Brazen Read Free

consciousness. He's going to live."
    "Thank God." Tears of relief and joy welled up in her
eyes.
    "But there is something you need to know," the doctor
went on solemnly.

    "Yes?" Elizabeth was cautious, wondering why he was
so grim after telling her such good news.
    "The gunshot wound was serious, very serious. It's left
him paralyzed from the waist down."
    Elizabeth stared at the doctor in disbelief as she tried
to grasp what he'd just revealed. "Frank is paralyzed?"
    "Yes."
    "But it's only temporary. He'll get better, won't he?"
    "I'm sorry, Mrs. Donovan, but no. He's not going to get
better. Your husband will never walk again." Dr. Murray
hated being the bearer of such tragic news, but he didn't
want to give her any false hope. He waited a moment in
silence, seeing her shock and giving her a moment to
come to grips with what she'd learned. "Frank has been
asking for you. Are you up to seeing him?"
    Elizabeth nodded and slowly walked with the doctor
to the bedroom. She paused in the doorway to stare at
her husband as he lay as pale as death on the bed.
    "Frank," she softly said.
    At the sound of her voice, Frank opened his eyes and
turned his head slightly toward her. "Elizabeth-" It took
all his strength just to say her name.
    She ran to the bedside crying and pressed a tender kiss
to his cheek.
    "Send for Michael," he whispered hoarsely. "You must
send for Michael."
    Philadelphia
    "So tomorrow is the big day," James Paden said with great
pleasure as he went to the bar in his walnut-paneled study. "I think this deserves a drink in celebration."

    He poured healthy servings of whiskey into three crystal tumblers, then handed one to his son Nick and one to
his nephew Michael Donovan. He took the third glass for
himself and lifted it in a toast.
    "To you, Nick, and to you, Michael. Congratulations."
    Thank you, sir," they replied.
    They all took a drink.
    James smiled at the two young men who stood before
him. He was proud of them and what they'd accomplished. They had graduated from the university and were
ready to embark on their trip to the Continent.
    James's gaze settled approvingly on Michael. He'd
been worried when his nephew had first arrived in Philadelphia four years earlier. Michael had been a roughand-tumble cowboy then, but no visible trace of his
Western background remained now. Tall, darkly handsome, and perfectly well-groomed, Michael had matured
into a polished gentleman and fit easily into sophisticated
society. James knew that that had been his sister Elizabeth's hope when she'd sent him there to attend the university, and he was glad Michael had made the
transformation so successfully.
    "I'm sure your mother and father are very proud of you,
Michael. It's just a shame that they couldn't join us here
for the ceremony."
    "It's a busy time on the ranch right now," Michael told
him, fully understanding why his parents hadn't made the
trip.

    "You plan to go see them when you get back from
Europe, don't you?"
    "Yes. I'll go home for a visit then."
    "Good. Now, Nick has been to Europe before, so he'll
be more than happy to show you the sights," James said,
glancing over at his son and smiling.
    "I'm looking forward to it."
    "We're going to enjoy every minute," Nick said confidently.
    "I'm sure you will," his father agreed. "Michael, have
you thought about what you want to do now that you are
done with school? Do you want to return to ranching, or
stay here with us?"
    Before Michael could answer, Nick put in, "He does
have certain interests here, you know."
    "You do?" James looked at his nephew.
    "Karen Whittington, for one, Father," Nick finished.
    "Well, should you decide you want to stay on and work
here in Philadelphia, there will always be a position open
for you with Paden Shipping."
    "Thank you." Michael was honored by his uncle's offer.
    "As for Miss Whittington could do far worse,"
James went on thoughtfully. "Her family is quite affluent
and very influential.