Read Online Beloved Protector (Heartsong Presents) by Darlene Mindrup - Free Book Online
Authors: Darlene Mindrup
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wanting to tear away that shell of protection she had formed to hide her feelings. He was tempted to break that shell with a subtle seduction, to force her to admit her feelings, but he knew, as he had admitted to himself before, that that would accomplish nothing except his own downfall.
He knew without conceit that she was attracted to him, but she was fighting it with every ounce of her being, and, instinctively, he knew that it centered on her faith in her God. Her attempt to put barriers between them was playing havoc with his ability to think clearly.
He groaned inwardly. It was foolish to be having romantic thoughts anyway when in a short time he would be going into battle with the very real likelihood that he would be killed. If anyone should be putting up walls, it was him.
His anger evaporated as quickly as it had come.
“You’re probably right. We are different,” he acquiesced quietly and she jerked her head up in surprise. For just a second her guard was down enough for him to realize the pain he had just caused her. But her mask of indifference slipped quickly back into place.
He got to his feet and retrieved his gear. There were times when he just wanted to shake the woman.
“Titus has given us permission to leave tomorrow. It will be several weeks before our troops will be able to begin their assault, so I must return by then.”
He could see the fear in her eyes. Fear for him or for her people?
“We will leave early, so get some sleep.”
He waited for her to say something, but she merely nodded her head. Was she, like him, wondering just what their future would entail? Perhaps that was what had brought about his comment regarding the stars. It was a simple comment, yet it only succeeded in driving deeper the wedge between them.
“Good night.”
He made his way to Arius’s tent, stopping just outside and glancing once more at the starry night sky. What had she said? Something about the stars speaking of her God?
“If You’re up there,” he ground out, “remember that she loves You. Keep us safe on our journey.”
The blazing star that shot across the darkness he took as a good omen.
Chapter 6
T apat rolled up the blue tunic and placed it in the bag Andronicus had provided. She had washed her old tunic and changed into it in preparation for the trip to Pella. The journey would take them through many miles of desert before they reached the plains of Jordan, and she didn’t want the tunic Andronicus had given her to be dirty and tattered when they arrived.
She added the comb and smiled wryly. Everything she owned in the world was in this little bag.
With great trepidation she had overcome her reserve and dared to open Andronicus’s trunk and replace the silver coins he had insisted that she have—she refused to be so indebted to the man. Her upbringing forbade it.
A stirring outside her tent let her know that Andronicus was about to arrive. Every nerve in her body jumped to screaming life whenever he was near. It frustrated her no end that the man affected her so. Her life had been much simpler before he had come into it.
He tapped on the tent before coming inside. He noted the change of clothing with a lifted brow but said nothing.
Nasab followed Andronicus inside with the morning meal. He gave Tapat a brief smile before arranging the food on the rug. He and Tapat had become friends of a sort over the past few days. It was Nasab who had brought her food to eat and water for bathing.
Something about the man had reached out to Tapat and encouraged her, once she found out that he spoke Greek, to strike up a conversation. He had readily responded, which spoke of the man’s loneliness. She wondered if Andronicus even realized that his servant was longing for home but was determined to do what he considered his duty by staying.
Nasab left and then returned carrying a garment over his arm. He handed it to Andronicus, who in turn handed it to Tapat.
“A shawl. I know how Jewish
He knew without conceit that she was attracted to him, but she was fighting it with every ounce of her being, and, instinctively, he knew that it centered on her faith in her God. Her attempt to put barriers between them was playing havoc with his ability to think clearly.
He groaned inwardly. It was foolish to be having romantic thoughts anyway when in a short time he would be going into battle with the very real likelihood that he would be killed. If anyone should be putting up walls, it was him.
His anger evaporated as quickly as it had come.
“You’re probably right. We are different,” he acquiesced quietly and she jerked her head up in surprise. For just a second her guard was down enough for him to realize the pain he had just caused her. But her mask of indifference slipped quickly back into place.
He got to his feet and retrieved his gear. There were times when he just wanted to shake the woman.
“Titus has given us permission to leave tomorrow. It will be several weeks before our troops will be able to begin their assault, so I must return by then.”
He could see the fear in her eyes. Fear for him or for her people?
“We will leave early, so get some sleep.”
He waited for her to say something, but she merely nodded her head. Was she, like him, wondering just what their future would entail? Perhaps that was what had brought about his comment regarding the stars. It was a simple comment, yet it only succeeded in driving deeper the wedge between them.
“Good night.”
He made his way to Arius’s tent, stopping just outside and glancing once more at the starry night sky. What had she said? Something about the stars speaking of her God?
“If You’re up there,” he ground out, “remember that she loves You. Keep us safe on our journey.”
The blazing star that shot across the darkness he took as a good omen.
Chapter 6
T apat rolled up the blue tunic and placed it in the bag Andronicus had provided. She had washed her old tunic and changed into it in preparation for the trip to Pella. The journey would take them through many miles of desert before they reached the plains of Jordan, and she didn’t want the tunic Andronicus had given her to be dirty and tattered when they arrived.
She added the comb and smiled wryly. Everything she owned in the world was in this little bag.
With great trepidation she had overcome her reserve and dared to open Andronicus’s trunk and replace the silver coins he had insisted that she have—she refused to be so indebted to the man. Her upbringing forbade it.
A stirring outside her tent let her know that Andronicus was about to arrive. Every nerve in her body jumped to screaming life whenever he was near. It frustrated her no end that the man affected her so. Her life had been much simpler before he had come into it.
He tapped on the tent before coming inside. He noted the change of clothing with a lifted brow but said nothing.
Nasab followed Andronicus inside with the morning meal. He gave Tapat a brief smile before arranging the food on the rug. He and Tapat had become friends of a sort over the past few days. It was Nasab who had brought her food to eat and water for bathing.
Something about the man had reached out to Tapat and encouraged her, once she found out that he spoke Greek, to strike up a conversation. He had readily responded, which spoke of the man’s loneliness. She wondered if Andronicus even realized that his servant was longing for home but was determined to do what he considered his duty by staying.
Nasab left and then returned carrying a garment over his arm. He handed it to Andronicus, who in turn handed it to Tapat.
“A shawl. I know how Jewish
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