Read Online Now and Forever by Mary Connealy - Free Book Online Page A

and I couldn’t let that fire go out. We both needed rest. I’m sorry. I should have forced you to stay awake and keep walking until we found a supply of coal. That would have been safest, but I didn’t see that I had any choice, Tucker.”
    “Now are you done?”
    The only thing she could do at this point was cry, something Kylie recommended when dealing with men, but Shannon didn’t have the knack for it. “Yes, I’m done.”
    She braced herself to get her ears pinned back.
    There was an extended silence, and Tucker’s blue eyesglittered in the light cast by the coal fire. At last he said, “Thank you.”
    Shannon had braced herself for such a scolding that she stumbled forward a step. “What?”
    Rubbing a hand over his mouth as if trying to hold back the words, Tucker finally spoke. “I think you took a big risk. I can lay here and let it make me loco to think of what could have happened, but it’s obvious you were careful and here you are, safe.” He drew in a breath so deep it lifted his shoulders, then let out a sigh. “Most of my anger is because I can’t help. I’m not used to lying back and letting others do for me. So I’m not going to make all you’re doing harder by growling at you. I’m just going to say thank you.”
    It was a trap so she’d come closer to him, and then he’d grab her and shake her until her teeth rattled. But he seemed calm. She decided to believe him but stay out of grabbing range. “Would you like something to eat and a drink of water? Then I want to get moving.”
    She’d have to let him touch her then. “The cavern I found ahead had several openings out of it. One had fresher air than the others. I’m hopeful it could lead us out of here.”
    “Sounds good. Let’s eat and get going.”
    She pointed at the pile she’d made near Tucker. “That’s what was in your pack. I emptied it to use it to haul coal and didn’t want to get everything coated with black dust. The canteen is there and the beef jerky.”
    “We need to be careful with the jerky, eat only a little at a time. There’s not that much left.” Tucker got busy arranging the food.
    Because they didn’t know how long they might be down here.
    Tucker didn’t say that, but Shannon knew it was what he meant. They could starve to death. And long before they starved, they’d grow weak and not be able to go on.
    Her stomach growled as if to remind her that she’d barely eaten anything yesterday—if a full day had even passed. Where they were, it was hard to judge the passage of time, but it felt like a full day at least since they’d fallen. A few bites of beef jerky. A few swallows of water. They could last a while on that for each meal, but not forever.
    “Just give us each a couple of bites, enough to get going. We’ll portion it out.” Shannon whacked Tucker’s pack against the wall, to get it as clean as she could.
    Food and water didn’t take long. Shannon filled their cup with fire and left the rest to burn out on its own. They were ready to go.
    Tucker slung an arm around her shoulder. She took a step, but he pulled her to a halt.
    She’d wondered about him grabbing her. Well, he had her now.
    Turning to face him, he brought one hand up and caressed her cheek. “Your face is streaked with coal dust.” He laughed a bit. In the dim light left by the still-glowing fire they were abandoning, she saw his kindness and his pain.
    He held up the hand he’d touched her with, and his fingertips were black. “Thank you, Shannon.” Then he leaned forward and kissed her. The motion was so smooth and over so quickly that she didn’t have time to stop himor to decide if she wanted to participate. He looked deep in her eyes and she looked back, not quite sure what she saw.
    “Would you like to tell me about your nightmare?” Tucker asked.
    “There’s not much in the world I’d like less than to talk about my nightmare, Matthew Tucker.” Shannon waited, hoping he’d let it alone.
    Tucker