Читать книгу Loving Bella - Renee Ryan - Страница 11

Locked inside that startling amber gaze, Shane’s thoughts morphed into one undeniable realization. She hadn’t hesitated. The woman with the dark, golden curls, flawless features and refined British accent had defied his expectations. Instead of fleeing the unpleasantness of a child’s injury, she’d taken her place without question.

Could she be the answer to his prayer?

Wishful thinking at best. It was far too soon to determine if she had the character and necessary qualifications he required in an assistant.

Yet, even now, as she boldly held his gaze, conviction blazed in her eyes. What eyes. What depth of emotion.

His heart kicked hard against his ribs, warning him to beware of this woman, this stranger.

Lifting a perfectly arched eyebrow at him, she blew out a slow, impatient breath. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

It took another few seconds for Shane to empty the overload of thoughts and impressions twining together in his mind. “Tell me where it hurts, Ethan.”

The little boy moaned in response, pain twisting his young face. “My…my leg.”

“Let’s have a look.”

Careful to keep his features bland, Shane flicked his gaze past the boy’s torso. Shane’s first reflex was to pull in a sharp breath. Instead, he detached. Separated emotion from logic. And focused.

The right pant leg had been torn at a jagged, vertical angle. Blood soaked the material, turning the light brown cloth nearly black.

“Don’t move, Ethan.” He flipped open his medical bag. “I have to cut away the material surrounding the wound.”

“Oh…okay.”

Shane’s chest pinched tight at the sound of the boy’s anguish. Oh, Lord, he prayed. Fill me with Your Spirit. Guide my hands and use me as Your instrument for healing.

With slow, careful movements, Shane set a firm grip on Ethan’s thigh, and then looked up at the woman again. “I need you to keep him calm for me.”

Eyes wide, she sank her teeth into her lower lip. “How?”

“Hold his hand. Speak to him.” Shane lifted a shoulder. “Whatever it takes.”

Nodding, she braided her fingers with the boy’s. “Ethan. I want you to concentrate on me.” She waited for him to turn his head toward her. “That’s it. The doctor is going to have a look at your injury. Nothing more.”

Ethan sucked in big gulps of air. “I’m scared.”

“I know,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Me, too.”

Shane wanted to tell them both that everything would be fine, but he couldn’t make such a promise. Not yet.

“You talk funny,” Ethan announced. “I like it.”

Shane did, too. The proper British accent suited her.

“Why, thank you, Ethan. I like the way you talk, too.” Leaning toward the boy’s ear, she asked, “Do you have a favorite song?”

His dark brows pulled together in a frown of concentration. “I…lots… I don’t know…maybe… ‘Amazing Grace’?”

She smiled her approval. “I like that one, too.”

In a low, hushed tone, she began the hymn. Her soft, lilting voice was no piercing soprano as Shane half expected. Rather, she sang with a rich, smoky timbre. Pure velvety warmth. The perfect alto to calm the beast in any man. Or boy.

As Ethan’s leg relaxed under Shane’s touch, Shane found the restlessness inside him also stopping, pausing. Listening to the beautiful song.

Torn between shock and admiration, Shane shook his head and returned to his work. With quick snips, he cut away the tattered material and pulled it aside to reveal a long, nasty gash running down the side of Ethan’s leg. Thankfully, there was no swelling or misshapen bump to indicate a break.

As if on cue, the woman turned her gaze toward the injury, as well. To her credit, her singing never faltered. Nor did she flinch.

Astounding.

Shane had seen trained doctors fail to maintain their reactions so well. Stunned once again by her remarkable behavior, Shane sucked in a lungful of cold mountain air. Who was this woman? He was certain he’d never met her. Then why did he experience recognition when he looked into her eyes?

The sound of approaching footsteps cut off his thoughts.

Stabbing a glance over his shoulder, Shane barked out a set of orders for Marc. “I’m going to move Ethan to the kitchen. I’ll need water, clean rags and Laney’s sewing kit.”

