J. Robb - Bump in The Night

He fixed her with a dark, knowing stare. „What do you think, Grace?“

She was silent for a long time. When at last she spoke, her voice was troubled. „I can’t imagine any daughter who would be so hard-hearted that she could ignore her own mother’s anguish and refuse to forgive a solitary mistake.“

„Even if that mistake caused great pain to the girl’s father?“

„I wonder. Was it pain that drove the chief to punish her? Or his wounded pride?“

The old man shrugged. „Perhaps a little of both.“

Josh asked the question that was uppermost in his mind. „You said few had seen her, except for some of the old ones. Why do you think the warrior woman has begun showing herself again after all these years?“

Wyatt Eagle turned to him. „That is indeed a mystery. Perhaps it is she. Or perhaps a kindred spirit who must find some resolution to the pain of this life, before entering the Great Beyond.“

Grace mused aloud, „Why have I never read of this legend in any of my research?“

Wyatt smiled. „Much of my people’s lore has never been recorded, but rather passed from father to son. It is, after all, an ancient tale, and there are none of my people left.“ He set aside his empty mug. „I thank you for that fine meal. And for your pleasant company. But now I must leave you.“

As he stood, Barnaby looked up from the fire. At a soft command, the dog trotted over to stand beside the old man and looked up into his eyes as though sharing his innermost thoughts.

Touching a hand to the dog’s head, Wyatt glanced from Grace to Josh. „It would seem that my companion feels at home here.“ He turned to Grace. „You remind me of the woman who left Barnaby in my care. She entrusted me with something else and told me I would recognize the one for whom it was meant.“ He reached into the pocket of his parka and handed Grace a manila envelope.

She stared at it, then up at him. „I don’t understand.“

„So much of life is a mystery.“ He bent forward and brushed a kiss on her cheek. „Good-bye, Grace Marin. I am honored that we met.“ He turned to Josh. „Barnaby loves the land. He would make a boon companion to one who enjoys exploring the wilderness.“

Josh chuckled. „I’m sure he would. But I travel alone.“

The old man opened the door and stepped outside, with the dog at his heels.

Grace and Josh stood in the doorway watching as Wyatt and Barnaby started toward the woods. Suddenly the wind picked up, yanking the door from Josh’s hands and slamming it shut.

„Getting colder,“ he muttered.

When he’d finally managed to shove open the door again, both man and dog were out of sight. Though Josh and Grace strained to see their figures moving in the woods, there was no sign of them.

„Odd. For an old man, he moves like lightning.“ Josh glanced at the envelope in Grace’s hand. „Going to open it?“

„Of course.“ But instead of tearing it open, she simply stared at it.

„You’re looking at it as though it’s some kind of magic bottle, and you’re afraid of the genie inside.“

„Maybe I am.“

He started out the door. „You can open that envelope, or just stare at it for the next hour. While you decide, I’m going to the shed and see if I can get that generator started.“

He sauntered away, leaving Grace alone in the cabin, her pulse racing, her throat as dry as dust.

Josh breezed into the cabin on a rush of cold air. Bracing a hip against the door, he closed and latched it before starting across the room toward the warmth of the fireplace.

He passed Grace, seated on die sofa, surrounded by a stack of letters and photographs.

„Getting cold out there. I didn’t realize just how cold until I stepped out of the shed and decided to wash up in the lake. I must be losing my touch. Even though I cleaned every single part, I couldn’t get that generator to…“ His words died in midsentence when he caught sight of Grace’s tear-streaked face. „Hey, I’m really sorry.“ His voice lowered. „I see you decided to free the genie. Is it something you can talk about?“

Before she could say a word, the tears started fresh.

„Here.“ He was beside her in an instant, his arms outstretched. „Let me help.“

Grace stiffened. It simply wasn’t her style to give in to any weakness, especially one involving something so private and painful. But his offer was too tempting. Right now, this minute, she was feeling so alone and so wounded. Where was the harm in allowing someone else to be strong for her, just for a little while? The moment the thought formed in her mind, it seemed the most natural thing in the world to accept the comfort he was offering.

On trembling legs she stood and nearly fell into his arms. „Oh, Josh.“

„Oh, baby, whatever it is, you’ll get through it.“ He gathered her close. Against her hair he whispered, „Hold on, Grace.“

The instant his strong arms closed around her, she felt a measure of peace and safety. Comfort. As though, simply by being held, she would, as he’d promised, get through this terrible pain that had shattered her poor heart.

The tears started again, and this time she allowed them to fall until there were none left.

At last she sniffed and lifted her head. „Sorry. I don’t usually blubber like a baby. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I had a good cry. Now I’ve got the front of your shirt all wet again. I seem to do that a lot.“

„I don’t mind.“ He lowered his head to smile down into her eyes. „It was wet anyway, after my dip in the lake. Feeling better?“

„Yeah. Thanks.“

„My pleasure.“ Despite his smile, there was a huskiness to his tone that had her heart speeding up. He made no move to release her. „You feel good here.“

She blinked the moisture from her lashes. „I was thinking the same thing.“

„Great minds.“ His gaze burned over her face before settling on her mouth. „If you’d like, we could try that again, only closer.“

Why wasn’t she drawing away now that her tears had run their course? What power did this man have that he could hold her with nothing more than an inviting look, a charming smile?

Her voice was a whisper. „If you don’t mind, I’d like that.“

„Mind?“ On a sigh he drew her close and tipped up her chin. She felt the heat of his kiss even before his lips found hers.

He kept the kiss as light as air. As soft as the brush of butterfly wings against her mouth.

When she didn’t draw back, he took the kiss deeper.

With a little hum of pleasure she breathed him in. He tasted so good. So right. As cool as the night. As fresh as the evening breeze. With just a tang of the mysterious.

Grace sighed and gave herself up to the moment. If she could, she would stay here, just this way, being held in these strong arms, kissed by this wonderful, clever mouth, all through the night. In some dark corner of her mind she knew that she was playing with fire, in order to hold back the rush of emotions that had left her bruised and battered.

When Josh lifted his head, he touched a hand to her cheek. Just a touch, but she could feel the genuine warmth of him and was moved by it.

Now that her tears had begun to dry, he sensed her need to take her grief a step further and talk about whatever it was that had caused her so much pain.

Catching her hand he dropped down beside her on the sofa. „Want to share?“

She lifted a handful of letters. „These belonged to my mother.“

„Your mother? She was the woman who gave them to Wyatt Eagle?“

She nodded. „All of them were written to me.“

„Why go to all this trouble and mystery? Why didn’t she just mail them?“