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  "Honora, I have to take care of your shoulder," he murmured.

  She squinted up at him, puzzlement in her eyes.

  "I have to put your shoulder right, before we go back to the house," he said. "Do you understand?"

  Comprehension dawned in her eyes. She'd probably seen the same kinds of things he'd witnessed when ranch hands were thrown by wild cattle, or wranglers tossed by untamed horses.

  He reached down and took gentle hold of her shoulder. He gazed into her eyes, summoning up all the affection he could. He didn't want to hurt her. Not ever. But if it meant an easier time afterwards, then he'd do it. Even if it would burn him to the core.

  Honora's gaze was locked on him. He saw her jaw tighten and she drew in a deep breath, readying herself. Reese swallowed and then moved his hands. Quickly. Decisively. Honora screamed and Reese felt something heavy sink in his gut. Her voice carried out into the darkness of the rangeland. She clutched onto his arm as she rode the pain. Reese held onto her for a long time, until he was sure her agony had subsided.

  After a while, he leaned closer to her, holding her gently in his arms. He held her for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, he spoke to her in a whisper. "You ready to go home?"

  She gasped. Cradling her head, he lifted her up gently. She groaned and he paused, gazing into her eyes. He saw the pain there, and wanted to take it away. Wanted to do anything that would stop her suffering. But, right now, all he could think of was getting her back to the ranch house and fetching a doctor.

  "Where did that critter go to?" she asked breathlessly.

  "He ran off," Reese growled. "Just like his friends. Cowards, every one of them."

  She forced a smile. "I guess we gave them a good licking," she stated.

  "We sure did," he agreed.

  Reese glanced at the horse which had calmed down and was standing nearby, its head lowered to the grass, looking like nothing had happened. "I'm going to get you home, Honora. But, I'll need to take you on my horse. Do you think you can get up onto the saddle?"

  "Sure," she said and tried to stand up. Like always, Reese admired her determination, her sheer tenacity. He helped her up onto her feet. Supporting her, he walked her to the horse. Tending to her carefully, he managed to get her up onto the saddle. She cried out twice. Both times he felt like his heart was going to explode.

  Once she was settled on the horse, he went to get his own horse. He tied the reins to the saddle of Honora's horse and then lifted himself up, until he was seated behind her. Under normal circumstances, he would have savored the chance to ride a horse while wrapping his arms around Honora. But, on this occasion, the only thing which mattered was taking all the care he possibly could to make sure she didn't hurt any more.

  He leaned in close. The scent of her hair momentarily intoxicated him, but he forced himself to ignore that. "Ready?" he asked her.

  She didn't turn her head, but just nodded, saying nothing. With one last glance back down at the opening in the fence, Reese dug his heels softly into the horse's side and started back in the direction of the Ferguson ranch house.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  "What happened!" exclaimed Mabel as Reese rode into the yard and halted in front of the ranch house. Honora glanced toward her aunt. She wanted to tell her her about riding after Reese; about how they'd worked side by side to send the renegades packing; and how Reese had saved her. But Honora found that her voice had deserted her. Just like on the ride home with Reese, Honora wasn't able to utter a word. The pain was that bad.

  Mabel ran frantically toward Reese's horse and reached up to Honora. "Tell me you're alright, Honora," Mabel called out. Honora gazed down at her aunt and nodded.

  From behind her, she heard Reese's voice, shaking with emotion. "She's hurt. Bad, I think," he murmured.

  Honora saw movement at the front door of the house. Rufus emerged and his eyes widened when he saw Honora. Rufus didn't budge and inch. He just stood there watching. But she could see that the sight of his niece hurt this bad had affected him instantly.

  Honora felt Reese slide carefully down off the horse. He reached up, taking hold of Honora's waist. She liked the feel of his gentle touch. It made her feel secure. Soon, she was down on her feet and standing next to Reese. Mabel curled her arms around Honora and started to lead her toward the house. Every step Honora took triggered pain in her shoulder.

  Rufus stood to one side as Mabel led Honora into the house. Honora glanced at Rufus and she saw the consternation on his face. For once, he looked genuinely shocked.

  Inside the house, she was led to the parlor. She lay down on the long sofa and, for the first time since the horse had kicked her, closed her eyes. She wanted the pain to go away, but she knew it wouldn't. She'd have to endure this for as long as it took. For a few moments, she started to feel herself drifting off into a pleasantly warm state. She told herself she just needed to close her eyes for a while. And then everything would be okay. Maybe if she slept a while, she'd feel better.

  She felt a movement next to her. She heard Reese's voice. "Honora. Don't close your eyes. Stay awake." He paused and then added in a deep, decisive tone. "For me."

