Read Online Violets in February by Clare Revell - Free Book Online Page B

pot. What was wrong with the woman? He glanced over his shoulder at her. She sat, eyes closed, lips moving. Probably saying grace.
    Another custom drilled into him, that he’d dropped as soon as he possibly could.
    He made the tea like he drank it. Very hot, very strong, and very sweet. She needed the sugar whether she wanted it or not. Pushing upright, he took the cup over and held it out. “Here. And more travel pills. Don’t want you throwing up again.”
    Lucy reached out a trembling hand. “Thank you.”
    He sat on the ground next to her. “No worries.”
    She looked down at the cup.
    “It’s got sugar in it. For shock.”
    “Like sugar.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
    “Don’t like snakes, huh?”
    She shook her head. “No.”
    “Tell you what. I’ll check next time. Make sure there are no snakes anywhere.”
    “OK.”
    He glanced up at her, surprised she’d agreed. He didn’t think anything could get to her, but maybe…maybe she was just as human as he was. Not that she was fallible, because Christians never were.
    “Goodo.” He smiled as cheerfully as he could. “Eat up. I want to do at least another twenty miles before dark.”
    Lucy glanced at the darkening sky. “You reckon?”
    Jed followed her gaze.
    Darkness had crept up on him, coming early. The clouds were building fast. Thunder rumbled again in the distance.
    “Ten, maybe. And find somewhere sheltered to sleep.”
    “A village. With a hotel. And plumbing.”
    He laughed. Her humor was returning. “Not here in the back of Bourke. We’ll have to make do with a river or stream or a well at best. And probably sleep in the Ute. I would have brought a tent if I’d known we’d be camping.”
    “I hate camping.” She pulled the crusts off the bread, eating them slowly.
    “Yet you chose to live in the middle of a jungle, miles from civilization.”
    “Not in a tent,” she said defensively. “And it’s where God wants me.”
    Jed choked on his food. “God told you this?” he scoffed. “In a dream or something, I assume. Seems to me you could do the same job in London, Sydney or New York. At least there, you won’t be stuck with a busted knee over two hundred miles from a hospital.”
    “Maybe.” She held the sandwich out to him. “Not hungry. You have it.”
    He shook his head. “If you don’t eat, you can’t have any more pain meds.”
    She shot him a withering look. “And where did you get your degree in medicine?”
    “It’s common sense, so just saying.” He finished his food and leaned back against the chair leg, watching the flickering firelight in silence.
    Why was she so different than any other woman? Even though she was injured, he’d normally have made a move by now. And succeeded. Even the prickly ones gave in to his charms in the end. But he didn’t even want to go there. What was it she’d said? Not even if he were the last man on the face of the planet.
    Well, that worked both ways.
    He’d get her to the hospital. Drop her off and leave her.
    Then he’d hightail it out of there and request they put another truckie on that —
    He shook his head. He couldn’t even swear properly inside his own head around the woman. That would never do. He pushed up and brushed his hands on his pants. “Should get on. Will be properly dark soon.”
    “Is this really the only road?” she asked, as he tossed the things they’d used back in the Ute.
    “We can’t use the main road because of the fighting.” He crossed over to her and swung her into his arms.
    “Seriously? They’re that close?”
    He lifted her back into the Ute. “Yes, seriously. I told Tim he needs to evac the mission, but he refused.” He stared at her for a long moment. “God won’t protect you against an army with killing on their minds. So don’t bother telling me He will.” He turned and busied himself with putting out the fire and making sure all evidence of their stop had gone. Bad enough he was leaving tire