The Liberty & Forbidden Collection by Regina Puckett

Author:Regina Puckett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cyberpunk, science fiction, steampunk, collection, robots
Publisher: Regina Puckett
Published: 2017-06-26T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

Harmony pulled her hair up off her neck with the hopes of cooling down. Traveling across a countryside devoid of any plant life in which to take shelter made the trip to Freedom hotter than three kinds of hell. Since disembarking, they had followed the railway tracks toward the distant city.

Certain she was going to suffocate, Harmony slipped out of her jacket and tied it around her waist. That did little to help since her shirt was plastered to her like a second skin. If she’d been alone, she would have taken that off too.

No matter how many times she looked at the horizon, it didn’t appear as if they were any closer to reaching Freedom, so, to pass away the time, Harmony focused on her feet, counting each step taken. That’s when she ran into what felt like a solid wall. The impact knocked her backwards, and if Griffin hadn’t reached out and grabbed her by the arm, she would have fallen over.

“Damn it to hell.” Harmony rubbed her nose and glared at him. It might not have been so embarrassing had he not laughed. “Why did you stop right in front of me?”

“Sorry.” He held up a bottle of water. “I was thirsty, so I thought you might be too.”

It was hard to stay pissed at someone who was so damn thoughtful. Harmony accepted the water and took a drink, avoiding saying what she was thinking. She used the time to try and calm her temper. Griffin wasn’t accustomed to her ornery disposition, not as yet, so instead of saying something hurtful, she handed the container back and smiled.

He grimaced. “I take it you don’t do that very often,” he said and slipped the water back into his bag.

And that was why she preferred being alone. It never paid to be polite. She swallowed back a growl but not her clipped words. “And why do you say that?”

He was grinning when he met her eyes again. “Because it looked like it hurt.”

She rolled her eyes and took off walking again. To hell with him. This time the man could damn well follow her. Anyway, she was tired of tripping over his heels every third step.

He stepped in beside her. “You don’t have much of a sense of humor, do you?”

“I’ve never found much use for one.” She glanced sideways at him. “I’m surprised you’re so naturally lighthearted. I would have thought life would’ve been too hard in Freedom to give room for much laughter and such.”

He shook his head. “I guess I’ve always been of the opinion that a smile will lighten anyone’s heavy load.” They walked on in silence for a few minutes before he added, “I might always have been happy to dwell with my people if my eyes hadn’t been opened.” He shrugged. “I grew up used to the fact that the Overseers told us how to live. It wasn’t until I realized I was never going to have the life I wanted that I finally decided to get out.

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