  She opened her eyes. Reese was sitting on a chair and gazing straight at her. By the soft light in the parlor, she could see the concern in his eyes. More than concern, really. Anxiety. It had been a long time since he'd looked at her like that, she told herself. He gazed at her and smiled. She felt instantly better now that he'd smiled at her. She didn't understand why that should be. All she knew was that it was true.

  "Thanks for helping me," she managed to say.

  "You're going to be fine," Reese said. There was complete certainty in his voice. And that gave her confidence. If he believed that, then so could she.

  Mabel came running back into the room with a pan of water and some cloths. She laid them down on a nearby table and then came to Honora. Mabel gently peeled back the broken fabric and groaned. Honora looked into Mabel's eyes and knew that the injury might be bad.

  Mabel looked at Reese. "Maybe you should let me attend to this, for the moment."

  Reese stood. "Has Rufus gone to get the doctor?"

  "He shouldn't be long," Mabel told him.

  Reese frowned. "I'll wait in the kitchen. If you need me, just holler."

  As she watched Reese leaving the room, Honora couldn't help feeling that she wanted him to stay. She needed him at this time. During the ride back to the house, Honora had savored the way she'd leaned against Reese. Riding slowly across the rangeland, Reese had held her close. As if he never wanted to let her go. Now that he'd left the room, she felt an inexplicable emptiness. As if something important was missing. But, she also understood that her aunt needed to attend to her while they were waiting for the doctor to arrive.

  Mabel started attending to Honora's shoulder. As she did so, Honora could see the concern in her aunt's face. "I'm sorry, Aunt Mabel."

  Mabel smiled and then sighed heavily. "You're just like your mother, you know that, don't you. You've got enough spirit to take on the world." She shook her head. "Sometimes, though, you got to rein that in. Else you get yourself into trouble." Mabel wiped Honora's shoulder gently with a damp cloth. "You listen to me, young lady. Time is coming when you're going to have to stop scaring me like this." Mabel's eyes widened. "You hear?"

  Honora flinched as Mabel went about her business on Honora's shoulder. "I just wanted to help Reese," she explained.

  Mabel frowned. "What do you mean?"

  Honora explained about following Reese to the eastern part of the spread, and all about how the riders had used the damaged fence to make their way onto the ranch. Mabel was annoyed enough at that revelation. But she looked positively horrified when Honora told her about the shooting and being kicked by the horse.

  Mabel sat back and gasped. She lifted a hand to her chest as if her heartbeat had gotten so fast it was about to make her the second unwell person in the ranch for that evening. "Honora MacLeish. How could yo
u go and do such a thing?" Mabel exclaimed.

  "I'm sorry, aunt. I didn't think it would turn out like this."

  "And Reese let you go there with him?" Mabel asked.

  Honora shook her head. "He didn't know I was following him. It isn't his fault. In fact, he probably saved my life."

  Mabel gasped and her face turned a shade whiter. "How?"

  "One of the men tried to shoot me," Honora said.

  Mabel almost fell off her chair. She waved a hand in front of her face. "Oh dear," she gasped. "I'm not sure I can take much more of this."

  Honora reached her unaffected arm over toward her aunt and laid it on Mabel's arm. "I promise not to do anything like this ever again," Honora declared.

  Mabel smiled. "I know you've been through a lot these past months, Honora. And I understand that none of it has been easy." Mabel's eyes moistened. "You're all I've got left of your mother. You know that, don't you."

  Honora felt her heart swell with emotion. Not considering the effects of her choices on others had caused this, Honora told herself. She chided herself for giving in to pride. Her aunt had given Honora a lifeline, a chance to rebuild her life, and all she had done in return had been to cause unnecessary worry and suffering. In trying to prove herself to others, Honora realized she'd been reckless. Unthinking.

  Mabel attended to Honora as best she could until the doctor arrived. The doctor confirmed that the kick from the horse had damaged her shoulder. But, thankfully, Honora hadn't sustained any other serious injury. The doctor figured it would take a while for the shoulder to heal, and ordered Honora to take it easy for a while. Reese came back into the room to hear the news. Before he left, the doctor complimented Reese on the way he'd put the shoulder back in. It had certainly prevented any more damage during the ride back to the house.

  Reese had waited that whole time in the kitchen. Honora was sure Reese would have been worrying about her. And when she saw the look on his face when he sat down next to her, she could tell he'd suffered while he'd been in the kitchen. Just as with her aunt, Honora regretted causing Reese to feel bad. Racing after Reese had been a bad idea. It hadn't turned out the way she'd wanted. Mabel left the room. Honora could hear her aunt talking with the doctor and with Rufus out in the hall. But, she was glad that Reese had come back to be with her.

  Reese leaned closer. "How are you feeling?" His voice cracked with emotion, and that just made her eyes moisten.

