Read Online Wild At Heart by Vickie Mcdonough - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Vickie Mcdonough
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and she longed to rest.
“Thank you. I’m sorry for your loss also.”
A heavyset woman scurried into the room. Mariah’s gaze landed on the tray containing a teapot and cups and a plate of breads and cookies. The fresh scents made her mouth water. The woman set the tray on a coffee table in front of a leather couch. “Welcome to the Rocking M.”
“Thank you.” Mariah nodded. “Welcome” sounded more like
velcome
and “the” more like
de.
With her accent and the woman’s braided buns curled onto the sides of her head, Mariah surmised she must be German. “Might I clean up a bit before taking refreshments?”
Anna scanned Mariah’s travel dress then pursed her lips. She captured Mariah’s gaze. “I’m thinking we should soak your dress in cold water. We might yet be able to salvage it.”
“
Ja
, I will do the soaking and get the guest room ready for the visitor.”
“This is Leyna. She’s our cook and much more. Come to my room, and you can clean up and change.”
Mariah followed her, unable to stem her curiosity as they passed a small bedroom with the door open. Her heart thudded. Adam McFarland lay sprawled out with his good arm over his forehead and his feet hanging off the end of the bed. Quickly she averted her eyes but was happy to know that he was finally resting. She would forever be grateful that he came to her defense.
She followed her hostess into a whitewashed room with a colorful quilt and curtains on the lone window. A small wardrobe sat in one corner and a chair in the other. “This is my room. Please make yourself at home. Once Leyna has the guest room ready, we’ll move you in there.”
Mariah hesitated, not wanting to impose, even though Anna’s smile was warm and hospitable.
“There’s fresh water in the pitcher, and the towel is clean. Do you have something to change into, or do you need your trunk?”
“I have a dress in my satchel.” She omitted mentioning that it was most likely full of wrinkles by now.
“I’ll step out while you refresh yourself. Come on back to the parlor when you’re finished.” Anna stopped at the door and turned. “You were traveling somewhere when all this happened. Are there people who will be expecting you, wondering what happened?”
“I telegraphed my grandmother from Medora to let her know I would be here for a few days.”
“Good. At least she won’t worry. I’d love if you could stay awhile. We don’t get many visitors, especially women near my age.”
Mariah wondered how to respond. Should she reveal her true identity to this kind girl?
Something made her hesitate. Maybe tomorrow would be soon enough. “Thank you, Miss McFarland. I’d love to stay and visit with you, if I’m not imposing.”
The young woman grinned. “You’re not, and call me Anna. We’re not too formal out here.”
“And you must call me Mariah.”
Anna nodded. “That’s such a pretty name.” She closed the door before Mariah could respond. She mostly despised her odd name and had never thought of it as pretty.
She set her satchel on the bed and opened it. The robber’s loot bag stared up at her. How could she have forgotten to return Mr. McFarland’s watch and money?
“How long did the doc say for you to rest up?” Quinn lounged against Adam’s doorframe.
“A day or two.”
Quinn lifted a brow.
“All right, he said several days, but I feel fine now that I’ve had a good night’s rest.”
“Good enough to bust broncs?”
Adam blinked. “Well, no, but I can pull my own weight.”
“Let’s get you into some clean clothes.”
Adam didn’t like how Quinn deftly ignored what he said or the fact that he needed his brother’s help to get his pants on. “We can leave off the shirt. Leyna said she’d be back in a few minutes to change the dressing.”
Quinn stood after helping Adam into his boots. “I don’t want to see you outside until the end of the week. If you rest up now, you’ll recover quicker and can get back
“Thank you. I’m sorry for your loss also.”
A heavyset woman scurried into the room. Mariah’s gaze landed on the tray containing a teapot and cups and a plate of breads and cookies. The fresh scents made her mouth water. The woman set the tray on a coffee table in front of a leather couch. “Welcome to the Rocking M.”
“Thank you.” Mariah nodded. “Welcome” sounded more like
velcome
and “the” more like
de.
With her accent and the woman’s braided buns curled onto the sides of her head, Mariah surmised she must be German. “Might I clean up a bit before taking refreshments?”
Anna scanned Mariah’s travel dress then pursed her lips. She captured Mariah’s gaze. “I’m thinking we should soak your dress in cold water. We might yet be able to salvage it.”
“
Ja
, I will do the soaking and get the guest room ready for the visitor.”
“This is Leyna. She’s our cook and much more. Come to my room, and you can clean up and change.”
Mariah followed her, unable to stem her curiosity as they passed a small bedroom with the door open. Her heart thudded. Adam McFarland lay sprawled out with his good arm over his forehead and his feet hanging off the end of the bed. Quickly she averted her eyes but was happy to know that he was finally resting. She would forever be grateful that he came to her defense.
She followed her hostess into a whitewashed room with a colorful quilt and curtains on the lone window. A small wardrobe sat in one corner and a chair in the other. “This is my room. Please make yourself at home. Once Leyna has the guest room ready, we’ll move you in there.”
Mariah hesitated, not wanting to impose, even though Anna’s smile was warm and hospitable.
“There’s fresh water in the pitcher, and the towel is clean. Do you have something to change into, or do you need your trunk?”
“I have a dress in my satchel.” She omitted mentioning that it was most likely full of wrinkles by now.
“I’ll step out while you refresh yourself. Come on back to the parlor when you’re finished.” Anna stopped at the door and turned. “You were traveling somewhere when all this happened. Are there people who will be expecting you, wondering what happened?”
“I telegraphed my grandmother from Medora to let her know I would be here for a few days.”
“Good. At least she won’t worry. I’d love if you could stay awhile. We don’t get many visitors, especially women near my age.”
Mariah wondered how to respond. Should she reveal her true identity to this kind girl?
Something made her hesitate. Maybe tomorrow would be soon enough. “Thank you, Miss McFarland. I’d love to stay and visit with you, if I’m not imposing.”
The young woman grinned. “You’re not, and call me Anna. We’re not too formal out here.”
“And you must call me Mariah.”
Anna nodded. “That’s such a pretty name.” She closed the door before Mariah could respond. She mostly despised her odd name and had never thought of it as pretty.
She set her satchel on the bed and opened it. The robber’s loot bag stared up at her. How could she have forgotten to return Mr. McFarland’s watch and money?
“How long did the doc say for you to rest up?” Quinn lounged against Adam’s doorframe.
“A day or two.”
Quinn lifted a brow.
“All right, he said several days, but I feel fine now that I’ve had a good night’s rest.”
“Good enough to bust broncs?”
Adam blinked. “Well, no, but I can pull my own weight.”
“Let’s get you into some clean clothes.”
Adam didn’t like how Quinn deftly ignored what he said or the fact that he needed his brother’s help to get his pants on. “We can leave off the shirt. Leyna said she’d be back in a few minutes to change the dressing.”
Quinn stood after helping Adam into his boots. “I don’t want to see you outside until the end of the week. If you rest up now, you’ll recover quicker and can get back
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