Free Wild At Heart by Vickie Mcdonough Page B

biggest wooden spoon.”
    From a peg near the front entrance, Anna grabbed a Western hat much like her brothers’. She hurried out the door, leaving it open behind her, and jumped off the porch. Someone needed to teach that girl how a proper lady behaved herself.
    Perhaps Mariah could somehow help in that area while she was here.
    She tiptoed toward Adam’s room, unsure if she had the nerve to cross the threshold or not. She couldn’t help wondering how Leyna’s stirring spoon would help keep Mr. McFarland in bed.
    “Anna!”
    Mariah jumped at the loud shout and stepped to the bedroom doorway. Mr. McFarland scowled.
    “Where’s Anna?”
    She moistened her lips. “Outside. She said she had a horse to work with.”
    He looked out his window, even though the barn was on the other side of the house.
    Mariah ached for him, knowing how miserable he was. “Is your arm hurting, Mr. McFarland? I could ask Leyna to make some more of her tea, or perhaps you need another dose of laudanum?”
    He shook his head. “I don’t want tea. And that medicine makes me sleepy. I’m just bored. You might as well call me Adam, since you’re staying awhile.”
    She liked his name. It was a strong moniker that suited the commanding man on the train, but not so much the malcontent in bed. Still, if not for her big mouth, he wouldn’t be here now. “Would you like me to read to you?”
    “No, thanks. There’s nothing wrong with my eyes.” As if to prove his point, he glanced toward her hand. “What’s that you’ve got?”
    Ignoring his brusqueness, she held up the book she’d been skimming through. “
Ivanhoe
.”
    He shook his head and ran his hand through his hair, mussing it even more than it had been. It gave him a roguish appearance that she found appealing. “I’ve read it three times. Read all our books, in fact. Too bad there isn’t something new to read.”
    She thought for a moment, excused herself, and then hurried to the guest room that Leyna had so graciously made up for her. In the bottom of her satchel, she found what she was looking for. A copy of her April release,
The Red-Headed Rustler
, and one of her competitor’s novels that she’d read a few days ago. Without thinking, she snatched up the pen off the desk and signed “Drew Dixon” on the title page of her book.
    At her doorway, she paused. There were two details she needed to take care of—and now was as good a time as any.
    First, she needed to return Adam’s belongings. She pulled the loot bag from the drawer she’d stuck it in and returned to his room. At the threshold, she halted. The second detail was more difficult. She had to tell him who she was.
    Mariah wrestled with the improprieties of entering a man’s bedchamber. She shouldn’t even be standing at his door. Perhaps she could talk him into moving into the parlor.
    His lovely blue eyes perked up. “What’s that you’ve got there?” He sat up straighter on the bed.
    She held out the loot bag.
    “Is that what I think it is?”
    Mariah nodded. “I made sure to collect your watch and money since you were, um… unable to at the time. I’m sorry I didn’t return it sooner, but with your injuries and all, I forgot about having it. I hope all your money is there.” She already knew his watch was, because she’d looked at it once.
    “Let me see.”
    She wavered a moment, stepped a foot into the small room, and tossed the bag onto the bed. Just as quickly, she scurried back to the hall.
    Adam chuckled at her. He opened the bag and pulled out the pocket watch and money. He glanced at the wad of dollars as if mentally assessing if it was all there then turned his attention to the watch. Lovingly, he stroked the gold cover then opened it and studied the face of the timepiece. “This belonged to my pa. I’m sure glad to have it back again. Thank you.”
    His warm smile gladdened her heart. Seeing him happy for the first time in days made her realize how badly she wanted him to get well.