Liz Ireland by The Outlaw's Bride Read Free Book Online Page B

you come here for a moment?” she calledout. Maybe having a third party in the room would calm her nerves.
    In a second, Lorna was there beside them.
    “I’m afraid I’ll be too heavy for you two ladies.” Johann looked up at Emma, obviously upset at having to lean on two women, one of whom was eight months pregnant.
    “Nonsense!” Emma exclaimed. “You certainly can’t make it upstairs by yourself. You’ve been prone for a day, and you lost a great deal of blood.”
    When the two of them pulled Johann upright, his skin turned clammy and his face went green, and he stopped complaining about having to accept help. “Take a moment to gather your breath,” Emma instructed him as she and Lorna positioned themselves on either side of him, like two human crutches.
    He obediently did as he was told, but when they finally began to move, she became acutely aware of the strong arm propped over her shoulder. The man was all muscle, and the press of his body against hers made her feel jittery as a cat during a hailstorm.
    Emma pitched forward and probably would have fallen flat on her nose if Johann hadn’t grabbed her sleeve and pulled her back. Thank goodness Lorna was holding him up or they might have toppled as easily as a line of dominoes.
    “Mind the rug,” he instructed her. “Can’t have one of my crutches crumbling on me.”
    They made faster progress than Emma had anticipated, yet it was still too slow for her taste. If only she had a magic carpet that would fly Johann Archibald up these stairs, which took so much effort and might prolong their journey…and their bodily contact. A hot flush had come over her skin when she’d felt his hand catch her arm, andshe was intensely aware of it there still. She hoped no one detected how flustered she was.
    In bumbling lockstep, they continued the arduous ascent. It took Emma only a few steps to realize how weak Johann must really be. It felt as if he were leaning his full weight against her and Lorna. Then, when they had nearly reached the top of the stairs, a heavy knock sounded at the door. Emma froze, and for a moment it felt as if her very heart had stopped beating. Her gaze flew to Lorna’s.
    “Do you think it’s the sheriff again?” Lorna asked, terrified at the idea of having to see William’s brother.
    “The sheriff!” Johann’s eyes were wide with shock, and he swallowed in astonishment. “Again?” For all the world, he looked ready to forget the pain in his leg and sprint as far and as fast as he could. “When was he here before?”
    “Yesterday,” Lorna replied. “Emma didn’t invite him in the house.”
    “I suppose I should offer him tea today.” Emma did not want their visitor to get the impression that they were hostile to law and order. “But first we need to get you settled.” She tried not to think about the fact that Johann’s alarmed reaction to offering a lawman tea would have been just what she might have expected from the outlaw Lang Tupper.
    The rest of the journey proceeded considerably faster. Johann had composed himself, but the thought of a sheriff being at her door put a spring in his limp. When Emma had deposited Johann inside her father’s bedroom door, she turned to Lorna. “Do you think you can manage from here?”
    Lorna nodded. “Of course.” Still believing Mr. Archibald was just a gambler, she had no reason to be afraid that there was about to be a gunfight.
    Was there about to be a gunfight?
    The knock sounded at the front door again, more forcefully this time, causing all three of them to jump. “You’d better go, Emma!”
    “Yes, Emma,” their patient said, having regained his composure a little. “Don’t keep your guest waiting on my account.” She caught his gaze and was surprised to find a teasing humor in it. Would an outlaw be able to laugh at a time like this?
    Realizing she didn’t have time to sit around contemplating the character of desperadoes, Emma shut the door firmly behind her and