Part 9 (1/2)
”Where on earth isPetersham ?” she wondered aloud, then mentally scoldedherself for the inane question that revealed all her sudden nervousness.
”Cathy.. . . ,” Jon began, only to stop abruptly asPetersham appeared in the open doorway, carefully bearing a bowl of steaming gruel. Behind him came Harry. Cathy took the bowl fromPetersham and set it on the bedside table as the two men crossed to the bunk. Jon grinned up at them weakly.
”Sorry to disappoint you gentlemen, but I'm not dead yet. ”Thank G.o.d!”Petersham's voice was fervent.
”It's good to have you back with us,Cap'n ,” Harry reached for Jon's hand, pumping it vigorously until Cathy felt forced to intervene.
”Harry,”she warned. ”You'll start him bleeding again if you're not careful.”
”Oh, sorry,” Harry said, dropping Jon's hand as if it had suddenly burned him. Jon's eyes narrowed slightly at the familiarity between the two of them, but he said nothing.
”How do you feel, Master Jon?”Petersham asked. ”I'll live,” Jon granted.
”He's very weak,” Cathy put in. ”And he needs to eat this gruel and then rest. If you'll excuse us. . . .”
”Of course,” Both men took the hint, shook Jon's hand again, and left.
”Bossy little madam, aren't you?” the invalid said when they were alone once more. He eyed her
thoughtfully as she carefully stirred the bowl of gruel. While she was so occupied he tried to lever himself into a sitting position only to fall back with a groan.
”G.o.d, my leg!”
”You're not to move,” Cathy told him severely, coming to sit beside him, the bowl of gruel within reach.
”If you start bleeding again, you may very well not live.”
”And just how am I supposed to eat?” he asked crossly, disgruntled at his own helplessness.
”The same way you've been eating up to now. Like this.”
She wiggled over until she was sitting behind him, carefully lifting his head onto her lap. Then she tucked
a pillow beneath it so that he was propped in a half-sitting position with her body supporting his weight. He grunted derisively, but allowed her to situate him as she wished.
”Now, if you'll hold the gruel,” she said finally, placing the bowl in his lap. 'You can eat.”
Dipping the spoon into the steaming mush, she raised it to his mouth. Jon rolled his head around until his eyes found hers.
”Are you actually meaning to feed me like some just-weaned infant?” he asked disbelievingly.
Cathy looked down at him admonis.h.i.+ngly. ”Yes, I am. And I've been doing so every day since you've been ill. If you object, I'll havePetersham feed you. But you're not strong enough yet to do it yourself, as
you would quickly find if I let you try it.” Jon stared up at her,then broke into a reluctant smile. ”The next time I take a female captive, I'm going to pick a nice, gentle, timid one. Not a bossy little spitfire who takes the bit between her teeth the first chance she gets. ”Very funny,” Cathy snapped, not liking his reference to other femalesorcaptives. ”Open your mouth.” Jon slanted another quick glance up at her. Yes, ma'am,” he said meekly, and opened his mouth.
When the gruel was finished and the bowl set away, Cathy started to gently extricate herself. Jon caught her wrist, holding her in place while his mouth moved to nuzzle at the inside of her elbow.
”Don't leave me,” he whispered huskily.
”I have to,” Cathy's voice was weak as she battled the s.h.i.+very sensations invoked by his warm lips.
”You need to rest.”
”Stay with me,” he murmured, his mouth tracing down the soft underside of her arm. 'You look like you need some rest, too. We can rest together.”
”Jon,” she warned in a shaky voice. ”You're too weak for . . . for. . . .”
”I know.” He looked up at her appealing!}'. ”I just want you beside me. I sleep better that way. I have nothing else in mind, I promise. If I try anything, you have my permission to slap my face and get up.”
”Well . . .” Cathy wavered.
”Please,” he said softly.
”Oh, all right,” Cathy capitulated with a sigh.”Just as long as you remember. If you start to . . . to. . . .
Well, I'll get up.”
”I won't,” he promised, and watched as Cathy slid off the bed to lock the door.
He said nothing as she slowly came back to stand beside the bunk, a faint flush staining her cheeks.
Knowing the cause of her sudden confusion, he grinned.
Cathy turned her back as she slowly unfastened her gown. She undressed down to her last petticoat, feeling absurdly shy. Now that Jon was awake and aware, she was regaining some of her former reserve with him. Don't be a fool, she scolded herself, feeling a blush creep over her cheeks as she turned back
to face him. The blush deepened as his eyes rested hungrily on her scantily covered bosom. His mouth crooked teasingly as the warm gaze traveled gradually up to her face.
”Blus.h.i.+ng, my cat?” he mocked gently. ”There's no need. I have seen you in less, you know.”
Cathy forced herself to meet his gray eyes, determined to downplay her ridiculous embarra.s.sment if she