Read Online Deborah Camp by Lonewolf's Woman - Free Book Online Page A

wrestled with guilt and decided to plead for understanding. “I’m sorry. I don’t like to lie, but I—”
    “For someone who doesn’t like it, you sure do it a lot.” He started to walk off and leave her with her stinging feelings and mounting frustration.
    “Stop right there, Blade Lonewolf!”
    Blade turned back to Elise, one black brow raised in inquiry. “What is it? I’ve got work to do.”
    From the corner of her eye she saw Penny glance toward them with a worried frown. “Penny, go pick a bouquet of flowers for our supper table tonight,” Elise said, never taking her gaze off Blade. When Penny wandered over to a cluster of butter-colored wildflowers, Elise moved a few steps closer to Blade. “Any lies I have told I’m sorry for, but you don’t go out of your way to be helpful. I’ve been trying to be pleasant and generous, and all I’ve gotten from you are frowns and threats.”
    “Threats? What threats?”
    “You’ve told me that you want me to leave hereand find work in town!” she reminded him hotly.
    “That’s not a threat. That’s a suggestion, and a damned good one, if you ask me.”
    “Nobody asked, and I happen to think it’s a stupid suggestion. My place is here.”
    He rubbed his hands together slowly, as if testing the calluses. The flowers tucked under his hatband seemed out of place, and Elise captured her lower lip between her teeth to keep from grinning.
    “You can stay. Nobody will be making you leave.”
    Relief flooded through her. She reached out in a gesture of pure instinct and laid a hand on his warm arm.
    “Thank you,” she said, sincerity ringing in her voice. “Thank you so much. I couldn’t bear being separated from Penny. She … we’ve been through so much lately …” Tears pricked her eyes and wet her lashes as long-denied emotions welled up inside her. “I’ve been so distraught, so frantic, trying to keep Penny and Adam close to me that I—well, I haven’t even had time to mourn Mama and Papa’s passing. Sometimes I forget that they’re gone, and then I remember and I … oh … it’s been quite … that is, they’re dead. I know that. I’ll never see them again, never again hear Mama’s laugh or Papa’s loud snoring at night. I swear, he could lift the roof off—”
    The overwhelming pain and explosive grief hit her like a cannonball in the chest. She clutched at Blade’s arm as her knees trembled and tears spilled onto her cheeks. Her throat thickened, allowing only a groan to escape her.
    And then he opened his arms and Elise collapsed against him, sobs overtaking her as the finality of death swept over her like a black ocean wave. Sheburied her face against his chest and knotted her hands into fists, crumpling his shirt between her fingers. Moments might have passed; minutes might have expired; time might have stood still. She didn’t know, didn’t care. The dreadful days that had followed her parents’ fatal accident shook her very soul, and she could only hold onto the rock that was Blade Lonewolf. She breathed in, catching the aroma of sun and sweat.
    His hands moved across her back and then one cupped the back of her head. Blunt-tipped fingers pushed through her hair. A weakness spread from her heart to her knees. She knew she should stand on her own two feet again, but she liked the feel of his hands on her and the solid comfort of his body against hers. For a few moments she held her breath and wished that time would stop.
    “Elise, what is it?” Penny asked, setting time in motion again.
    “She is sad about your mama and papa dying,” Blade explained, before Elise could fathom an answer. “She’ll be done crying in a few moments. You go ahead and pick that bouquet. That will make her smile again.”
    His explanation, so simple and so true, went straight to Elise’s heart. She raised her head to look up into his face and bask in his gentle smile.
    “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I don’t know what … I haven’t