Read Online Wilderness Passion by Lindsay McKenna - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lindsay McKenna
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was intense, the sunlight reflecting off the heated granite. She had tied the red bandana into a headband to stop the sweat from running down into her eyes. Her face was flushed, a sheen of perspiration making it gleam. Dan was slightly ahead of her, tossing directions over his shoulder when necessary. Looking down at her watch, she saw it was almost 3:30 p.m.
Just as she called out to Dan to stop and take a break, Libby saw movement on a ledge only inches from her left arm. Startled by the quick, sudden movement, she froze. Just as the hissing of a rattlesnake broke the drowsy afternoon air.
“Libby!”
Her head snapped in Dan’s direction as the disturbed rattlesnake coiled itself, ready to strike. Everything happened in slow motion. Or so she thought at the time. Dan’s face paled as he heard the rattler and he spun around, holding out his hand to make her freeze. A startled, frightened cry lodged in her throat and automatically she leaped away from the ledge. The footing was unstable and the sudden weight shift of the pack threw her completely off balance. The gray and black rocks rushed up to meet her and at the last second she threw her hands up to protect her head.
Something cool and wet was being dabbed against her face and Libby moaned, weakly lifting her arm. Her eyes fluttered open, momentarily blinded by the brightness of the sun sifting through leaves overhead. She felt Dan’s arm tighten around her body for a moment as she regained consciousness.
“Just lie still,” he commanded softly.
Libby winced as he placed the cloth against her left temple. “That hurts,” she muttered thickly. How long had she been out? She felt comfortable being supported by his lean, hard body, her head resting against his shoulder. His heart was pounding thunderously in his chest and she began to realize he was frightened or upset by what had taken place. “The snake?”
Dan’s mouth thinned. “Dead.”
She closed her eyes. “Good.”
She licked her dry lips slowly, trying to remember the exact chain of events. Finally she reopened her eyes, struggling to sit up. Her pack was off and she was lying beneath the shade of a scruffy oak tree. Frowning, she realized he must have carried her off the rocky slope. She looked up as if to confirm her unspoken thought
“How do you feel?” he asked, pouring a bit more water from his canteen onto the cloth. Again he gently dabbed at the cut on her temple, sponging away the blood
“I...don’t know yet. Give me a second. What did I do, cut myself?” she asked, reaching up.
Dan caught her hand. “Don’t. I’m going to put some antiseptic on it as soon as I can get the bleeding staunched. It’s just a laceration. You were damn lucky you fell back on that pack first and then rolled onto your side,” he breathed tensely. “Next time, Libby, don’t panic.”‘
Her golden eyes darkened with pain at his reprimand. “I’m sorry....”
“I suppose you’re going to cuss me out for killing the snake. I just upset the ecological balance up on that rock slope.”
She winced inwardly at his cutting tone. Why was he being so damn nasty? She closed her eyes, inclining her head forward to stop the aching that radiated outward from the cut. She felt him disengage himself and suddenly felt bereft as he rose.
“Stay here,” he ordered tersely. “I’m going back to get your pack. If you feel dizzy, lie down.”
A minute later he was back. She sat stiffly as he cleaned her head wound and bandaged it with quick efficiency. His touch was sure and steady. She found it hard not to be affected by his closeness, his face only inches from her own when he placed the antiseptic in the wound. Libby made a face as the stinging sensation spread out, bringing tears to her eyes. Biting her lower lip, she refused to let him see her tears, fighting them back.
“Well, we’ve pasted you back together again. Let’s take the rest of the day off and I’ll make camp here.”
Libby gave him
Just as she called out to Dan to stop and take a break, Libby saw movement on a ledge only inches from her left arm. Startled by the quick, sudden movement, she froze. Just as the hissing of a rattlesnake broke the drowsy afternoon air.
“Libby!”
Her head snapped in Dan’s direction as the disturbed rattlesnake coiled itself, ready to strike. Everything happened in slow motion. Or so she thought at the time. Dan’s face paled as he heard the rattler and he spun around, holding out his hand to make her freeze. A startled, frightened cry lodged in her throat and automatically she leaped away from the ledge. The footing was unstable and the sudden weight shift of the pack threw her completely off balance. The gray and black rocks rushed up to meet her and at the last second she threw her hands up to protect her head.
Something cool and wet was being dabbed against her face and Libby moaned, weakly lifting her arm. Her eyes fluttered open, momentarily blinded by the brightness of the sun sifting through leaves overhead. She felt Dan’s arm tighten around her body for a moment as she regained consciousness.
“Just lie still,” he commanded softly.
Libby winced as he placed the cloth against her left temple. “That hurts,” she muttered thickly. How long had she been out? She felt comfortable being supported by his lean, hard body, her head resting against his shoulder. His heart was pounding thunderously in his chest and she began to realize he was frightened or upset by what had taken place. “The snake?”
Dan’s mouth thinned. “Dead.”
She closed her eyes. “Good.”
She licked her dry lips slowly, trying to remember the exact chain of events. Finally she reopened her eyes, struggling to sit up. Her pack was off and she was lying beneath the shade of a scruffy oak tree. Frowning, she realized he must have carried her off the rocky slope. She looked up as if to confirm her unspoken thought
“How do you feel?” he asked, pouring a bit more water from his canteen onto the cloth. Again he gently dabbed at the cut on her temple, sponging away the blood
“I...don’t know yet. Give me a second. What did I do, cut myself?” she asked, reaching up.
Dan caught her hand. “Don’t. I’m going to put some antiseptic on it as soon as I can get the bleeding staunched. It’s just a laceration. You were damn lucky you fell back on that pack first and then rolled onto your side,” he breathed tensely. “Next time, Libby, don’t panic.”‘
Her golden eyes darkened with pain at his reprimand. “I’m sorry....”
“I suppose you’re going to cuss me out for killing the snake. I just upset the ecological balance up on that rock slope.”
She winced inwardly at his cutting tone. Why was he being so damn nasty? She closed her eyes, inclining her head forward to stop the aching that radiated outward from the cut. She felt him disengage himself and suddenly felt bereft as he rose.
“Stay here,” he ordered tersely. “I’m going back to get your pack. If you feel dizzy, lie down.”
A minute later he was back. She sat stiffly as he cleaned her head wound and bandaged it with quick efficiency. His touch was sure and steady. She found it hard not to be affected by his closeness, his face only inches from her own when he placed the antiseptic in the wound. Libby made a face as the stinging sensation spread out, bringing tears to her eyes. Biting her lower lip, she refused to let him see her tears, fighting them back.
“Well, we’ve pasted you back together again. Let’s take the rest of the day off and I’ll make camp here.”
Libby gave him
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