This can be done with $fread()

Code
; $1 = filename, $2 = linenumber
alias readline {
  ; check file exists
  if (!$isfile($1)) return
  ; check for a valid line number.
  if ($2 !isnum 1-) return
  ; create a unique name
  var %name = $+(txt,$ticks)
  ; open text file
  .fopen %name $qt($1)
  ; check for errors
  if ($fopen(%name).err) goto error
  ; jump to line we want.
  .fseek -l %name $2
  ; check for errors
  if ($fopen(%name).err) goto error
  ; check for end of file
  if ($fopen(%name).eof) goto error
  ; get text line
  set -ln %txt $fread(%name)
  ; clean up
  :error
  .fclose %name
  ; return requested line. Keeping spaces etc..
  returnex %txt
}
alias indent_test {
  var %f = versions.txt, %line = 96
  ; line 96 is: [space][space][space]options.
  ; which is 11 characters
  echo Length should be: 11
  echo read: $len($read(%f,nt,%line))
  echo fopen: $len($readline(%f,%line))
  set -ln %ok $readline(%f,%line)
  echo fopen2: $len(%ok)
}