LEAP OF FAITH Read Free Page A

at him.  
    “I guess I don’t,” she said softly.
    Reaching for her other hand and finding it in the same torn and bloodied condition, his hardened features softened for a few fleeting moments. “I’m sorry I scared you,” he said gruffly. “Let’s go inside and clean you up so I can assess the damage.”
    Abby started to argue that she could do it herself, but the burning sensation in her arms and legs persuaded her to accept his help. “Who are you?” she asked warily.
    “Jack Burton. I’m the caretaker for your dad’s cabin.”
    “Abby Travis. I’d shake hands but…” She shrugged.
    “We’ll save it for another day.” He nodded towards her cabin. “Shall we?” She took one tentative step before her knees started to buckle. “I’ve got you, sweetheart,” Jack said with surprising gentleness as he caught her by the waist.
    “So much for good first impressions,” she muttered.
    Jack chuckled. “I guess my crazed bear routine didn’t go over so well either.”
    Having embarrassed herself already and, given the certainty she would fall flat on her face if she tried to walk on her own, Abby allowed him to help her into the cabin. Keeping one arm firmly around her waist, he turned on the water in the kitchen sink and tested the temperature before easing her hands under the faucet. Maneuvering himself behind her, Jack used the weight of his body to hold her up, freeing both hands to rinse the blood from her palms.
    Despite the fact that Jack was being careful not to hurt her, some of the blood had dried making it difficult to cleanse her hands without breaking the engorged water blisters. Abby bit her lip to keep from crying out but a few feeble groans managed to escape now and then. She closed her eyes for a moment, slowing dragging air into her lungs. There were other sensations she was experiencing that were far more disturbing than the wounds on her hands. The heat from his body and the feel of his strong arms enveloping her had a dizzying effect and, if it was possible, her knees grew even weaker. 
    “It’s going to hurt like hell for several days,” he told her.
    Abby nodded mutely as his big hands tended to her wounds. He’d scared the hell out of her when he came crashing out of the bushes; it was just sheer luck that her arms were so weak the axe hadn’t flown very far. She was mortified by the knowledge she could have seriously injured him, perhaps even killed him if she’d been capable of heaving the axe more than a few feet. At least she was spared the embarrassment of having to look him in the face right now. 
    “You must think I’m the most pathetically stupid woman alive.”
    Jack turned the water off and grabbed a few paper towels to pat her hands dry with. “You were damn determined to chop that wood, weren’t you?”
    “I would have done it too, if you hadn’t made me throw my axe away.” 
    His warm laugher made her smile. Her hands were dry but he was still holding them and it was creating a furious fluttering of butterfly wings in her stomach. She couldn’t even say exactly why; she didn’t think he was exceptionally handsome, although he did have a killer smile.
    “Do you cook, Abby?”
    “Not today,” she sighed, after a remorseful glance at her crippled hands.
    “I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll chop the wood in exchange for a few home cooked meals once your hands have healed.”
    “You got it,” Abby happily agreed. “I’m not touching that sadistic axe for as long as I live.”
    “That’s exactly how I feel about the sadistic pots and pans in my kitchen.” He let loose of her hands and looped his arm around her waist, ushering her to the nearest chair. “Sit at the table while I get the first aid kit.” 
    Abby stared at her hands after he’d left the kitchen. How in the world was she going to type when her fingers were so stiff she could barely move them? Not to mention the numerous blisters littering both her palms and