Having experienced his share of injuries, Marc pivoted on his heel and flicked his wrist in the air. “I’m already on it.”

“Ethan, before we move you I want to make sure you haven’t broken anything.”

The boy squeezed his eyes shut, sighed. “I’m ready.”

“This might hurt,” Shane warned.

At his words, the woman stopped singing. Shane silently willed her to resume her impromptu musical. Instead, she gently stroked the child’s hair along his forehead. “I don’t think I’ve ever met a braver boy than you, and I’ve been all over the world.”

Ethan cracked open one eye and then the other. “You have? Wh…where?”

Her expression never changed nor did her rhythmic stroking of his hair. “Lots of places.”

“Tell me. Tell me,” he demanded with little-boy earnestness.

“Let’s see.” She tapped her chin with a fingertip. “Paris. London. Ro—”

“London?” Ethan tried to sit up, but she gently pushed him back down.

“I’ve always wanted to go to London,” he declared. “To see the Tower and all.”

Both grinning, they began a lengthy discussion of the infamous prison.

While Ethan babbled, Shane took the opportunity to check for broken bones. “Tell me if it hurts when I press on your leg.”

“What’s your name?” Ethan asked once he wound down his list of reasons for seeing the Tower of London.

Eager to hear her response himself, Shane turned an ear in their direction and ran his hand across Ethan’s leg.

“I’m Bella,” she declared.

Italian for beautiful. The name suited her. Shane moved his fingers along the boy’s kneecap.

“Bella,” Ethan said, his face scrunched in confusion. “I’ve never heard that name before.”

She released a tinkling laugh, the sound as clear and musical as her singing. “It’s short for Isabella.”

Holding back a grin at the look of adoration in the young boy’s eyes, Shane moved to the calf.

“Actually,” she said. “My full name is Isabella Constance O’Toole, but you can call me Bella.”

Ethan jerked.

Shane froze. “Did I hurt you?”

Ethan ignored the question. “O’Toole? That’s Pastor Beau’s last name.”

Laughing again, she gave the boy a dazzling smile. “I know. He’s my brother.”

Shane took a quick pull of air into his lungs. Of course she was the reverend’s sister. The similarity was hard to miss, now that he looked. They had the same golden hair, same tawny eyes, same memorable, aristocratic features. Perhaps that explained the odd sense of recognition every time their eyes met.

Shane finished his exam by searching for any obstruction or object lodged in the wound. Satisfied at last, he hopped to his feet and lifted the boy in his arms. “Let’s get you inside.”

“Don’t leave me, Miss Bella.” Struggling, Ethan reached out his hands to her.

“Not to worry, Ethan.” She rose and closed her fingers over his. “I’m not going anywhere. You’re my priority right now.”

A burning throb knotted in Shane’s stomach. There was a time in his life when he would have given anything to hear those same words uttered directly at him.

Closing his mind to the unwelcome thought, Shane repositioned the boy in his arms. Without being told, Miss O’Toole grabbed his medical bag and stuffed the scissors inside.

The three of them entered the kitchen, Miss O’Toole leading the way. Shane shouldered the door shut behind them and then took a cursory look around.

The room was empty. Unusual for this time of day. But before Shane could speculate further, Marc entered with an armful of clean linens and set them on the center counter.

“Where’s your wife?” Shane asked.

Marc shot him an apologetic glance. “Laney and Mrs. Smythe went shopping for supplies. And Megan is upstairs organizing the children for naptime.” He began rolling up his sleeves. “That leaves me as your only helper at the moment.”

“And Miss Bella, too,” Ethan added.

“And Miss Bella, too,” Shane said without looking at the woman. He found looking at her distracted him.

Setting Ethan on the counter, he picked up a cloth off the pile Marc had set down.

Using the clean water out of the bucket, Shane washed the blood from Ethan’s wound, revealing good news and bad. The good news—the cut was indeed free of any debris. But the bad news was as disheartening as Shane had feared. The large gash would need stitching to close the wound.

