Final Hours by Cate Dean

Author:Cate Dean [Dean, Cate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pentam Press
Published: 2014-03-25T07:00:00+00:00

Ten

Kane slept like the dead, and woke starving.

His body protested every movement as he carefully sat. His right shoulder throbbed by the time he stood. Elizabeth was still asleep, curled in the blanket, so he left her; she needed rest as much as he still did. He could check on Robin and Lindsay and be back before she woke.

“Kane?” Her sleepy voice halted him.

He turned, found her propped up on her blanket, all that blonde hair falling around her like a golden cloak. He wanted nothing more than to bury his hands in that hair, feel her body under his as they—

He choked off the rest of that thought, but it was too late. The image already had him painfully hard. “Go back to sleep, Beth.”

“I’m already awake. Where are you going?”

“To check on Robin. Come with me?” He did not mean to say that. It sounded—plaintive, almost like he was begging her to spend time with him.

She pushed herself up, dressed only in the blue shirt and trousers, her feet clad in argyle socks. Kane nearly smiled. Before he could think to avoid it, she slipped her hand in his, and paused long enough to step into a pair of worn black boots.

Together, they searched out the facilities, then headed over to where the kids sat, eating bread with a thin layer of jam on it. Robin looked better; still pale, but he was young. Time and rest would put color back in his cheeks.

“Good morning.” Kane crouched in front of him and smiled. Robin gave a shy smile in return. Lindsay almost knocked him over when she threw her arms around his neck.

“Thank you.” She whispered against his throat, tears in her voice. “I will never forget what you did for my brother. For us.”

“It was my pleasure, sweetheart.”

She let him go, a blush on her cheeks, and moved to hug Elizabeth. “Thank you. I would not have—Robin and I—”

“I’m glad we were here to help.” Elizabeth eased back, and Kane watched in mute surprise as she removed her locket, put it around Lindsay’s neck. “I want you to wear this for me, as a remembrance.”

“Oh, I cannot—” Lindsay’s fingers already closed over the gold heart.

“I insist. The heart is empty, but I know you will fill it with images that make you smile.” She leaned in, kissed Lindsay’s forehead, then leaned over to kiss Robin as well. He smiled, his eyes dancing. Yes, he would be all right.

Kane took her hand as she stood, kept his voice low. “You gave your mother’s locket away.”

Elizabeth smiled up at him, and there was an ease to it she didn’t have before. “It felt right. I only kept it because it belonged to my mom. Even she never wore it much, so I don’t know when the sentimental attachment to it happened. Maybe because it was all I had of my parents.” With a sigh, she leaned against his arm. “Bridget told me I would know when to let go of it.

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