Chasing the Sun (Land of the Lone Star Book #1) by Tracie Peterson

Author:Tracie Peterson
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, General, Christian, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9781441269997
Publisher: Baker Books
Published: 2012-03-01T10:12:45.060000+00:00

15

Hannah hadn’t thought it would be possible to sleep. Mr. Barnett put his gear inside the tepee, but quickly assured her that he wouldn’t risk her reputation by sleeping inside when she was there. Instead, he built a very small fire just outside and placed his bedroll there. Hannah felt bad for him having to endure the cooler night air without a shelter, and when she heard rain falling against the thin leather skins of the tepee, she felt it her duty to bring him inside.

“Mr. Barnett, I believe the space is large enough to accommodate us both,” she told him from the opening of her shelter. “With this rain, I cannot in good faith allow you to get sick from exposure.”

“I’ve camped out in worse, Miss Dandridge. Rest assured, I’m capable of sleeping in the rain.”

“Perhaps.” She stiffened and replied, “But I think it unwise. I hardly need for you to fall ill, too. We will neither one be in any state of undress, and anyone can walk in at any time to see that we are above reproach. I hardly think it will compromise either of us.”

Barnett looked at her for a moment, and then with slow, determined actions he got up from the fire, gathered his things, and followed her into the shelter.

Hannah pretended it didn’t bother her to see him stretch out on the ground across the fire from her. She tried to rationalize that he had followed her there only because of his anger at her traipsing off without his permission. Her heart had very nearly stopped at the sight of him, however.

Attraction to the enemy was something Hannah knew was surely warned against in the Bible. For this reason alone, she didn’t want to think of William Barnett, but the sound of his soft breathing kept leading her mind to dangerous places. She wrestled with her thoughts of this man and his Union affiliation, and it was with those thoughts that she finally fell asleep.

When she awoke hours later, it seemed as though she’d only just closed her eyes. She looked over to the place where William had been and found his bedroll empty. Sitting up, Hannah wondered at the time. She pulled on her boots and did up the laces as quickly as her fingers would move, feeling a sense of urgency to learn where William had gone and why.

Exiting the tepee, Hannah shivered at the cooler temperature. The ground was still wet, but the rain had stopped. Although her first concern was William’s whereabouts, Hannah made her way to the chief’s lodgings. Entering, Hannah found things about the same. Little Bird was still clinging to life, but barely. Hannah found herself praying for the woman’s soul. What if no one had ever told her about Jesus? What if she died without knowing that she could be saved for all eternity? The thought saddened Hannah. How many people died every day without knowing that God loved them and had given them a free gift of eternal life?

He Who Walks in Darkness was sleeping rather peacefully.

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