A crash from upstairs had all three adults jumping. Marc shook his head in resignation. “I better check on that.” He turned to Miss O’Toole, who was standing slightly back but within eyeshot of Ethan. “Looks like you’ll have to assist Shane without me.”

She stepped forward, her gaze filled with fierce determination. “Of course. I’ll do whatever is needed.”

Marc smiled at her, a look of relief filling his features. “Thank you.” He leaned over Ethan, touched the boy’s arm. “Hang tough, little man. No doubt your parents will be here soon. In the meantime, Dr. Shane and Miss Bella are going to fix you up.”

Ethan’s lower lip quivered. “Okay.”

After sharing a quick look with Shane, Marc left the room.

Miss O’Toole smiled after him. “Nice man,” she muttered.

Shane swallowed back a surprising kick of jealousy and rummaged through Laney’s sewing kit for a needle and thread. “Can you sew, Miss O’Toole?”

His voice must have come out harder than he’d planned because she took a sharp step back, and eyed him with a healthy dose of wariness. “I’ve been sewing my own costumes since I was twelve.”

“Good. I’ll need you to stitch the wound for me.” He spoke over her shocked gasp. “You’ll make individual stitches, knotting and cutting them off one at a time before beginning the next.”

She slid a quick glance at the angry wound. Shivered. “Can’t you do it?”

If only he could. But he knew the procedure would be painful, painful enough that Ethan would need holding down. “I’ll have to…keep him still.”

Her eyes widened in instant understanding. “Oh.”

Shane closed his fingers over hers. The unexpected warmth that spread from her palm to his had him quickly releasing her. “I’ll talk you through it,” he promised.

She nodded, flexed the hand he’d just held. Nodded again. “All right, then.”

Ethan whimpered at her declaration. “Will it hurt, Miss Bella?”

Sighing, she trailed the back of her fingertips down his cheek. “A little, but I’ll work as quickly as possible.”

“Fine.” Ethan squeezed his eyes shut once again and took a deep, shaky breath. “Do what you must.” The adult words were completely at odds with the childish hiccupping that followed.

Shane passed the needle and thread to Miss O’Toole. With slow, deliberate movements, he placed one hand on Ethan’s shoulder and the other on the thigh of the boy’s injured leg. For now, he kept his touch light, and would only increase the pressure when needed.

After threading the needle, she leaned forward and placed a kiss on the boy’s head. The lingering scent of jasmine and sandalwood brought a vague memory dancing on the edges of Shane’s mind.

He shut it down.

Miss O’Toole met his gaze with honest trepidation in her eyes. No coyness. No pretend confidence.

Shane gave her a heartening smile. “Let’s begin.”

Bella’s hands might be shaking, her heart might be pounding faster than a series of half notes, but she was getting the job done as quickly as she could.

“Only one more to go,” the doctor encouraged. “You’re doing fine.”

She appreciated his support, more than he probably knew. This task went far beyond her capabilities. But prayer and this man’s precise instructions had gotten her through the worst.

Gritting her teeth, she tied off the final knot. “There.” She released her breath and placed her hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “All done.”

“That…” The little boy’s bottom lip quivered. “Wasn’t so bad.” The tear tracks down his face told a different story.

The realization that she’d hurt a child, in spite of the necessity, weighed heavy in her throat, making her breath come in ragged pants.

Seeking reinforcement, or at least a nod of approval, she glanced at the doctor. But he wasn’t paying attention to her. Head lowered, he blotted the remaining blood off Ethan’s skin and then wrapped a series of plasters and strips of linen over the wound. It wasn’t until he finished the task that he looked at her directly.

She sucked in a quick breath of air. The eyes that stared back at her were a deep, troubled blue.

What sort of inner strength did it take to administer necessary healing, even when it caused such pain? Certainly, it had to be a difficult life. Lonely, even. She felt a sudden urge to offer some show of compassion, give a kind word at least. But the doctor turned away and began cleaning up the mess they’d made.

