, go up to the house. Juliet will see that you have something to change into.”
    â€œWe are not done with this conversation, Mr. McDonald.” She practically growled the words before turning and