tackled from behind. She half skidded, half flew, and
landed again with a thud on the ground next to the boy she’d just saved. He
cried and called out for his mother, but his words were garbled. It sounded
like he was underwater. Or maybe the problem was with her. Were her ears full
of dirt? She had no idea what had just happened. She lay trying to catch her
breath. Her head throbbed, and there was a ringing in her ears. She gasped for
air. Suddenly, she realized why it was hard to breathe. A heavy body crushed her,
and two hands were on her neck. Was some fool trying to suffocate her?
Summoning every ounce of strength she had, she kicked her feet and managed to
shout, “Get…off…me!”
Feeling the weight immediately lift, she rolled onto her back and
gulped precious air back into her lungs.
“Are you all right ma’am?” The male hovering over her had a voice
as smooth as yogurt, but he didn’t sound particularly concerned that he’d
probably just broken every bone in her body. In fact, a small smile quirked his
mouth. Stunned, spitting out dirt and with hair in her eyes, Delaney’s initial
reaction was to lash out. She brushed the flyaway hair behind her ears and gazed
at him. A black cowboy hat tipped over hazel eyes, and stubble covered his
chin, cheeks and above his lip. Obviously, he’d just saved her life, but he’d
nearly killed her and humiliated her in the process. She felt her skirt bunched
up around her thighs. She tried, but couldn’t wiggle it back into place. A roar
of laughter erupted. She turned her head from side to side and saw what must
have been the whole town gathered round.
Coughing to clear the emotion lodged in her throat, she clenched
her fists and drilled a hole through the man with her eyes, which, she’d been
told, were at their iciest blue when she was angry or embarrassed. His curious
gaze raked her from head to toe. After rubbing a hand across his chin, he drawled,
“Let me help you up. You’ve had an accident.”
“Good deduction, Sherlock Holmes,” she snapped. More gleeful
chatter filled her ears. “I’m glad you’re all so amused,” she muttered to the
crowd. When a child’s giggle caught her attention, Delaney turned her head. A
young woman, apparently the child’s mother or a schoolteacher, cradled the
young blond boy in her arms nearby. The child smiled shyly at Delaney. Her
heart suddenly melted and she smiled back.
The man placed his hand on her back and gently eased her into a
sitting position. Kneeling beside her, his gaze locked with her. “I don’t think
she’s in shock,” he announced to the crowd. To Delaney he asked, “Are you hurt?”
She squinted at him and complained, “Of course I’m hurt. You just
body slammed me into the ground!” More laughter tittered through the crowd. He
offered his hand to help her up, but she smacked it away and the group hee-hawed
once again.
Delaney considered the fashion in which she was sitting and
realized there was no ladylike way for her to get up in the tight skirt without
giving everyone a show. There were a lot of wild-eyed men watching with great interest.
A show would not be a good idea.
“I apologize for what happened,” the man said. “I was only trying
to help.”
She rolled her eyes and sighed. “You could have killed me!”
“I assure you, miss, the alternative would have been much worse. A
freight wagon and a team of horses can do serious damage to a body. Nevertheless,
I beg your forgiveness. Please. Let me assist you up.”
Her skirt was short and tight, and it was going to be a near
impossible feat for her to get up on her own. The crowd was obviously tickled
by the situation, not to mention the man himself. It seemed he suppressed a
grin. He leaned down, offered his hand and whispered, “You haven’t much choice
if you wish to maintain your dignity.”
She stared. “You make a valid point, sir.” Appearing to relent,
Delaney stretched out her hand. But she