The Outlaws: Jess Read Online Free Page B

"I'm sure I'm not
the first naked man you've seen. Turn your head, you don't have to
look."
    Meg's head whipped around, but not before she
got a tantalizing glimpse of strong legs lightly furred with soft
brown hair. She was relieved to note that he wore drawers, and that
it looked as if he meant to keep them on to preserve her
modesty.
    Meg kept her gaze averted as Jess waded into
the river. He sat down behind her and she felt the soap slide over
her back. She stiffened. "I can do that."
    "No, you can't." When he finished with her
back, he handed her the soap. "Remember, don't get the bandage
wet." Then he swam off into deeper water.
    Meg washed as best she could. She was tiring
fast and needed to lie down. Jess was right. She was still weak;
she couldn't have stood on her own had her life depended upon
it.
    Not a moment too soon, Jess waded back to
her. "Are you ready to go back?" He searched her face. "You're
pale. This has been too much for you."
    "I'm...ready," Meg said. Why did her voice
have to tremble so? "Did you bring a towel? There's one in my
saddlebags."
    "I found it. Are you ready? Put your good arm
around my neck."
    Meg obeyed, wincing when her right arm was
jostled as he lifted her out of the water. He strode to the log
where he'd left the towel and sat down with her in his lap. Then he
picked up the towel and used it to dry her. Very carefully, so as
not to disturb the bandage. When Jess's hands moved slowly down her
torso, Meg plucked the towel from his hand.
    "I can finish, thank you."
    Jess gave her a lopsided grin and rose
slowly, careful not to hurt her. Then he retraced his steps to camp
and returned her to her bedroll. She snatched the blanket up to her
neck with uncommon haste.
    "I suggest you try to sleep now. You've had
enough exercise for your first day out of bed. I'll try to hunt up
something for our dinner while you're napping."
    "I'm...not...tired," Meg said, stifling a
yawn. "Maybe I'll just close my eyes for a moment."
    "You do that," Jess said as he walked away to
retrieve his clothing from the riverbank. When he turned back to
tell her he wouldn't be long, she'd already fallen asleep.
    A purple dusk was swiftly closing in when Meg
awakened. A mouthwatering aroma brought a spurt of saliva to her
mouth. She felt pangs of hunger for the first time since she'd been
shot.
    "Did you have a good nap?" Jess asked,
kneeling beside her.
    "Did I sleep long?"
    "Long enough."
    "I think I can eat something now. That's a
good sign, isn't it?"
    "A very good sign. I'll bring food as soon as
I change your bandage."
    He started to pull down the blanket and
stopped abruptly when Meg placed a hand over his. "Do you have
to?"
    "Meg, take your hand away. I've already seen
everything you've got. Your body is as familiar to me as my
own."
    Meg gave a soft cry and turned her head
aside, unable to look him in the eye. Did he have to remind her?
"Very well, do what you must."
    Jess worked swiftly, removing the old bandage
and placing a new one over the wound. "You're healing nicely but
you'll always bear a scar. Are you in pain? There's still some
laudanum left."
    "No! No laudanum. I can bear the pain."
    "There," Jess said, pulling the blanket up to
her chin. "All done. That wasn't so bad, was it?"
    "I...suppose not."
    "Are you ready to eat now?"
    "Help me sit up."
    This time she held onto the blanket as he
helped her into a sitting position. When she was settled
comfortably against her saddle, he returned with a battered tin
plate filled with savory rabbit stew.
    "I'm glad it's not broth again," Meg said,
sniffing appreciatively. "Where did you get the vegetables?"
    "I found the wild onions and bought the
potatoes and carrots from a farmer. I happened upon a farmhouse
while I was out hunting." What he didn't say was that he'd used
nearly the last of his dwindling supply of money to purchase the
vegetables.
    Meg held the plate on her lap and clumsily
spooned food into her mouth with her left hand. "It's