Needing to do something, anything but stare at the man’s rigid back, she whisked Ethan into her arms. Holding him tightly against her, she paced to the back corner of the kitchen and began humming the aria from Tristan and Isolde.

Ethan sniffled, then wiped his nose on her shoulder. “That really hurt, Miss Bella.”

“I know, darling,” she said. “But you were very, very brave.”

He clung harder to her neck. “I don’t ever want you to do that again.”

A shudder ran through her and she tightened her hold. “Me neither. I’d rather—”

The door flew open with a bang. Bella spun toward the noise.

Two adults, one male, one female, spilled into the kitchen. The young girl from the yard trailed closely behind. Hidden in the shadows, Bella cast the three a quick, assessing look.

The man was tall, broad-shouldered and ominous-looking with his dark hair, dark eyes and dark-stubbled jaw. A tin star was pinned to his chest, making him look every bit the terrifying Wild West lawman of legend. The woman was smaller, softer, her coal-black hair and blue eyes a grown-up version of the girl clutching her hand.

Clearly, this was Ethan’s family. All three—mother, father, sister—wore identical expressions of concern.

Patting Ethan’s back, Bella moved out of the shadows.

The woman’s eyes landed on the boy first. “Oh, baby,” she cried. “My poor baby.”

Ethan twisted toward the voice. “Mama.”

He nearly launched himself out of Bella’s arms. The momentum from his struggles flung them both forward. Bella half handed, half dropped the squirming child into his mother’s ready embrace.

The lawman moved just as quickly as Ethan had. Jaw tight, gaze locked with his wife’s, he patted the boy on the back and whispered his own words of affection. For a tense moment, all thoughts and attention were on the sniffling little boy. Even his sister added her own soft words, patting the boy’s back like her father did.

Once Ethan’s sobs died down to sniffing hiccups, the father lowered his hand and leveled a hard glare on the doctor.

“What happened?”

His tone came out harsh, unrelenting, a father demanding a full accounting of his son’s accident. Clearly, this man protected his own.

In clipped, short sentences, the doctor sketched out the details of the boy’s injury. He ended with an explanation of Bella’s role in caring for the child. “Miss O’Toole was good enough to step forward and sew the wound shut.”

A pall of silence filled the room as all eyes turned toward her.

Unsure what to say, Bella simply stared back.

The little girl found her voice first. “Daddy, Daddy. She’s the one I told you about, the one in the church’s backyard.”

He raised a questioning brow at Bella.

A dozen responses ran through her mind, but none seemed quite right. Bella curled her fingertips into her skirt and swallowed. Facing this stern, upset father was far harder than walking on stage in front of a hostile theater audience.

She had no experience to draw from.

As though sensing her unease, Dr. Shane caught her eye and gave her a quick, approving smile. Her stomach performed a perfect roll, and she found the confidence to speak. “I was very proud of your son,” she said, careful to keep her voice from quivering. “He didn’t kick out once.”

Both parents smiled at her then. And to her surprise, she saw no judgment in their eyes. No condemnation. Just genuine appreciation. “Thank you, Miss—” The woman shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t catch your name.”

“It’s Bella. Bella O’Toole.” At the instant recognition in their eyes, Bella opened her mouth to explain but Ethan beat her to it.

“She’s Pastor Beau’s sister,” he said with a look of pride in his eyes, as though he didn’t often know something the others didn’t.

At the news, the woman flashed a dazzling smile at Bella, a smile brilliant enough to reach the back row in any theater. “That’s lovely. We think very highly of your brother.”

“Yes, we do,” the husband agreed.

The look of admiration in all their eyes told its own story. Who would have thought her brother, the only member of her family who had denied his place on the stage, would become so popular, so well-loved without ever singing a note or reciting a fictional phrase.

Because he was Beau. A man of solid, Christian integrity who ministered to the lost and hurting—the shamed.

