Read Online Saving the Rifleman by Julie Rowe - Free Book Online Page B

safely, she’d laugh. Probably call herself a whole slew of names for doing something so reckless and stupid as sneaking out with a strange man.
    A man who was no stranger to violence.
    A man who’d already saved her honour and her life.
    The echo of many booted feet marching had them both freezing in place. She peered around John into the darkness.
    He pulled her close, one arm going around her shoulders, and put his lips next to her ear. “There’s a German patrol at the end of this lane.”
    Even wounded his strength and poise made her shiver with both fear and admiration.
    “Don’t be afraid.” He stepped backward as he kept her close. “We’ll blend into the buildings and darkness.”
    She nodded.
    They came up against the side of a house and huddled in the shadows as the sound of marching grew louder. A voice fractured the quiet, giving orders in German.
    “They’re going to search the alley,” she whispered to John.
    “We need to get inside this house.”
    He slid down the side of it, his unencumbered hand hunting. He stopped, twisting something, his muscles working. Then they were falling through into the house.
    He shut the door. She’d thought it had been dark outside, but the blackness inside was infinite. His hand was hunting again. “Damn, no lock.”
    Keeping his arm around her shoulders, he pulled her through the room.
    “Can you see?”
    “No.” He didn’t say more.
    They walked into a wall then followed it until they found a doorway. They inched through it then moved through the room until they found another wall and got it between them and the door.
    Seconds later, a door opened and light illuminated the interior of the house. There wasn’t much in it. A few pieces of broken furniture and a couple of books lying askew in a corner.
    Maria didn’t dare breathe.
    A voice called out in German, “ The house is clear .“ The light disappeared and the door closed.
    Her lungs protested the lack of oxygen and she took in a breath that shook her entire body.
    “Shh,” John whispered, bringing her closer to him, pressing her to his left side. “They’re gone, we’re safe.”
    He was wrong.
    A light flared in the other room and footsteps rapidly approached.
    They weren’t alone . Panic froze her in place, but not John.
    He moved in front of her and as the German soldier with the light marched through the doorway, John threw a ferocious punch into the other man’s face.
    The soldier staggered backward, his rifle clattering on the floor, the lantern swung wildly and kerosene splashed out over him. He cried out.
    John hit him in the midsection with another punch, knocking the German the down and smashing the lantern. There was a flash and fire blazed through the room like whirlwind.
    John grabbed Maria by the hand and ran for another exit.
    The soldier screamed as he was engulfed in flames. The walls quickly followed suit.
    Smoke clouded the room, filling her nose and clogging her lungs. Heat flowed over her as they found the front door. John turned the knob, but it wouldn’t open. He took a step back and kicked the door. Once. Twice.
    Flames and smoke crawled along the ceiling.
    With his third kick the door flew open. They staggered out of the house. John stumbled and fell to the ground coughing.
    People ran toward them. Soldiers. Townsfolk.
    It was her turn to act.
    Maria rushed toward the nearest soldier. “Help us please! My brother is still inside.”
    The German looked at the house and shook his head.
    She wailed and covered her face with her hands.
    Another soldier arrived, an officer. The first man repeated her words to his superior.
    “I’m sorry. No one could survive that,” the officer said to her. “We thought the house was deserted.”
    “Not entirely. We were leaving to live with our relatives in the country in the morning. To help work the farm.” She opened the door to all the terror and distress she’d felt in the last days and weeks. Let her emotions free to rain