Somewhere Montana by MJ Platt Read Free Book Online Page A

It’s taken the edge off already. But I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep.”
    He could see the fear building in her eyes again. “We are here, Sage. You are not alone,” he said quietly, sliding his arms under her to ease her down into the bed. The whimper of pain she tried to stifle made him wince. “I’m sorry. The last thing in the world I would do is hurt you.”
    “Couldn’t be helped. Right now the least little movement makes me cringe.”
    Her eyes were beginning to get glassy. He sat beside her and tucked the covers around her.
    “Your mother,” she began, tears forming.
    “Used to tuck you in like this.” he finished for her. “After I brought you down off the mountain, she moved you here to the house. She didn’t want you in the bunkhouse with the older girls. You should have heard the chewing out she gave them. To the point of threatening to send them home in disgrace.”
    “I didn’t deserve the way she treated me. Not after all the worry I caused her. Then, when I got upset in the middle of the night, you used to sneak in and hold me until I stopped crying. After what I put all of you through, it’s a wonder you let me come back.”
    “You were irresistible. I think they would have adopted you if they could,” he said with a smile. “In fact, I know Grandfather Two Feathers and Grandmother Little Mouse look on you as a granddaughter. You are special.”
    “Why do you call them that? They’re not really your grandparents.”
    “It’s a title of respect. They are elders and both are shamans. But they have chosen to live off the reservation. They are of the Nez Perce tribe. Grandfather said that the Sky Father and the Earth Mother came to him in a vision and set his feet on the correct path. They showed up here when I was about fifteen. It was soon after that Dad started the survival camps and began the herd of Appaloosas.”
    “Aren’t shamans supposed to have magic powers?”
    “Some people believe that. It’s not magic. Only knowledge the rest of us don’t have. If you think they can wave a magic wand over you and you’ll be all better, not going to happen. You’ll have to heal like any other human. Tomorrow I’ll hunt up a sling for your arm. And we’ll keep hot packs on the knee.”
    “And I suppose I’ll have to stay in this bed,” she grumbled. “I think I’m about to go out like a light. I hope that one little pill doesn’t knock me for a loop like it did today.”
    “I hope it does. Then maybe you’ll sleep through the night. It’s what you need,” he added, standing up. He couldn't resist her lost-little-girl look. He bent down to lightly brush his lips across hers. Her hand grabbed his arm as she returned the kiss, her tongue licking across his bottom lip. No, he couldn’t go there, even though it kicked his libido up a notch or two. She didn’t know what she was doing to him. He had to be the strong one. Regretfully he drew away, pulling himself back under control, although the ridge tenting the fly of his jeans showed where his imagination had run to.
    “Sage. Enough,” he said with strength he didn’t feel. The blood was still running hot through his body. “I don’t seduce women who are under the influence. Goodnight!” With that he turned out the lamp and fled to his room.
    What the hell were you thinking, Bonehead? He hadn’t hardened that quick in a long while. In fact, he could pinpoint it—eight years. Hopefully she hadn’t seen it. That wickedly innocent look on her face had brought an ache with it that wouldn’t be appeased very soon.
    He stripped out of his clothes and walked naked across the room to pull a pair of pajama bottoms from the bureau drawer. As he shook them out, he thought his mother would be pleased he at last was wearing what she had given him three Christmases ago. His usual night attire was just his birthday suit, but in deference to the guest in the next room, he couldn’t have his candle pointing the way.
    Mac