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Authors: Elaine Barbieri
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door behind him, Reed cursed under his breath. He didn't like lying here, totally helpless. It was too dangerous. Nor did he enjoy the thought that his plans now depended on whether the annoying Chastity Lawrence possessed a spare pair of eyeglasses.
The minutes ticked past like hours.
Reed was suddenly furious. He'd be damned if he'd lie there waiting another second!
Gritting his teeth, Reed ignored the spasm of pain as he labored to draw himself to a seated position in bed. Finally sitting upright, he breathed deeply.
The absurdity of the situation suddenly striking him, Reed laughed. Reed Farrell bounty hunter. If anyone had told him a few years ago that he'd be in this hotel room today, with a bullet wound rotting his leg, and with blood money in his pocket that he had earned by tracking wanted men like animals, he would've called that person a liar. But then, he wasn't the same man he was those few years ago.
He had loved Jenny from the moment he'd learned what the word could mean. He had held the world in his arms when he held Jenny. And when he lost her, he had been able to fill the void in only one way.
Actually, it had started out nobly enough. When the law was ineffective in finding the rustlers responsible for Jenny's death, he decided he would find them himself. He trailed the gang relentlessly. He recalled the incredible satisfaction of the moment when he finally delivered them to the law. And he remembered the bitter irony in discovering that the gang he had captured was not the same one that had driven Jenny under the hooves of her own cattle.
The reward offered for their capture was unexpected. With his funds running low, he accepted it, vowing to find the right men the next time… or the next. It had come to him during the dark hours of a lonely night years later that he had not consciously chosen the path he had taken. Rather, it had chosen him.
The acknowledgement that that path had led him to the hotel room where he now lay helpless was suddenly more than Reed could stand. He took another fortifying breath. He was through waiting. He didn't need Chastity Lawrence. He didn't need anyone! He'd get up and take a few steps right now. He'd take a few more steps tomorrow, and in another day he'd be on his feet and able to make his own contacts.
A sound outside the door interrupted Reed's angry thoughts. He went still when he heard a soft knock.
Well, well…
Reed waited as the door slowly opened to reveal a tall, slender female outline held in dark relief in the doorway.
It was Chastity Lawrence, all right.
Chastity was momentarily at a loss. She had not expected to find the Reverend Reed Farrell sitting up in bed, his eyes clear and his gaze focused. Her stomach tightening in a way she had become familiar with when facing him head-on, Chastity realized that Sally had been correct. The reverend was a handsome man. Relieved of that hideous beard, the sun streaked color of his hair appeared lighter and his eyes more blue. His even features, more clearly revealed, were indeed comely, and the line of his jaw was strong. Looking at him, Chastity realized in a surprising flash that although she had spent the last two days tending to this man in a manner far more intimate than she cared to acknowledge, she was truly seeing him for the first time. He was younger than she had realized. He had less the look of a fanatic and more the appeal of
Chastity caught herself short on that thought. Appeal? This man who had the disposition of an adder?
Dr. Carr was right. She needed rest.
Holding that thought as she hesitated in the doorway, Chastity began, "You needn't concern yourself, Reverend. I don't intend to stay. I lost my glasses and I thought they might be somewhere in this room."
"Come in."
Chastity did not move.
"Come in,
The minutes ticked past like hours.
Reed was suddenly furious. He'd be damned if he'd lie there waiting another second!
Gritting his teeth, Reed ignored the spasm of pain as he labored to draw himself to a seated position in bed. Finally sitting upright, he breathed deeply.
The absurdity of the situation suddenly striking him, Reed laughed. Reed Farrell bounty hunter. If anyone had told him a few years ago that he'd be in this hotel room today, with a bullet wound rotting his leg, and with blood money in his pocket that he had earned by tracking wanted men like animals, he would've called that person a liar. But then, he wasn't the same man he was those few years ago.
He had loved Jenny from the moment he'd learned what the word could mean. He had held the world in his arms when he held Jenny. And when he lost her, he had been able to fill the void in only one way.
Actually, it had started out nobly enough. When the law was ineffective in finding the rustlers responsible for Jenny's death, he decided he would find them himself. He trailed the gang relentlessly. He recalled the incredible satisfaction of the moment when he finally delivered them to the law. And he remembered the bitter irony in discovering that the gang he had captured was not the same one that had driven Jenny under the hooves of her own cattle.
The reward offered for their capture was unexpected. With his funds running low, he accepted it, vowing to find the right men the next time… or the next. It had come to him during the dark hours of a lonely night years later that he had not consciously chosen the path he had taken. Rather, it had chosen him.
The acknowledgement that that path had led him to the hotel room where he now lay helpless was suddenly more than Reed could stand. He took another fortifying breath. He was through waiting. He didn't need Chastity Lawrence. He didn't need anyone! He'd get up and take a few steps right now. He'd take a few more steps tomorrow, and in another day he'd be on his feet and able to make his own contacts.
A sound outside the door interrupted Reed's angry thoughts. He went still when he heard a soft knock.
Well, well…
Reed waited as the door slowly opened to reveal a tall, slender female outline held in dark relief in the doorway.
It was Chastity Lawrence, all right.
Chastity was momentarily at a loss. She had not expected to find the Reverend Reed Farrell sitting up in bed, his eyes clear and his gaze focused. Her stomach tightening in a way she had become familiar with when facing him head-on, Chastity realized that Sally had been correct. The reverend was a handsome man. Relieved of that hideous beard, the sun streaked color of his hair appeared lighter and his eyes more blue. His even features, more clearly revealed, were indeed comely, and the line of his jaw was strong. Looking at him, Chastity realized in a surprising flash that although she had spent the last two days tending to this man in a manner far more intimate than she cared to acknowledge, she was truly seeing him for the first time. He was younger than she had realized. He had less the look of a fanatic and more the appeal of
Chastity caught herself short on that thought. Appeal? This man who had the disposition of an adder?
Dr. Carr was right. She needed rest.
Holding that thought as she hesitated in the doorway, Chastity began, "You needn't concern yourself, Reverend. I don't intend to stay. I lost my glasses and I thought they might be somewhere in this room."
"Come in."
Chastity did not move.
"Come in,
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