People like Bella herself.

A wave of melancholy crashed through her. She suddenly wanted—no, needed—to see her big brother. Now.

But she couldn’t leave yet. Could she?

Ethan’s father stepped forward, ending her quandary. “I’m Trey Scott.” He pointed to the woman standing closely behind him. “This is my wife, Katherine. You already know Ethan.” He swiveled halfway around and pulled the girl closer. “And this is our daughter, Molly.”

Tugging the child with him, he moved back to his wife’s side.

Bella’s heart ached at the picture the four made. Standing there like that, staring at her with such gratitude in their eyes, such peace and contentment in spite of Ethan’s injury, they made a beautiful family.

Sadness, sorrow and a bone-deep sense of loss overwhelmed her all at once. She had dreamed of starting her own family—with William. But the viscount was living that dream with another woman.

Bella’s heart broke a little more at the thought.

As though sensing her shift in mood, the little girl rushed forward and gripped Bella’s hand. “Are you all right?” she asked. “You look like you’re about to cry.”

Bella angled her head to stare into the guileless face. “I…I’m fine.”

But she lied. She wasn’t fine. She hadn’t been fine since she’d escaped London and William’s ugly proposal.

Clicking her tongue, Katherine handed Ethan to her husband. The next thing Bella knew she was being pulled into the other woman’s embrace. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for taking care of my son.”

Bella tried not to cling, but for one black moment she thought she might break down and cry. If she gave in to the urge, she might never stop.

At last, Katherine pushed back.

“I hope you will be staying in Denver awhile,” she said.

No, Bella thought, as she took a farther step away from all that suffocating kindness. She didn’t want to stay here with these nice people. She didn’t deserve to stay. She wanted to run. And never look back. But where would she go? There were already too many secrets, and too many regrets that had followed her from London. Surely, they would follow her wherever she went.

“I’m here for an extended stay,” she said once she had command over her voice again. Which, all things considered, was as truthful as she could be at the moment.

Katherine eyed her for a long moment, then nodded. “Good. I think you need to be here.”

She spoke with such certainty, such compassion, Bella’s hand flew to her throat. Her fingertips caught against the pendant William had given her, reminding her of her shame.

Why hadn’t she thrown away the necklace?

As soon as the question arose, the answer came. Because the heavy pendant was a reminder of how close she’d come to committing adultery and how far she’d walked from her faith. Until her sins were washed clean, if they were washed clean, she would continue to wear the incriminating necklace.

As though mocking her, the wind scratched at the window with clawlike strokes. Bella wanted to rush into the raw air, wanted to feel the hard slap of sobering cold against her skin.

Her breaths started coming shorter, faster, harder.

To her horror, and in front of these kind people, Bella stood on the brink of panic.

Dr. Shane cleared his throat, saving her from making a fool of herself. With extraordinary patience, he waited until he had everyone’s attention—including hers—before he began a litany of instructions needed to keep the boy’s wound clean and infection free.

Bella tried to listen. Truly, she tried. But all the pain of the last month, all the nerves of the last few moments tangled into a tight knot in the pit of her stomach.

At last, the doctor finished his list of instructions and then turned his attention to her. “Miss O’Toole.”

Bella bristled at the abrupt tone, ready to do battle, until she noted the hint of vulnerability in his gaze.

“Yes?”

He ran his hand through his hair. A gesture he clearly repeated often, if the messy edges were any indication. Instead of making him look foolish, the mussed hair added a hint of boyish charm to his otherwise too-handsome features.

“Miss O’Toole,” he repeated. “Am I to understand you are in Denver for an indefinite period of time?”

He sounded so formal. So distant and cold. But there was a hint of desperation in his tone, as well, and thus she found the courage to answer his question with complete honesty. “You are correct in your assumption.”

The sincerity in his gaze gave her renewed hope.

But then he spoke. And condemned her all over again. “I have a proposition for you. One I pray you will consider with the utmost care.”