Free An Untamed Heart by Lauraine Snelling

sitting but still lying down. Like the rest of him—in a neither-nor world.
    “There. That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
    Definitely a liar, erring on the cheerful side.
    “We’re going to wash your face and comb your hair. We will be careful, I promise.” Her accent sounded more Swedish than Norwegian. We? Was someone else assisting her?
    Round of face, round of body, with a determined smile that boded ill for her patient. He closed his eyes again, the easier to imagine her away.
    “You want to look as good as possible for Far and Mor.” Amalia understood. Amalia had always understood. It was ashame she was a woman and could not run the business. She loved the world of business and finance. She should be the one in college, not he. He’d thought that for the last several years, ever since his grooming for the role began.
    Between his tight jaw and Amalia’s cheerful persistence, they managed to get some of the soup into his mouth, improving with practice. By the time the nurse finished his grooming, he vowed to never associate with a nurse again in any capacity whatsoever, no matter what.
    “Would you like me to shave you?”
    Over my dead body , but when he shook his head in the barest motion, pain slammed him again. A cough burst forth, no matter how he tried to stifle it.
    “You must cough!”
    Had he ever contemplated murder before?
    He coughed enough to relieve the pressure and collapsed against the pillows.
    “I’ll let you rest a bit, and then before your far and mor come in, we’ll get you sitting a bit higher with more pillows.”
    Was that a threat or a promise? Without a decision, he promptly fell down the black well again.

    “Welcome back.” His mother’s voice cleared the fog from his brain. He opened his eyes to see her smiling at him, perfectly coiffed and dressed as modishly as always.
    “Takk.” He let his gaze travel the room and the closed door.
    “Your father had to return to the office for a meeting. He said he’ll come back tonight.”
    A reprieve. Now, that was something for which to be thankful. “Amalia?”
    “She had an appointment. She should be back any time.” She took his hand between her own. “You gave us quite a fright.”
    “Sorry.” She had no idea how sorry.
    “We want you to come home, where you can be cared for.”
    He refrained from shaking his head, but the look he gave her must have sufficed.
    “I know you don’t want to do that, but . . .” She paused. “Your father is insisting.”
    And if RA Aarvidson insisted the world was to stop, it probably would. A stubbornness that he’d only recognized recently, perhaps because he was pushed to the limit, prompted him to a soft answer. “His insisting will do no good this time. I will stay here. I have a good nurse, and Hans will come in to help tomorrow.” A white lie perhaps, but he was certain that would happen as soon as he sent a message. Surely Amalia would take care of that.
    Sonja Aarvidson clicked her tongue in a tsking sound. One he knew well. She had always done what RA ordered.
    “I’m sorry, Mor, but I cannot do that. I must be near the college so that I can employ a tutor to read to me and help me prepare for the end of the term. Far and I have struck a bargain, and I will not go back on my word. No matter what he orders. I know this will be difficult for you, but this accident cannot stop me.” He hoped he sounded firm. Nothing could stand in the way of his last summer in the mountains. Nothing. “You do not have to be the bearer of the bad tidings. When he comes, I will tell him. I think you would be wise to return home before he arrives.”
    “But you are wounded. Badly wounded.”
    “Not so badly that I cannot make decisions for myself.” Ifonly he could be sitting in a chair before his father strode in the door. Dressed would be even better. Was that possible? If only Hans were here. Nurse Daggen would have to help him. After all, who was the boss here?
    He sighed. He might want