Lorraine Heath by Texas Destiny

Author:Texas Destiny
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-04-25T11:54:54+00:00

Wrapped in a blanket, Amelia huddled beside the crackling fire in her damp bodice and skirt. Her drenched undergarments were stretched over a rock to dry.

Night hovered around her. A million stars twinkled overhead. She could hear the waterfalls, the occasional splash of a fish, frogs croaking, and the silence of her traveling companion as he gazed into the fire, his brow furrowed. She wondered where his thoughts traveled tonight.

Based on the depths of his creases, she had a feeling he was traveling back toward a war that had catapulted him into adulthood, stolen a portion of his sight, his smiles, and his laughter.

“A penny for your thoughts,” she said quietly.

He glanced at her. “They’re not worth that much.”

“They are to me.”

A corner of his mouth crooked up, and the warmth raced through her. She’d given him that, small as it was, a halfhearted attempted at a smile that she hoped would one day brighten his life.

“Even when you aren’t asking questions, you’re asking questions,” he said.

“You don’t like questions.”

“Don’t mind the questions. It’s answerin’ ’em that I’m not fond of.”

She eased closer to him. He’d long ago stopped shielding her from the sight of his face. She couldn’t imagine him looking more perfect than he did at that moment. Nor could she imagine him asking her a question of his own free will. “Play a game with me.”

“The checkerboard is at the bottom of the river.”

“I know a game that doesn’t require a board. A simple game, really. I used to play it with my sisters. The rules are easy. You decide if you want to truthfully answer a question or take a dare. I’ll ask the questions or issue the dare.” She smiled sweetly. “The question will be something you wouldn’t want to answer; the dare something that frightens you.”

Horror swept over his face. “You call that a game?”

She slapped his shoulder. “It’s fun. We always ended up laughing. Do you want to answer a question or take a dare?”

“Neither. I’m goin’ to sleep.”

She placed her hand on his thigh, effectively halting his movements. “Humor me. I’ll go first. Ask me a question.”

“Why are you so partial to questions?”

“Oh, that’s an easy one. It’s the best way to find out information. Now do you want to answer a question or take a dare?”

He looked as though she’d just set his favorite horses free. “That wasn’t hardly fair.”

She fought the urge to squeal with the realization that he would indeed play. “You have to choose your questions carefully.”

He narrowed his gaze. “I’ll take a question.”

“It’ll probably be something you don’t want to answer.”

“I don’t want to answer any of them.”

“All right.” She shifted her backside, planted her elbow on her thigh, her chin in her palm, and studied the scowling man, wondering what she could ask that would present a challenge but not scare him off. “When you cry out in your sleep, are you dreaming about the war?”

“A dream is something you want. No, I don’t dream about the war.

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