A Daughter’s Courage by Misty M. Beller

Author:Misty M. Beller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Fiction;FIC042110;FIC042030;FIC027360
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2022-08-30T00:00:00+00:00

16

Damien had to get away from this smothering weight. The grief, the longing to sit across the table from Michelle once more—they were awful enough. But the fact that he’d not remembered today’s anniversary . . . How could he have forgotten this day he’d been dreading for so long? He’d planned to immerse himself in memories of Michelle, to honor her. And yes, to allow himself to succumb to the grief, just for today.

But with his exhausting and desperate search for Charlotte, the anniversary date hadn’t crashed over him upon awakening. He’d not actually slept through the night, so there’d been no first opening of his eyelids. He’d not had the time or energy to think about anything other than following Charlotte’s tracks.

How could he have betrayed Michelle so easily?

He stomped up the mountain, pushing himself hard. Harder. Farther from the weight. He hated himself. Hated everything.

Everything that had stripped away the one good thing in his life.

He didn’t regret speaking of his sister to Charlotte, though she was the first he’d been able to bring himself to tell. It seemed right to honor Michelle that way. And he’d needed Charlotte to understand his motives.

But this wrenching pain inside him . . . He had to get away from it or its pressure would smother him completely. As much as he wanted to drop to his knees and succumb, he forced himself onward. Upward. Climbing higher. Pushing himself farther.

When he reached the peak, he could go no higher, so he stumbled over the crest and started down. His vision blurred, but he ignored the tears. He could allow no weakness to stop him.

After half sliding down an icy rock, his feet found purchase in snow. On his next step, his foot glanced off something sharp hiding beneath the surface. He stumbled sideways, then caught himself on his hands and knees. Every shred of common sense told him to stop. He would break something, or worse, if he continued at this reckless pace.

But he wanted the worst. He’d found nothing in this life worth staying alive for, not with Michelle gone.

Charlotte.

He’d thought . . . But she would probably be better off without him, too. She wanted to do this on her own, to reach Fort Versailles. Who was he to determine what was best for her? He’d certainly never been able to protect Michelle, especially at the end.

He should let Charlotte do what she thought best. His interfering would only make things worse for her. Experience should have reminded him of that long before now.

His foot slipped on another icy rock, twisting him sideways as he scrambled for purchase. His gloved hands grabbed hold of a thick chunk of icy snow, and he gripped tight, holding himself there for long moments as he caught his breath.

The tumble, the deep inhales of frigid air, they worked to clear his mind of the turmoil. He closed his eyes, breathing in one cleansing breath after another. As much as he didn’t want

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