Read Online Christine Dorsey - [MacQuaid 02] by My Heavenly Heart - Free Book Online

of the food. “You were uncomfortable,” he finally said.
    “That hardly gives you the right to—”
    “Treat your fever?” His head shot around and Rachel noticed he spilled some of the hot liquid on his hand. But he took no heed. “Be that what I’ve no right to do?”
    “No, but—”
    “I did not ask you here Lady Rachel. I did not ask you to try and push me down a mountain, or catch yourself on fire, or attack my friend. And I most certainly did not ask you to come down with a fever and take three days of my time, nursing you back.”
    “Three days?” Rachel took a deep breath, then her gaze sought his. “I was sick for three days?”
    “Aye. But I wasn’t going to let ye die.”
    “Little chance of that.”
    “What?”
    “Oh, nothing. I just didn’t realize I could become so ill.”
    “No one is immune to fevers.”
    “So it would seem.” Since she was already dead, or at least had died once, Rachel assumed this stint on earth would be... well, charmed. That she would be like an angel, floating down to do her good deed, then floating back to the heavens accompanied by a crescendo from a celestial chorus.
    Obviously, that wasn’t the way of it. She had no golden wings, and though she hadn’t tried, Rachel seriously questioned her ability to fly. She was like a real person... like she was before. Able to smell and taste and feel. Capable of burning herself and becoming ill. She appeared to have no special powers, nothing to help her with her task of saving Logan MacQuaid’s life.
    And if truth be known, he seemed better able to take care of himself than she was. He was certainly large enough, and strong enough to do it.
    “The broth will taste a might better if you eat it warm.”
    “What... oh, yes, thank you.” Rachel glanced up to see he’d finished his meal and was heading for the door.
    “I’ll leave you alone for a bit.” His eyes darted to the pile of silver-blue silk. “If ye need any help—
    “I’m sure I can manage.” Rachel bid him leave with a wave of her hand. She waited till he shut the door before pushing aside the fur and trying to stand up. She was weaker than she thought, but she wasn’t going to allow that to keep her unclothed one moment longer than necessary.
    She got her arm tangled in the sleeve of her shift. And there was the unmistakable sound of tearing threads before she managed to smooth it down over her hips. And she thought this would be the easiest of her garments to put on. Oh, where was her maid when she needed her?
    Rachel sank into the chair, dropping her head in the cradle of her hands. That’s the way Logan found her when he came back in the cabin. He helped her back to the fur pallet, let her lean against him as she ate her broth, and didn’t say anything about her earlier false bravado. All of which made her very grateful.
    Rachel was more cautious the next time she got up. She asked Mr. MacQuaid for a bucket of water... warmed, and though he grumbled a bit, he complied. She at first requested a tub, of course, but quickly learned one was not available.
    Which no doubt explained why he chose to bathe in the creek. She however did not.
    He lent her a comb and brush, and Rachel was surprised by them. The set was not as ornate as the one she had in London, but it was silver.
    Rachel washed her hair, using the soft soap he gave her, then standing by the fire quickly washed her skin. When she was finished she pulled the shift on again and began combing the tangles from her hair. Which was not an easy task. It seemed to take forever and her arms were tired when she finished, but she was determined to finish dressing. How could she possibly save him if she were bedridden?
    The corset proved a problem.
    Rachel slipped her arms through the straps and held the boned silk to her breast. But the ties were in the back and despite several tries she could not lace it up. Rachel glanced at her gown... her only gown, then toward the closed door. Though she was