Read Online Violets in February by Clare Revell - Free Book Online Page A

grand total of eighty-five miles. If he’d been able to use the main road he’d have been two-thirds of the way there by now, if not further. Instead, they were just under half way.
    He glanced over his shoulder and sighed.
    She was still sitting where he’d left her, but then again, she had nowhere else to go. Not unaided anyway.
    Pushing to his feet, he strode to the Ute, and tugged open the door. “Let’s get you out.”
    “I can manage.” Wounded pride oozed from her, tearing from her voice and eyes.
    “Righto.” He backed off and spread his arms wide. “Then manage away.”
    Lucy swiveled on the seat, trying to get her leg out. She gasped, her pretty face contorting in agony she couldn’t hide.
    Jed raised an eyebrow, but kept silent.
    “OK,” she whispered. “Maybe I can’t.”
    He gently swung her legs around. “Pass me the crutches.” Taking them from her, he held them steady. “OK, take hold of them, and then when you’re ready I’ll help you down.”
    Lucy gripped the crutches and nodded slowly. “OK.”
    Jed put his hands around her waist, smoothly easing her forwards. “You right?”
    She nodded, not putting any weight on her left leg. “Thanks. I, uh…I need a few minutes. Alone…”
    He nodded. He had no idea how she was going to manage, and he certainly wasn’t going to embarrass either of them by helping her. “I’ll stay over here, but keep within shouting distance. Don’t go too far.”
    “OK.”
    “Look, if you get really stuck, shout. I’ll come help with my eyes shut.”
    The walls visibly went up, and the portcullis in her eyes dropped. “I can manage.”
    He kept his gaze on her small figure as she slowly made her way into the brush.
    She was very subdued. It made a change from the feisty and downright annoying she’d been earlier.
    “I’m sure you can,” he muttered under his breath.
    Jed turned back to the Ute and pulled out the one chair he possessed. He set it next to the fire and returned to the Ute to find the bread. He busied himself making a cut lunch. By rights, he should cook something, but he didn’t want to waste what little daylight was left by doing that. He glanced up.
    She should be back by now.
    “Doc, how you doing?” he yelled.
    There was no answer.
    His soldier’s instinct kicked into full alert. “Doc! Lucy!” He pulled the gun from the small of his back and flicked off the safety. Holding it in front of him, two handed, ready to fire, he followed the path she’d taken. “Lucy…give me a shout if you’re all right.” He parted the bush.
    The darn woman stood stock still, leaning against a tree, staring at the path. Her eyes were wide and she had no color at all.
    “Hey, Doc, you done?”
    She looked up, sheer abstract terror etched in her gaze. A trembling finger pointed to the ground in front of her.
    He frowned as he followed her finger.
    A snake poised, ready to strike, coiled inches from her bare ankle.
    Without a pause, he pulled the trigger. The shot rang out, and the snake fell. Jed kicked it away and then flicked the safety on the gun, shoving it back into his pants. He softly put a hand on each of her arms. “You OK? It didn’t get you?”
    She shook her head, trembling from head to toe.
    “Goodo.” He wouldn’t make light of things, but normality might just snap her out of whatever place she’d gone to. “Then we need to go eat. Can you walk or shall I carry you?”
    “Walk,” she whispered.
    He kept a hand on her waist, telling himself it was to keep her balanced, nothing more. Now all he had to do was believe it. “I even found you a chair.” He led her to it.
    She sat down, sighing in relief.
    “Made you a cheese sanger…” He held out a plate to her.
    She looked at him, not taking it.
    “Of course. You want to clean your hands first.” He laid the plate on her lap and handed her a wipe for her hands. “Here you go. Billy’s boiled. I’ll make the tea.” Turning back to the stove, he shoved tea into the