Read Online Texas Proud (Vincente 2) by Constance O'Banyon - Free Book Online Page B

shore, his eyes and ears alert for any motion,
any sound. Rachel's assailant was probably lurking nearby. He heard a horse galloping away, but
he wasn't convinced that the danger had passed.
    He stepped onto the bank and laid Rachel gently
upon the grass, then quickly draped his shirt across her nakedness. She looked so small and
helpless, so pale, that he feared she might die. He
had to act quickly if he was going to save her life.
She was losing too much blood.

    Primal instinct flamed to life inside him. He was
a man who had witnessed death and had killed,
but the sight of Rachel's lifeblood soaking into the
grass enraged him beyond reason. He was like a
man possessed, a predator, protecting what belonged to him. He wanted revenge against whoever had done this to Rachel.
    His gaze scanned the immediate area and then
beyond to the trees that lined the river, but he saw
no one. Reaching forward, he grasped his gunit was empty, thanks to Rachel's playful exhibition. He tossed the weapon aside and turned his
attention back to Rachel. Quickly examining her
wound, he frowned it was bad.
    At no time in Noble's life had he felt more helpless then he did at the moment. Dammit, he wasn't
a doctor, but he knew she could die if he didn't
get help. She lay so still, maybe she was already
dead. He breathed a little easier when he saw the
faint rise and fall of her chest.
    He quickly slipped into trousers and dropped
down, examining her carefully. The bullet had
lodged in her chest, and it was close to her heart.
He tore a strip off his shirt and tightly bound it
around her, taking care not to move her more
than necessary. With each movement more blood
oozed from the wound.

    He gently draped her shirt about her, lifted her
into his arms and laid her across the saddle. With
a fluid motion, he thrust his foot into the stirrup
and mounted his horse, gathering her to him.
With pressure from his knees, he nudged the animal forward into a slow walk. His first instinct
was to ride fast so he could get help for Rachel,
but common sense warned him that any jarring
motion would only aggravate her wound. He
made his way slowly home, praying that Rachel
would not die.
    The sun had dropped low on the horizon like a
dark, ominous shroud when Noble finally reached
his hacienda. He glanced down at Rachel and saw
that fresh blood had seeped though the makeshift
bandage. She was still unconscious, her dark
lashes lying still against her pale cheeks.
    She would not die! He wouldn't let her.
    When Noble reached the front of the house, a
puzzled Alejandro rushed forward, his dark face
creased in worry, his eyes filled with questions. He
opened the door for Noble and followed him inside.
    "What has happened, Patron?"
    "Miss Rutledge has been shot. Ride into town
as fast as you can, Alejandro. Don't spare the
horse, and fetch Dr. Stanhope. Tell him to come
at once."
    Alejandro was too well trained to ask why the
Patron and Miss Rachel were soaking wet, or why
they both wore very little clothing. A gran va quero was trained to obey his Patron without question. "Si. I shall ride very fast and bring the doctor
right away."

    Rage tore at Noble like thorns, ripping and
chewing at his flesh. Why had this happened to
Rachel? Someone had made a deadly mistake
when they shot her.
    No matter how long it took, he would find the
bastard and make him pay with his life!

     

Noble hurriedly carried Rachel up the stairs to his
bedroom, since it was the only room that was furnished. Alejandro's wife, Margretta, raced ahead
of him, opening the door and following him inside. Noble gently laid Rachel upon his bed, thinking she looked even paler against the white sheets.
    Hours passed with Noble sitting beside Rachel,
often replacing a blood-soaked bandage with a
fresh one. Margretta lit the lamps to chase away
the darkness. Still Rachel had not regained consciousness.
    Noble glanced at the mantel clock that ticked
away