Read Online The Key (#1 of Anna Kippling Series) Paranormal romance by A.D. Duling by A.D.Duling - Free Book Online Page A

again,
but her body failed her and she fell to her stomach. A few feet
away she heard a thump and found her predator lying on the ground
lifeless with an arrow in his chest; his horse ran by her. She then
heard clattering of other hooves hitting the ground and knew it was
Hayden. She tried to turn over, but couldn’t and lay where she
fell.
    “Anna!” she now heard his voice and then saw
his boots in front of her. A pair of gentle hands turned her over
and a blanket was laid across her tattered body.
    “It’s going to be ok Anna….”Hayden’s voice
soothed her. She was then carefully picked up, but she whimpered
from the pain.
    “I know it hurts dear, but we will fix that
real quick!” Harmon comforted her and passed her off to Hayden, who
had quickly climbed up onto his horse. It hurt during the exchange
and she whimpered again. His arms cradled her and she slumped into
his lap. He gripped the reins and gave Thunder a light nudge. The
horse cantered off taking them towards the house. People had
already gathered in the street from the commotion and watched them
pass by.
    “It’s the girl, Anna Kippling! She’s been
hurt….” Somebody yelled out.

Chapter 11
     
    C orrine was already waiting for them on the porch. Hayden
steered the horse over to her and she helped him climb down. He
carried Anna up to her room and laid her down on the bed. Corrine
came in a moment later carrying bottles and bandages. She sat them
down on the nightstand and gently pulled the blanket off of
Anna.
    Her clothing was tattered; Corrine grabbed a
pair of scissors from the nightstand and carefully started cutting
the clothing away. Hayden looked away as she did.
    “Help me turn her on her side,” she asked
her son.
    He embarrassedly looked back down and helped
her. Anna cried out as they turned her. “I’m so sorry dear, I know
this hurts,” she soothed.
    She worked quickly and as gently as she
could to get the clothing off of her without hurting her .They laid
her gently back down and Corrine grabbed a small blanket off a
chair and lay it across Anna’s breasts; she had left her underwear
on her.
    “She’s covered now; help me clean her
wounds,” she ordered her son. He opened his eyes and she handed him
a bottle and cloth.
    He opened the lid and smelled it. “What is
this?” he asked her.
    “Medicinal oil that I mixed up.” she
answered. She opened her own bottle and poured some onto her cloth.
“Anna we are going to clean your wounds, the doctor should be here
any minute with medicine for your pain. Ok… this is going to sting
a bit!” She warned and laid the cloth against the first abrasion;
Anna babbled incoherently in response.
    Both began to clean her wounds as delicately
as they could, thankful most did not bother her too much. However,
some stung her badly! Her reaction of an “Ouch” meant not too bad
and a hiss through the teeth meant really bad! On those they worked
more quickly.
    Corrine was just covering the girl with a
blanket when the doctor arrived. She stepped aside so he could
examine her and Hayden waited outside.
    “ Her wounds appear to be
only superficial and there are no broken bones,” he told her and
re-covered her.
    He looked at her neck, “She’s going to be
bruised awhile, but again no serious injury.” He dug into his bag
and pulled out two vials. “Mix this in her drink; they should help
with the pain and prevent any infection.” he handed them to
Corrine.
    He checked her pupils. “My dear can you tell
me your name?” he asked.
    “Anna,” she croaked.
    “Good! Now can you wiggle your fingers for
me on both hands?” he asked her.
    Her fingers hurt, especially on her left
hand, but she managed to still wiggle them.
    “The swelling should go down by tomorrow,
they will be stiff… so move them often and that should help with
that!” He instructed her as he closed his bag. He stood up and
looked back to Corrine, “You did a great job cleaning those wounds
Corrine! Just keep