Free Marked for Marriage by Jackie Merritt Page A

suspecting were already dangerously low in quantity, especially when she hung over the sink to get her face closer to the icy window to see outside. “She’ll die in this,” Maddie moaned. “What did Mark do with her? Fanny, Fanny, where are you?”

Chapter Four
    S omething akin to panic assaulted Noah’s senses. Who or what was “Fanny”? A pet? A child? And was Fanny outside in that raging blizzard?
    He went to Maddie’s side and tried to see out the same window. There was nothing outside but the density of whites that only a winter storm of this magnitude could produce. Noah glanced at Maddie, who had her good hand curled around the inside edge of the sink and seemed to be holding on for dear life. Her face was deathly pale, and what she was really doing up and dressed struck him like a ten-ton truck.
    â€œYou little fake,” he muttered, and moved closer to her, just enough to place his hands on her upper arms. “You’d walk through fire to avoid a trip to the hospital or an exam from me, wouldn’t you?” His intention was to support and steer her to a chair, because she looked ready to fall down. The second he touched her she cried out, sounding so much like a wounded animal that he instantly released her and jumped back.
    She bent from the waist and laid her forehead on her hand clutching the edge of the sink. Noah couldn’t see if she was crying, but she made a pathetic picture all huddled over as she was, and her being so small and desperately in need of help, even if she wouldn’t admit it.
    He felt an unfamiliar confusion. He couldn’t leave her and she wouldn’t let him help her.
    What should he do?
    Anger began gathering in his gut, and with it came a clearing of his mind. Somehow Maddie had tricked Mark and Darcy into believing she was well enough to be left alone. Noah knew that now, because she’d just tried to pull the same stunt with him. Only she’d seen the storm and remembered Fanny, whatever or whomever Fanny was, and Maddie’s personal plight had taken a back seat to that concern.
    Noah was almost afraid to ask about Fanny, but he’d seen that long sleek trailer parked behind Mark’s garage, and what if there was a pet in it? A little dog or cat that Maddie had decided would be better off in its own home than in a strange house. That concept really didn’t make sense for Noah, but he couldn’t let himself think that Fanny might be a person.
    He was on to Maddie’s dangerous game of pretense now, and it infuriated him as a physician that she would let modesty, resentment and stubborn pride stop her from accepting treatment from him. Yes, Mark should have told her that he’d be dropping by, but…
    That point was suddenly clear to Noah, as well. Mark had told Maddie. She just didn’t remember it! Those damn pain pills! How many had she taken today? A person alone could so easily get off schedule with painkillers and take more of them than had been prescribed. Plus, some people were overly sensitive to pain medication, and a perfectly acceptable dose for one patient could knock another for a loop. That would explain Maddie’s slurring of words, her desire to be left aloneso she could sleep and even her physical weakness when she was on her feet.
    Noah was pretty certain that he’d figured everything out—except for Fanny’s identity. He drew a long breath and felt a tightening in his gut, but he had to ask.
    â€œMaddie?” She slowly straightened her back but didn’t look at him. “Maddie,” he repeated from his position behind her, “who’s Fanny?”
    â€œMy horse,” she said dully.
    Noah experienced such enormous relief that his knees got weak. But just for a second, because both he and Maddie couldn’t be weak in this crazy situation.
    â€œAnd you’re thinking your horse is where?” he asked calmly, hoping his gentle demeanor