Read Online Defiant by Patricia; Potter - Free Book Online

He swayed. He was so dizzy.
    He got the trousers over his hip, but buttoning them was another problem. He sat and then tried to button them as despair flooded him. What if he never regained use of his arm?
    He finally managed to twist the last button into the hole. The trousers were tight. A dead man’s clothes. Fitting, somehow.
    Wade stood. Dizziness assaulted him. The world was whirling around him, or maybe he was whirling. He didn’t know. He tried to take another step. He had to retrieve the halter, the beaded halter that his wife had given him.
    The dizziness increased. He tumbled to the floor, falling on his right arm. Agony stabbed him. Damn, he could still make it. He had to.
    But as he tried to rise, he admitted defeat. Once more, he couldn’t protect the people he cared about.
    Jeff had not yet come back when Mary Jo heard the noise from the bedroom. She opened the door and her gaze quickly found him on the floor. He was trying to sit. His breathing was labored and harsh, but he wasn’t giving up. He kept trying, even as pain-filled eyes looked up at her.
    â€œSay it, dammit.” His voice was raspy.
    Why did she understand him so well? She kneeled down, offering her hand to him. “You had to find out for yourself,” she said, keeping sympathy from her voice.
    He stared at her hand as if it were a poisonous snake. She wondered whether he had ever accepted help in his life.
    â€œTake it,” she commanded. “Unless you want to wait until Jeff gets back.”
    His eyes were full of frustration, but he finally held out his left hand and struggled to his knees. A groan escaped his lips, but he immediately cut it off. Giving him her shoulder to lean on, she managed to get him back to the bed.
    â€œI will get your gear,” she said.
    He turned his head away from her.
    â€œJeff will bring you some broth in a little while,” she said softly. “Eat as much as you can.”
    He didn’t acknowledge her words.
    She returned to the kitchen and finished frying ham, then set a plate for Jeff, and watched him eat. She had no desire to hurry. The task before her was nasty at best.
    â€œI don’t know how long it will take,” she said, ignoring the bites he sneaked down to an eager Jake. She should lecture him on dog food and people food, but Jeff had been so good these last few days, so grown-up in his attempts to be helpful with the stranger.
    Part of her was proud. The other part hated to see him grow up, knowing he would leave one day. She swallowed her rebuke and looked away as if she hadn’t seen.
    â€œTake Mr. Foster a bowl of broth,” she said, “in about an hour. It should be ready then. Check first, though, and see if he’s sleeping. If he is, let him sleep. He needs the rest.”
    He nodded. “You sure I can’t help you?”
    She shook her head. “Someone needs to watch him, all right? And if anyone comes by …?”
    â€œI know,” he said impatiently, but his eyes were full of excitement. It was heady for him, this small conspiracy they shared. Or was it so small? Her son had watched her lie to a lawman, protect a man who confessed to being a murderer. She must be crazy.
    A tingle of apprehension ran through her. Dear God, she prayed silently, let me be doing the right thing.
    She put on her long coat and a floppy felt hat. It was still raining, and she wondered whether it was going to rain forever. At least no one else would be out in this mess, only the posse and it was gone. She hoped.
    Mary Jo had no problem finding the horse. As she thought, there were no tracks. Despite her brave remarks to both Jeff and Wade Foster, she had to force herself to dismount and approach the animal.
    The birds had been at it, and the stench was strong, even with the rain. She immediately saw the halter. It was elaborately braided, colorful and distinctive. Undeniably Indian. She already wore gloves, but she wrapped a thin rag