Still lower.
She sat back.
Closed her eyes.
And nearly cried.
Jasper moved.
“Ellie?”
The use of her name startled her.
Not Miss Caldwell.
Not nurse.
Ellie.
She leaned toward him.
“I’m here.”
His blue eyes opened.
Clearer.
“Did I die?”
“Unfortunately not.”
He smiled weakly.
“Mean woman.”
“Ungrateful man.”
“Water?”
She helped him drink.
His hand trembled.
Ellie supported the cup.
When he finished, he studied her.
“You look terrible.”
She stared.
“I rode through a blizzard and spent thirty hours preventing you from dying.”
“Still terrible.”
Ellie glared.
Jasper smiled.
“Beautiful too.”
The words landed before she could defend herself.
Ellie looked down.
“You still have a fever.”
“Less.”
“How do you know?”
“You smiled when you read the glass.”
She looked at him.
“You were watching?”
“Hard not to.”
His eyes moved across her face.
“You’re always there.”
Ellie stood too quickly.
“I need to check the stove.”
Jasper watched her leave.
She could feel it.
For once, she did not know whether she wanted him to stop.
The third day brought snow.
Soft snow.
No wind.
Samuel left in the morning to bring supplies from his trapping camp.
Ellie and Jasper were alone.
She changed his dressings.
The wounds looked better.
Still serious.
But cleaner.
Less swelling.
She pressed lightly near the deepest cut.
Jasper hissed.
“Sorry.”
“You’re not.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“You enjoy hurting men?”
“Only foolish ones.”
“Then I’m in danger.”
“You have no idea.”
Jasper chuckled.
The movement hurt.
He cursed.
Ellie tried not to smile.
“Serves you right.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She wrapped fresh linen around his torso.
Jasper sat shirtless against the headboard.
Ellie had treated dozens of injured men.
She knew muscles were anatomy.
Skin was skin.
A chest was ribs, lungs, sternum, tissue.
Professionalism required a certain distance.
Unfortunately Jasper Cain had apparently decided to make professional distance difficult simply by existing.
His shoulders were enormous.
His chest heavily muscled.
Dark hair covered part of it.
The bandages crossed him diagonally.
Scars marked his arms and ribs.
Old injuries.
Hard life.
Ellie concentrated on tying the cloth.
Jasper watched her face.
She noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re staring.”
“So are you.”
Ellie’s hands froze.
“I’m treating you.”
“Is that what we call it?”
Her cheeks heated.
She pulled the knot tighter.
Jasper grunted.
“That was revenge.”
“Medical necessity.”
“Cruel nurse.”
“Difficult patient.”
His eyes softened.
“Pretty nurse.”
Ellie stepped away.
“No.”
Jasper frowned.
“No?”
“Don’t.”
“I insulted you?”
“You know exactly what you’re doing.”
“I don’t.”
She turned toward the basin.
“You’re grateful.”
“Yes.”