Read Online The Fragrance of Her Name by Marcia Lynn McClure - Free Book Online

Lauralynn’s appearance. Of course, he’d had over twenty years to get used to the sight of her that way. “Is your Captain still in uniform?” he asked.
    “ Um…yes,” Lauryn stumbled, still overwhelmed by Brant’s description of Lauralynn.
    There was silence between them then. Each seemed to be lost in thoughts of their ghostly counterparts.
    At last, it was Brant who spoke first. “How will I help her when I can’t see her anymore, Lauryn?”
    At that moment Lauryn, finally, sensed the true depth of Brant’s pain. Not only was he blinded, unable to see the world, unable to be fully self-reliant, but his only method of communication with Lauralynn, his own lost lady, was gone.
    “ How are you feelin’, Brant dear?” Nana asked upon returning at that moment with Dr. Nelson.
    “ I’m fine,” he assured her. “It wasn’t me that got assaulted in the wounded car.” Smiling he said, “I’d wink at you teasingly Miss Lauryn Kensington…if I could.” Dr. Nelson and Nana both chuckled with amusement. But Lauryn was not amused. She understood now, how devastating his injury had been to his soul.
    Nana settled herself in the seat next to Brant. “Well, my sweet soldier boy,” she began. “It’s all settled. You’re comin’ home with Lauryn and me to Connemara House until your dear brother can come for you.” Nana patted Brant’s hand maternally but his smile faded.
    “ I thought Parker was meeting me in Memphis, Dr. Nelson,” Brant said. Lauryn saw his hands tighten into fists at his sides.
    “ There’s…. there’s been some sort of delay, Brant. He can’t come for another week or so,” Dr. Nelson explained.
    “ So strap the two Florence Nightingales with the invalid, is that it?” Brant mumbled.
    Lauryn was shocked as her Nana slapped the man softly on the mouth. “That’s enough of that, Brant Masterson!” she scolded. “We’ll have none of that self pity from you. Do you hear me?”
    Brant shook his head. “You’re determined to leave me off with these compassionate ladies then, Doc?” Brant reworded his question, teasingly. Nana’s soft slap had obviously had its desired effect, for Brant had indeed brightened.
    “ Your sight will be restored, Brant,” the Doctor told him. “You’ve wasted near to all your patience, my boy…and I understand. But you treat these women the way you ought to. You hear?”
    Brant nodded turning his face toward the window as if everything in him yearned to see out to the passing landscape. Lauryn was sure everything did.
    “ Yeah. I hear you,” Brant mumbled. “In that case…if I’m off to Franklin…I’m tired. Think I’ll sit right here and doze a bit. You’ll pardon me won’t you, ladies?”
    Lauryn could see that his jaw was clinched in annoyance. She suspected it took every ounce of self-control he could muster not to fly into a rage at being passed about like a homeless puppy.
    “ That’s fine, Brant,” Dr. Nelson assured him. “You do need the rest.” Looking to Nana, Dr. Nelson winked and added, “I’ll be back to check on y’all later.”
    “ Thank you, Doctor,” Nana said and the man took his leave.
    Lauryn’s discomfort increased. It was impossible to tell if Brant was sleeping or not since his eyes were bandaged. So, for long moments, she and her grandmother simply watched the passing landscape. Soon the sun had set and Nana seemed to think a little private conversation was safe enough considering that Brant hadn’t moved a muscle in over thirty minutes.
    “ Well, my peach,” she began in a near whisper. “If this hasn’t been the grandest adventure either of us has ever had on a train…I don’t know what is!”
    “ Undeniably,” Lauryn agreed.
    Lauryn watched then, amused to see her grandmother look over to Brant and start visually investigating him.
    “ My! He is a handsome one,” Nana exclaimed quietly.
    “ Hush, Nana! He’ll hear you.” Lauryn was delightfully astonished at her grandmother’s