From Kiss to Queen by Janet Chapman Read Free Book Online Page B

enfold her inside an awkward embrace.
    â€œSure do, girl. Number two is all clean and ready. You just go on over and lay down before you fall down. I’ll run upstairs and get you a kettle of tea and some medicine.” He stepped away and frowned at Mark. “This guy with you?” he asked, sounding suspicious.
    Jane patted his arm. “He is, Si. So you be nice to him.”
    Silas, it seemed, was duly chastised, hiding his chagrinbehind his hand as he cleared his throat. “You . . . ah, you gotta get to Milo, Jane?”
    â€œI think that’s the wrong direction,” she said, turning questioning eyes to Mark. “Aren’t you trying to get to Bangor?”
    Mark shook his head. “There’s been a change of plans. I need to get to a town on the coast called Stonington.”
    â€œStonington? But I thought you wanted to go to the airport.”
    â€œThe friend I just called asked me to meet him in Stonington.”
    Giving him a quizzical look, then snuffing and rubbing her nose, Jane nodded. “Okay,” she said, turning to Silas. “My car broke down, so can you help me find a way to get him to Stonington? I think it’s on Deere Isle, on the east side of Penobscot Bay.”
    â€œYou . . . ah, I could let you take Manly.”
    â€œYour truck? Silas, that’s so sweet of you.” Jane rested her hand on his arm. “I can get it back to you tomorrow or the day after. Will you trust me with your baby for two whole days?”
    â€œYou know I’d trust you with Manly seven days a week. Hell, girl, I owe you my life.”
    â€œThanks, Si. And you don’t owe me anything,” she answered wearily.
    Mark saw her eyelids drooping and hurried over to her, putting his wallet away as he went. He placed a hand behind her knees and swept her up in his arms, ignoring her squeak of alarm, which promptly turned into another sneeze.
    â€œLead the way, Silas, to number two,” Mark told the gawking man.
    Silas worriedly eyed Jane. “Maybe you should carry her to my place upstairs.”
    â€œThe cabin will do fine for us,” Mark answered, using his don’t-argue-with-me voice.
    Silas obviously thought about arguing, though, but only for a second before he spun on his heel, grabbed up Jane’s pack and gun, and led the way out of the store.
    â€œYou settle her on the bed and I’ll go get some lemon tea and honey,” Silas said in a rush, pushing open the door to the cabin. “And I’ve got some cold medicine she should take,” he added, busying himself with lighting a match to the waiting kindling in the stove.
    â€œThat’s fine,” Mark agreed, straightening from laying Jane on the bed. “Do you have a map of Maine? I need to see how long it will take us to get to Stonington.”
    â€œI know it’s two hours to Bangor,” Silas offered, rubbing his chin again. “But I don’t know how far it is from there to Deere Isle. I got a map I’ll bring back with the tea.”
    As soon as Silas was gone, Mark began unbuttoning Jane’s jacket. She protested at first and then tried to help, but he brushed her hands away and told her to be quiet. She tried glaring at that command, but finally conceded and went as limp as a rag doll.
    Mark was starting to worry. Her forehead was burning, her cheeks were bright red, and she was becoming even more listless, the hike up from the stream probably doing her in. But it was the fact that she was obeying him that was most frightening. And she remained docile until hetried to take off her boots. Jane bolted upright and slapped his hand away from the laces on her right boot. Mark tried undoing them again, so she hit him on the shoulder. It was a weak protest, but enough for him to remember the brace.
    â€œGo away and leave me alone,” she said in a winded croak. “Maine woods-women prefer to die with our boots on.”
    Mark