  "I'm fine, Reese," she replied. "Considering I got shot at by a renegade and then kicked by a horse, I think I'm doing pretty well."

  His brows furrowed and he shook his head. "Just another night for Miss Rancher," he teased.

  She quirked a brow at him. "Maybe it's time for Miss Rancher to take a rest for a while."

  "Is that doctor's orders?" he asked brightly. "Or is it because that's what I want you to do?"

  "Both, I guess," she replied and smiled at him. "He wants me to take things easy for a few days."

  "The ranch hands might be relieved to hear that," he joked.

  She scowled at him. "Are you suggesting my presence isn't welcome around this ranch? Because, if you are, I might just have something to say about that." She tried to sit up, but the instant pain changed her mind.

  "See? You are going to have to follow orders. For once," he stated and gave her a broad grin. He was enjoying this, she told herself. Either that or he was just trying to lift her spirits.

  "Who's going to give those orders?" she asked. "Not you, by any chance."

  He smiled. "I think I'm going to have to keep an even closer eye on you."

  "Like you haven't already been doing that," she retorted.

  He looked suddenly serious. "I'm here to protect you, Honora." His voice dropped to a low murmur. "And that is exactly what I'm going to do. You mean too much to me. I won't allow anything bad to happen to you. Not after tonight."

  Any cute comeback she might have considered saying froze on her lips. She gazed at him, utterly convinced by his sincerity. She saw that he'd meant every word. She didn't doubt him for a minute.

  Pain flared in her shoulder. Reese leaned forward, sudden concern on his features. She shook her head. "It's okay, Reese. I'm just going to have to get used to this for a few days."

  "Just like you're going to get used to seeing me about the ranch," he replied.

  She forced herself to smile through the pain. Honora gazed at Reese's handsome, kindly features and told herself that having him around for a while might be just what she needed.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Over the next few days and nights, things were quieter at the Ferguson ranch. Reese was glad of that. He didn't spend a minute away from the ranch, so determined was he not to let Honora out of his sight. He wasn't going to utter a word of complaint about that. Just remembering how he'd felt when he'd seen her fall to the ground was enough to make him resolute.

  For her part, Honora had taken a couple of days to get used to the idea that she couldn't go riding off across the ranch whenever the urge took hold of her. The doctor had left Honora's left arm in a temporary sling. Riding solo was out of the question. So she'd been confined to the ranch house and the area around it. That made Reese's job simpler. He was thankful for that.

  She'd spent time with her aunt. Reese had overheard their conversations while they'd been sitting in the parlor. It gave him a real good sense of how well Honora and Mabel got along. Aunt and niece had plenty in common. He could see that Mabel and Rufus had become family for Honora. He hoped that, now that she'd been compelled to slow down, Honora might come to understand that a bit more.

  Reese had always known Honora possessed hidden reserves of patience and fortitude, so he wasn't surprised to see that, after her initial rebellion against the need to limit her activities, she eventually settled into a calmer routine around the ranch house.

  The day after the battle with the renegades, Sheriff Nathan came out to visit. Reese gave him the lowdown. Nathan was impressed when he heard how Reese and Honora had worked together to ward off the troublemakers. But Nathan was still worried about the fact that someone was determined to try and make life as difficult as possible for the owners of ranch Ferguson.

  Reese told Nathan that he'd set eyes on one of the men who'd foolishly left his bandana wrapped around his neck instead of across his face. Nathan agreed that was a lead which might come in handy. But only if Reese had a chance to identify the man. In recent times, there had been too many strangers making their way through Inspiration. It made for a ready supply of men willing to engage in criminal activity. It had become commonplace for strangers to be passing through. Nathan figured some of the men might have been itinerant guns for hire. Maybe the men who'd intruded on the ranch were already far away from town.

  Nathan suggested sending more deputies up to the ranch, but Reese resisted that idea. He figured he could handle anything which was thrown at him. His resolve had toughened since the events of the previous night. And the ranch hands had been angered by the events. Especially when they'd seen Honora going around the ranch and nursing her injury. Reese had seen plenty of indignant looks in the eyes of the ranch hands. He was sure each of them would step up and deal with anyone who decided to set foot on the ranch. That was also a direct consequence of the respect Honora had won from the hands, Reese reflected. She'd battled her way into the good graces of the men. And now it was paying off. Big time.

  So it was that, on a Saturday morning, with the sky clear blue and the air fresh and cool, that Reese made a suggestion to Honora. One he'd been hankering to make for the last day or so. It was just after breakfast time and she was leaning one booted foot against the corral fence as she watched a wrangler contend with a new horse which been bought. Reese settled alongside Honora and watched the battle of wills between man and animal going on inside the corral.