Page 157 of Conveniently Wed
Terror clutched her chest and she screamed.
A mighty blast exploded—loud enough to be from a cannon.
Pieces of the snake flew in all directions.
Gideon’s heart pumped like the hooves of a stampeding herd as he let his gun slide to the ground. His hands balled into fists to keep from shaking as he charged toward the woman on the ground.
He was pretty sure he’d gotten there before the snake struck, but his mind kept throwing images at him—Jane lying on the bed, the dress torn off at her shoulder to reveal the arm swollen three sizes too big. Black skin seeping up to her shoulder. The look of sheer agony as tears streamed down her cheeks.
He reached the woman on the ground, and it took a moment for his mind to register what he saw.
This wasn’t Jane. It was Leah.
Her face didn’t wear the crazed fear and pain Jane’s had. He crouched for a better look and drank in the trust in her eyes. No fear, just strength there. He wanted to cry.
“Are you hurt?” He heard the huskiness in his voice, but had no control to change it.
“I’m fine. Except…”
His chest picked up speed again. Shehadbeen hurt.
“Except what? Did it bite you?”
Her lips tipped up then. She was smiling?
“No, no. I’m fine, except…you’re cutting off the blood flow in my arm.”
Gideon looked down at his hands. By golly, he was clutching her arm like it would save his life. He loosened his grip and rose to his feet. “Sorry.” He blew out a long breath.
He was about to step away from the beautiful woman that had just cut ten years off his life, but a glance at his feet showed he was dangerously close to squashing a green bean plant. That would never do.
Anyway, he needed to get Leah out of the garden and back in the cabin where she’d be safe.
“C’mon. Let’s get you inside.” He bent down again to help her stand, but a look around revealed her crutches at the other end of the row.
“If you would be so kind as to bring my crutches, I can take it from there.”
But when he looked into Leah’s face, pain lines stretched around her eyes and a weary expression clouded them. It looked like she’d more than overdone it for the day. “It’ll be easier if I carry you in.”
“But Mr. Bryant?—”
The moment he scooped her up, her protest ceased. Her petite frame fit so well in his arms. As he carried her the thirty strides to the front of the cabin, her head rested against his shoulder. A wave of warmth flowed through his chest, a balm to the dull ache he’d carried so long.
Miriam met them on the porch, a hand shading her worried eyes from the sun.
“Is she all right? What happened?”
“I’m fine.” Leah’s voice was patient, motherly. “There was a snake in the garden, but Gideon shot it before anything happened.”
He slipped sideways through the doorway so he didn’t bump Leah. When he reached the bed, he eased her down onto it, and his arms and chest immediately felt the loss.
The expression Leah turned on him, though, brought the heat back into his body. Her pale green eyes shimmered and a soft smile played on her lips.
“Thank you, Gideon, for rescuing me again.”
He knew he needed to say something, but with her looking at him that way, his mind just wouldn’t work. He finally forced out, “You’re welcome,” before turning away. He had to get out of here and regain control.
“Need to get my gun,” he mumbled as he escaped out the door. It wasn’t until he was walking toward the garden that he realized Leah had used his Christian name. Did she know she’d done it?
