Read Online Nobody's Dream by Kallypso Masters - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kallypso Masters
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trailed off, but they both knew what the alternative interpretation to that vision might be. She shuddered. Her spiritual obligation must end the moment she nursed him back to health and took him home.
Realizing she still straddled his waist, Cassie swung her leg off him and stood beside the bed as he sat up. She thanked the Goddess she had not been pressed against his hips because if he had become sexually excited, she would have hauled him out to the shed to sleep with the alpacas. He did not appear to be coming on to her—just momentarily dazed and confused.
“What were you dreaming when I came in here just now?”
He winced as the memory came back. “About my wife. How she…died.”
“You miss her very much, do you not?” The question popped out before she could stop it. She did not want to delve into his past.
Lucas looked down at the blanket covering him. “She’s been gone eight years. I don’t think about her every waking moment the way I used to.”
No, but she still invades your dreams.
Perhaps the avalanche churned up unresolved feelings he was unaware of harboring. Regrets? No, worse than that. “You blame yourself for not saving her.”
He scrutinized her a moment, and then his words came out in a hoarse whisper. “Some, I guess. Mostly, I’m pissed that I didn’t know more about the nature of these mountains and didn’t stop her from that fool mission to photograph one of her rare plants.”
Against her better judgment, Cassie sat at the foot of the bed, ensuring she was far enough away from him to escape if she needed a head start. Perhaps talking about his living nightmare might help him find some much-needed healing and peace. “Tell me about that day.”
Again, he stared long and hard at her. She doubted he would be forthcoming. Then, as if the floodgates had opened, he began to tell the story.
“It was spring, early May. She was on a break at UT. Should have been grading final papers, I guess, but she heard about this plant in a remote area of Mount Evans that only bloomed for a short time, so she insisted we take a long weekend and drive up here.”
He pulled his knees up and propped his wrists on them, letting his large, tanned hands dangle between them. Non-threatening.
“We hiked quite a ways from the parking lot before she spotted a clump of them on an outcropping of rock, tucked into a crevice.” He closed his eyes, lost in the memory. “She asked me to photograph it for her. I did a lot of nature photography then, mostly for her.”
The silence spread out between them, making her feel as though she might tumble into the same abyss that stored his memories.
Just let him tell his story, Cassie. Do not make yourself a part of it.
“I wasn’t paying attention to where she was—just wanted to take the best photo I could. All of a sudden, she screamed.”
He made a fist with his right hand, and she fought the urge to reach out and comfort him. Realizing that would only pull him out of the story, not to mention bring the two of them too close together, she remained still. He needed to relive it until he could release himself from the misplaced blame and guilt.
“God, sometimes that scream wakes me out of a dead sleep to this day.”
“I know.”
He opened his eyes and looked at her. “Is that what brought you in here? Did I scream out in my sleep again?”
She nodded. “I know what it feels like to be in the grip of nightmares.” And flashbacks . “I did not want you to suffer. These memories have too much power over us when we are asleep.”
Sometimes during the daytime, too.
“Thanks for understanding. I appreciate that. It’s been a long time since I’ve dreamt about that day. Now, every time I close my eyes…”
“The avalanche probably stirred up old memories.”
He nodded. “Probably.”
She waited for him to continue, but when he remained silent, she prompted him. “What happened next?”
“When she screamed, I turned in time to watch her
Realizing she still straddled his waist, Cassie swung her leg off him and stood beside the bed as he sat up. She thanked the Goddess she had not been pressed against his hips because if he had become sexually excited, she would have hauled him out to the shed to sleep with the alpacas. He did not appear to be coming on to her—just momentarily dazed and confused.
“What were you dreaming when I came in here just now?”
He winced as the memory came back. “About my wife. How she…died.”
“You miss her very much, do you not?” The question popped out before she could stop it. She did not want to delve into his past.
Lucas looked down at the blanket covering him. “She’s been gone eight years. I don’t think about her every waking moment the way I used to.”
No, but she still invades your dreams.
Perhaps the avalanche churned up unresolved feelings he was unaware of harboring. Regrets? No, worse than that. “You blame yourself for not saving her.”
He scrutinized her a moment, and then his words came out in a hoarse whisper. “Some, I guess. Mostly, I’m pissed that I didn’t know more about the nature of these mountains and didn’t stop her from that fool mission to photograph one of her rare plants.”
Against her better judgment, Cassie sat at the foot of the bed, ensuring she was far enough away from him to escape if she needed a head start. Perhaps talking about his living nightmare might help him find some much-needed healing and peace. “Tell me about that day.”
Again, he stared long and hard at her. She doubted he would be forthcoming. Then, as if the floodgates had opened, he began to tell the story.
“It was spring, early May. She was on a break at UT. Should have been grading final papers, I guess, but she heard about this plant in a remote area of Mount Evans that only bloomed for a short time, so she insisted we take a long weekend and drive up here.”
He pulled his knees up and propped his wrists on them, letting his large, tanned hands dangle between them. Non-threatening.
“We hiked quite a ways from the parking lot before she spotted a clump of them on an outcropping of rock, tucked into a crevice.” He closed his eyes, lost in the memory. “She asked me to photograph it for her. I did a lot of nature photography then, mostly for her.”
The silence spread out between them, making her feel as though she might tumble into the same abyss that stored his memories.
Just let him tell his story, Cassie. Do not make yourself a part of it.
“I wasn’t paying attention to where she was—just wanted to take the best photo I could. All of a sudden, she screamed.”
He made a fist with his right hand, and she fought the urge to reach out and comfort him. Realizing that would only pull him out of the story, not to mention bring the two of them too close together, she remained still. He needed to relive it until he could release himself from the misplaced blame and guilt.
“God, sometimes that scream wakes me out of a dead sleep to this day.”
“I know.”
He opened his eyes and looked at her. “Is that what brought you in here? Did I scream out in my sleep again?”
She nodded. “I know what it feels like to be in the grip of nightmares.” And flashbacks . “I did not want you to suffer. These memories have too much power over us when we are asleep.”
Sometimes during the daytime, too.
“Thanks for understanding. I appreciate that. It’s been a long time since I’ve dreamt about that day. Now, every time I close my eyes…”
“The avalanche probably stirred up old memories.”
He nodded. “Probably.”
She waited for him to continue, but when he remained silent, she prompted him. “What happened next?”
“When she screamed, I turned in time to watch her
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