“Of all the confounded-stupid-female stunts.” He pulled to a halt and dismounted.
The moment her feet touched the ground, dizziness overtook her, and she plopped down on her bottom. When Jesse reached for her, she slapped his hands.
She glanced up at him from her undignified position and clenched her teeth. “Of all people, it had to be you.” Holding onto a stirrup, she got a good grip before pulling herself to her feet. She gazed into the heavens. “Why Lord? Why me?”
“There’s no need to get your feathers ruffled.” He looked at the blood oozing from her shoulder wound. “Look what you’ve done. You’re bleedin’ again.”
She glanced at her injury. It was worse than she thought, but she’d die before admitting it to him. She wasnotriding into town perched on Jesse’s lap for the whole town to see.
“It’s just a scratch.” She lifted her skirts, grabbed an edge of her petticoat, and ripped off a piece. It was bad enough that he had to rescue her, but why in heaven’s name did he have to look so gol-darned handsome? This certainly wasn’t the skinny, ill-tempered Jesse Slade she remembered. Well, the ill-tempered part still fit.
He stood by the horse, arms folded across his chest as he tapped his foot. She brought up the strip of fabric between her free hand and chin and awkwardly fashioned it around her shoulder. Her head pounded worse than ever. She kept on, but the makeshift bandage tore apart. Out of the corner of her eye, a self-assured grin stretched across his mouth.
“Oohh.” She stomped her foot, causing another throbbing burst of pain in her head.
“Would you like some help?”
Jesse gave her a self-assured grin she’d like to slap right off his face. She knew the man enjoyed every second of her struggle, but she just couldn’t ask this arrogant no-good for help.
“Course, I’d have to touch you,” he needled.
She tossed him a murderous glare, but he ignored her. She tore off another strip of petticoat and began again but fared no better.
“Summer, if you’d just use your head for once, you’d admit you need help.”
She scowled and tried to think of another solution, but nothing came to mind. It galled her, but plain and simple, he was right. She couldn’t bandage her shoulder by herself. Letting out a sigh, she nodded.
Jesse took the flimsy strip of fabric and covered the wound while she stood stiff as a board. The enticing scent of cedar and leather emanated from his body and stirred flutters in her stomach. The gentle touch of his hands as he bandaged her shoulder sent warm tingles over her skin. Her chest constricted, making it difficult to breathe. When he stepped away, the feeling disappeared, and she wanted to sigh with relief but didn’t for fear he’d hear.
He smiled. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
She inhaled deeply and gave him an indignant look. “Maybe not for you.”
“I was just tryin’ to help.”
“After making my life miserable all these years, why do you want to help me now?”
A mocking grin touched his lips. “Well, I couldn’t just let you bleed to death, could I?”
“Don’t tell me you’ve grown a conscience?” She brushed the dirt off her skirt.
His eyes twinkled. “Actually, I promised Rosie I’d find you. When the stagecoach was late, we knew somethin’ was wrong. After all, I had to rescue my future sister-in-law from harm.”
Summer sucked in her breath.Oh! If not for her injured arm, she’d have socked the rotten polecat in the nose. “Well, you’ve found me, so go back and tell my sister I’m fine.”
His smile faded. “You’re not fine.”
“I’m fine enough. Aspen isn’t that far. I’ll walk the rest of the way. I’ll not let the whole town think I’ve been rescued by thegreatJesse Slade.”
Another wicked smile tugged at his lips. “But I did rescue you, Summer.”
She propped her hands on her hips. “You most certainly did not. You uh... you just happened to arrive at the exact moment I lost consciousness.”
He sighed and tipped his hat back from his forehead. “Actually, the bullets from my gun dismounted three of the bandits.”
She scowled. “I had things under control. Besides, I’m very capable of walking to town on my own now.” She took several steps forward, and dizziness blurred her vision. She swayed and tilted toward the ground. Two strong arms grabbed her by the waist and pulled her upright.
“You bullheaded little twit. That does it.” He picked her up and carried her to the horse, then let her feet drop to the ground and held her by her uninjured shoulder. “You ain’t walkin’.”
