Page 30 of Magnolia Summer

Truett felt around, making sure the bone wasn’t chipped or broken. Then he noticed the weak sound of Celia’s voice. He glanced up from Will’s wound.

Celia was pale as a ghost.She’s going to faint.

Truett stepped toward her just as her body started crumpling, reaching her just in time to catch her and lifted her into his arms.

Her eyes were closed, but though all the color had drained from her face, she was still beautiful. She fit perfectly in his arms, her head resting against his shoulder.

He wouldn’t have pegged Celia Wilcox, of all people, as a swooner, but she had fainted at the sight of Will’s bloody leg.

“Celia? Oh my! Is she all right?” Lizzie peered over his arm at her.

“She’ll be fine. I’ll just lay her down in the other room.”

Lizzie stayed beside Will while Truett carried Celia into the back room, where he kept a couple of cots. He wished he could just hold her, cradling her against his chest for a few moments. This exasperating, high-strung woman did strange things to him, and he didn’t know why. She was more fascinating than other woman he’d ever known. He’d called on a few back in New York, and escorted some to parties or dances, but they always either disappointed or bored him after a while. But Celia . . . she was different.

His conscience smote him. It was surely wrong to feel this warmth that was seeping all through him like hot molasses.

Besides, he had to get back to Will.

Carefully, he lowered her to the cot and slipped his arms from underneath her. She stayed completely still. Her hair had come loose from her braid. He reached down and smoothed it back, brushing several strands off her cheek.She looked so pale. He checked her pulse. It was steady.

He had to close Will’s wound. Celia had only fainted and would be fine, he reassured himself. He’d come back in a few minutes to check on her.

* * *

Celia openedher eyes and glanced around the strange room. She could remember standing beside Will, watching Truett . . .

Think, think.The last thing she remembered was everything going black and the feeling of someone lifting her.

Her stomach dipped. “I fainted.” How humiliating!

“Celia? Are you all right?”

“Lizzie?” Yes, Lizzie. In the doorway. With Truett.

“How are you feeling?” Truett’s brows drew together. If he even smiled she would die of embarrassment.

“Where’s Will? Is he all right? Please go back to Will. I am fine.” Will was the one who needed the doctor’s attention!

They both stepped inside and came toward her. She wanted to sit up, but her head weighed a hundred pounds.

“Will’s all right.” Lizzie picked up Celia’s hand and held it.

Celia focused her eyes on Truett. “Where is he? What did you do? Did he just need stitches?”

Truett smiled. Was he laughing at her?

“I stitched up the wound. The cut wasn’t too deep. If there’s no infection, he should be as good as new in a few weeks. For now he just needs to stay off his leg.”

Celia placed a shaky hand over her heart. “Thank goodness.”

“What about you?” Lizzie leaned over her. “You’re so pale. Is something wrong?” She turned to Dr. Beverly. “Is she all right? What made her faint? She never faints.”

“I’m fine. There’s nothing wrong with me.” Celia was determined to show them both that she was all right. She pushed herself into a sitting position, with Lizzie helping her. The room pitched and rolled like a ship in a storm.

“I think she’s all right.” He picked up her hand and held two fingers against her wrist. “How do you feel?” Truett’s intense blue eyes focused on hers. If she’d seen the least bit of amusement there . . . But he only looked concerned.

“I’m fine. I’m not a fainter. I guess I was worried about Will.”