Read Online Whirlwind Groom by Debra Cowan - Free Book Online

room to the bed in the corner. Josie was still limp in his arms. Her skin was waxy, pale as a cloud and Davis Lee’s chest squeezed.
    He laid her on the mattress, sitting on the edge of the bed to tuck his trail blanket tightly around her. He wished she would open her eyes or moan or something.
    â€œShould I send Penn for Miss Donnelly?”
    â€œI sent Russ to fetch her.” A trained nurse who had come to Whirlwind only a few months ago, Catherine was the first woman Davis Lee had been in danger of falling for since Betsy, but she’d fallen hard for his cousin, Jericho. And he for her.
    Esther moved up behind Davis Lee, peering at Josie over his shoulder. “Poor thing. What can I do?”
    â€œProbably ought to get her boots off.” What had she said about things constricting her? Maybe he had wrapped her too tightly. He loosened the tight cocoon of blanket.
    Esther moved to the foot of the bed and unbuttoned Josie’s black boots, slipping them off. Davis Lee lifted the blanket and tugged her skirts up enough to see the wound. Her golden-peach skin was stretched taut and thin. Hethought her calf looked more swollen than before but he couldn’t be sure.
    Aware that Esther stared disapprovingly at his hand on Josie’s leg, he pushed her skirts back down. “Josie?”
    Her eyes remained closed. He took her hand. Finding it clammy, he tucked it between both of his and rubbed. She was in shock. Maybe he shouldn’t have loosened the blanket. Where the hell was Catherine? All he knew to do was keep trying to wake Josie. He kept her small soft hand in one of his and lifted the other to her face, patting her cheek.
    â€œJosie? Wake up.”
    He cursed under his breath. She was so slight, looked so defenseless lying there. Her lips were barely parted, her lashes dark crescents against her pale cheeks. The rise and fall of her chest was rapid, too rapid.
    She opened her eyes.
    â€œJosie?” He leaned over her.
    â€œSheriff?” she croaked, looking at him through slitted, pain-filled eyes.
    â€œI sent for Catherine. You passed out.” He awkwardly patted her shoulder, his stomach dipping like he’d been thrown from a horse. “She’ll be here soon.” It needed to be now.
    â€œI…can’t see you very well. I’m thirsty.”
    Esther hurried out of the room. “I’ll get some water.”
    Davis Lee squeezed Josie’s hand, using his other to tuck the blanket snugly around her once more.
    â€œHurts.” She sounded breathless; her eyes drifted shut.
    â€œJosie, don’t go. Stay awake.” He tapped her chin gently with a knuckle. “Josie.”
    Where was Esther? Hell, where was Catherine? What if he hadn’t sucked out enough venom? For all he knew, that stuff was leeching the life out of Josie. The sound of footsteps rushing up the stairs had him looking over his shoulder. Relief pushed through him as Catherine hurried inside, skirts swishing.
    â€œRuss said there was a snakebite.” The raven-haired nurse hurried around him, shoving a small black bag into his chest. She placed a hand on Josie’s forehead.
    He stood and stepped back to give his friend some room.
    â€œHow long has she been like this?”
    â€œShe woke up just a minute ago, but before that at least ten minutes.”
    â€œWhere’s the bite?”
    â€œHer left calf, on the inside.”
    Rolling up the sleeves on her pale blue bodice, Catherine folded back the blanket and reached for Josie’s skirts. She glanced at him. “I need to look at the wound.”
    He nodded, his gaze fixed on the soft crest of Josie’s cheekbones, the delicate winged arch of her dark brows, the freckles scattered across her fine-boned nose. Her lips were bloodless. She was still so pale. What if he hadn’t gotten help on time?
    â€œDavis Lee?”
    â€œHuh?”
    Catherine twirled her finger. “Turn around.”
    He did,