Daring Masquerade by Margaret Tanner Read Free Book Online Page B

hurt you."
    "Just bandage me up will you." He raked the fingers of his left hand through his hair. What the hell was happening to him?
    "All done."
    The top of Harry's bright head almost touched his groin. He gritted his teeth and turned his thoughts to the French who were taking such terrible casualties in Verdun. He was stronger now, his nerves much better, too, except near this scruffy little urchin.
    He didn't want to let the Martins go. Gilbert proved himself an expert rider, Harry a good worker, also. He purposely treated the boy harshly, but could not stop himself. The kid rubbed him up the wrong way, had from the first time they met.
    "All finished, I'll help you get back into your pants."
    "Thanks."
    Harry held his pants out so he could slip his legs into them, and as he fumbled to do them up, she shifted his hand away.
    "I'll do it."
    He glanced down and saw Harry's face turn red. Surely he couldn't be embarrassed? What a strange young fellow.
    "Think I'll go to my hut and have a whisky. My hand is hurting like hell."
    "Have a lie down," she said softly. "They're nasty wounds."
    Their gazes locked, and he watched in surprise as concern darkened Harry's hazel eyes to a deep sea green.
    "Don't worry about me, boy, I'm tough as old boot leather. I'll be down about six when the men arrive back." He patted her head.
    After he limped off, she covered her face with her hands and wept at the futility of feeling too much for Ross Calvert who thought of her as a scruffy, cheeky boy. For Gil's sake she could never tell him otherwise.
    The men drifted in at six o'clock, but Ross did not put in an appearance.
    "Do you think I should check on the boss?" she asked Jack.
    "No, I dropped in on him before, dead to the world. Found half a bottle of whisky on the floor near his bed. Nice looking trout. Did you catch it?"
    "Yes, but they just about jumped out and grabbed my line."
    Jack laughed. "I know, doesn't seem very sporting, eh, boy."
    "No, it doesn't."
    His expression sobered. "Keep an eye on your brother."
    "Why?"
    "I didn't tell Ross, but he took another bad turn."
    She glanced frantically at Gil. Pale and trembling, he toyed with his meal in silence. Jack's hand on her shoulder restrained her from dashing over to him.
    "Completely went to pieces when he saw the blood. He needs help. You should take him back to the hospital."
    "They'll put him in the insane asylum." Her eyes filled with tears. "He'll get better up here, I know he will. He just needs more time." She couldn't hide the despair in her voice or still her quivering lips. "Don't tell Ross, he'll send him away. Please, Jack, a little while longer then I'll take him to the doctor if he doesn't get better."
    "Watch him, boy, all right?"
    How can I tell the poor little bugger Gilbert's suicidal? Jack watched as Harry, with his shoulders slumped and lips trembling, moved towards his brother. The army brings these boys home wounded in body and mind and dumps them on their families, while calling for more fit young men to sacrifice themselves.
    Only a matter of time before Ross went off again. He had more than done his share, had lost his brother, yet still the Empire wanted more from him. A decent man like him would not stand back and let another man do his fighting for him. There was the tragedy. Honorable men became sacrificial lambs.
    Why doesn't the army take the old useless men like me? Not young men in their prime.
    Eric and Ross were the sons he never had. He loved them as if they were his own. What would become of Devil's Ridge if Ross died without producing an heir?
     
     

Chapter Four
     
    Ross came to breakfast next morning knowing he looked pale and haggard. After the whiskey had lost its numbing power, his throbbing wounds kept him awake half the night.
    "Good morning." He took a plate of bacon and eggs from Harry.
    "How are your hand and leg?" The boy blushed to the roots of his hair before turning his face to one side.
    "I'll get you to change the bandages