Cowboys for Christmas by Jan Springer Read Free Book Online Page A

on her. Rafe braced his other side.
    “Was there an accident?” Blue asked from behind them as they went up the stairs and then entered the building.
    “Head injury,” Brady answered as he quickly moved past them and disappeared into the office.
    JJ’s stomach somersaulted. She tightened her arm around Dan’s waist and they led him down the hall into the living room.
    “I’ll check him out. Get him onto the couch. Lie him down, gently,” Blue instructed.
    “We think he was attacked by someone,” Rafe explained as he helped JJ get Dan onto the couch.
    “Attacked?” both JJ and Blue asked in unison.
    Why would anyone hurt Dan ?
    “Who? Can you ID the person?” Blue asked as she sat on a nearby coffee table and began checking one eye and then the other eye with a flashlight Brady handed her.
    Dan winced as he shook his head. He looked pale. Too pale.
    “We should fly him to the hospital.” JJ blurted. They were hundreds of miles away from medical facilities and the thought of how secluded the ranch truly was, rushed a bad feeling of powerlessness through her. Suddenly, she realized just how deserted they truly were in an emergency situation. Realized too that it might be a good idea for them to stop relying on North Country Air and get themselves their own bush plane. It would cut any time in half to get to help if something bad happened.
    “Let me check him out first. Then I can give you an answer,” Blue replied. Her voice was calm and she looked pretty cool under pressure as she gazed at Dan.
    “Did you black out?” she asked Dan.
    “Yes, he did,” Brady answered.
    Blue shook her head and frowned at Brady.
    “Brady, please. I need him to answer my questions. Can you grab me a first aid kit? Needle and thread? He’s going to need stitches for that gash,” Blue said.
    JJ made a move to go and get the kit, but Brady shook his head.
    “Here. I already got it.” He lifted the first aid kit onto the couch opposite of where Dan lay on the couch. He snapped the big metal box-like case open and began ripping open plastic bags and laying medical equipment — white gauze, tape, a tube of antibiotic gel, a package of sterilized needles and thread — out on a small steel tray that came with the kit.
    “Did you get hurt anywhere else?” Blue asked.
    Dan grimaced as he shook his head.
    JJ watched Blue smooth her hands over Dan’s arms, legs, torso, front and back, checking for other injuries. Once again, envy whispered through her. Blue appeared so confident and cool.
    The woman was a total opposite of herself. While JJ had been stuck in prison and having panic attacks, Blue had been on the outside working as a cop, a nurse and now a bush pilot. Everyone had been going on with their lives and having a life.
    JJ hadn’t done anything to better herself. Hadn’t felt the need to take part in any prison programs. Nothing had interested her. She’d figured her life had been over as she’d sat in her claustrophobic prison cell watching shows on a 12-inch black-and-white tv or reading magazines and books. The only times she was allowed out of her cell was for laundry or kitchen duty, exercise time, or times to eat.
    She pushed aside her feeling sorry for herself moment and concentrated on Blue and Dan.
    “What do you need me to do?” she asked Blue. She needed to keep occupied, to feel useful, or she’d go nuts.
    “I’d appreciate some of your delicious coffee and a couple of brownies, if you made any?” Dan mumbled. His eyes were closed but he was grinning.
    Damn, but he knew her so well. Knew that she would be worried and that she would bake his favorites for when he came home. And he was finally home.
    A huge chunk of relief pierced JJ’s anxiety. Dan was hungry. That had to be a good sign. Well, at least she could cook up a storm for him. She wasn’t as useless as she was feeling.
    “Coming right up,” she replied.
    She hurried into the adjoining kitchen where Rafe had retreated and was pouring