Rocky Mountain Bride (Rocky Mountain Bride Series Book 2) by Lee Savino Read Free Book Online

face.
    “There now, good as new,” he said. She refused to look at him, even when he helped her to the bed. “Strip off your wet things and wrap in a blanket.”
    The sternness in his tone left no room for protest.
    When she was done, she curled into a ball.
    This was a disaster. What was she thinking, coming to the wilderness to make a new start? She’d destroyed her chances on the very first day. He was sure to send her back, and then where would she go?
    The fire in her vision blurred, but she didn’t cry; she didn’t have any more tears, even as she knew all her hopes at a new life had drowned in the river.
    Swamped with misery, she didn’t notice Miles coming nearer until he was right next to the bed. He leaned over her, tucking another blanket around her. She shut her eyes.
    To her surprise, the pallet shifted and she felt a large hand stroking back her hair. She wanted to tell him to leave her alone, but it felt so good and she was too tired to fight. Maybe she could enjoy some comfort she didn’t deserve.
    “You’ve had a rough day, Carrie girl,” Miles spoke in a voice low and soothing. She recognized the tone as one he used with his horses. “But you’re learning. It’s tough out here. We’re one step between life and death all the time. Just one step.” His hand stilled in her hair. “Your stuck foot saved you. A little further and you’d have been swept away. I only had you a day, and I could’ve lost you.”
    If she had been totally awake, she would’ve been shocked at the frank fear in his voice. Even halfway to sleep, she recognized the weight in his words.
    She didn’t answer, but pressed her head into his hand until his fingers played with her hair again.
    “I know the discipline is hard to take, but you held up strong. And if it means you’ll obey me and keep safe, I’d do it again. You’re my responsibility now.”
    Swathed in blankets and the soft words of a strong man, Carrie surrendered. Even if she couldn’t process what he said, she felt their meaning in her very bones. The last thing she heard before she fell asleep carried her to sweeter dreams.
    “Don’t want you leaving me just yet. I like you enough to keep you, Carrie.”
     
    *****
     
    When she woke again, the fire had died low. Darkness hung outside the lonely window, and she realized she’d slept through the rest of the afternoon into night.
    Moving carefully, she took inventory. Her bottom still throbbed from her discipline, but it was easy to bear. A sharper pain was in her foot when she flexed it, but she suppressed the whimper when she noticed Miles sitting at the table, head bowed in thought.
    Too sore to move just yet, she studied his serious profile in the firelight. He certainly wasn’t what she’d expected. Stern and commanding, yet gentle. Even with her aching bottom, she couldn’t complain about his firm guidance. The spanking hadn’t been fun, but thinking on it now, she felt at peace. Here was a man who would do all he could to protect her, even from herself. That thought made her feel safe.
    Then she remembered how she’d yelled at him and wanted to hide.
    She lay still as long as she could before the scent of food made her stomach growl. Swinging her legs to the ground, she hesitated.
    “Easy now,” Miles said, coming to help her hobble to a stool. He knelt and checked her foot, wrapping his large hands around it and making sure she could move it in every direction without pain.
    “It shouldn’t be sprained. All the same, I want you to stay off of it.”
    She nodded, and accepted the plate of food he brought to her. When she was done, he helped her back into bed, and she eased down onto the mattress with a sigh. Miles took a blanket and tucked it around her. “If you need to rise at night, call for me,” he told her, and she felt a pang of guilt. She’d done nothing but make his life harder.
    He started to go when she caught the edge of his shirt.
    “Mr. Donovan. I have to say