Elisabeth Rees - Covert Cargo

Beth twisted in her seat to look at the town that was now stretching into the distance as they made their way to the lighthouse. “It was hard being back in the Salty Dog,” she said. “I guessed I might get a nasty reaction like that from somebody.”

“Don’t let Larry’s childish comment get to you.” Dillon remembered the waitress and her kindness. “There was a young woman in there named Mia who was pretty happy to see you. Is she an old friend of yours?”

Beth nodded. “She was my bridesmaid.” She tried to laugh, but the sound seemed to get stuck in her throat. “Or she was supposed to be my bridesmaid anyway. It turned out that she wasn’t really needed.” Her voice became high and strained. “Actually it turned out that I wasn’t really needed either.”

Dillon wasn’t sure what to say. “I know about your wedding,” he said gently. “Carl mentioned it.”

Beth let her head fall back onto the headrest with a long exhalation. “I’m sure he did.”

“From what I’ve seen and heard in the town, everybody wishes you well,” Dillon said, switching on the wipers as the light drizzle became heavier. A dense and moist fog often rolled into the town, and the damp air clung to everything it came into contact with. The air in this town seemed to brush gently against the skin like a caress, and he liked it. He reckoned that Bracelet Bay was a place that worked its way into your heart and took up residence pretty quickly.

“Mia was sorry that she didn’t get to talk to you today,” he continued. “Once this situation is behind you, maybe you should think about contacting her.” He smiled, unsure if he was overstepping. “She clearly misses you.”

Beth looked out the window. “I miss her too sometimes, but my life is different now. I’m happier this way.”

“As a recluse?”

She didn’t answer.

“No man is an island, Beth.”

She turned her head from the window to face him. “What does that mean?”

“It’s an old poem from England,” he said, quoting the lines, “‘No man is an island entire of itself. Every man is a piece of the continent.’”

“I never knew you were so cultured,” she said in a teasing tone. “But I still don’t know what it means.”

The truck hugged the shoulder of the road as they neared the lighthouse, shrouded in swirling fog. “It means that we all need connections to others to make us strong and healthy. God made us as individuals, but that doesn’t mean He intended us to be alone.”

The teasing tone disappeared from her voice. “I don’t know what God intends for me, but right now I’m happy alone.”

He knew this wasn’t true. He knew it was an act, perfected in order to push people away and bolster her lack of confidence. But if that was her choice, he wouldn’t push the matter.

“If you’re happy to put your faith in God’s path,” he said, “then you can’t go wrong.”

She smiled, and the way she tilted her head to brush hair from her neck reminded him of Aziza. It was just a flash of something, a split second of familiarity that transported him back four years to a hot and arid plain in Afghanistan. At that time, he was driving along a dusty road to Kabul with a young woman escaping certain death. And now he was back in the same situation, forced to choose which innocent lives to save. As soon as Tyler arrived, he would relinquish Beth’s safety to his good friend and fellow SEAL. Then he could get back to work.

As the truck neared Beth’s home, Dillon saw that the fog surrounding it appeared thicker than before, curling around the tower like smoke. When an acrid smell began filling his nostrils, he realized that it was smoke.

“I think we may have a problem,” he said, hitting the gas pedal hard to pick up speed.

Beth placed her hands on the dash, leaning forward and letting her mouth drop open in confusion and disbelief.

“My cottage,” she exclaimed. “It’s on fire!”

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.