Dark Angel (Casteel 2)

Other stupid thoughts filled my head before I

had sense enough to sit up and shake the filthy water

from my hair, then used the sleeve of my shirt to clean

my face of mud. Wild honey bees were attracted,

perhaps by my perfume, or by the bright yellow of a

once pretty blouse.

"Heaven, where are you?" I heard Troy calling

from a distance.

You're too late, Troy Tatterton! I don't want

you now! Still I began to tremble from the effort it

took not to respond. I didn't want him to find me, not

now. Somehow I'd make my way back to that huge,

lonely house, and never again would I disobey Tony

and steal over to his cottage.

So, sitting in the water, I stayed very quiet,

slapping at the insects who idiotically found me

attractive. Endless time passed before he stopped

calling and thrashing about in the woods. The wind

picked up and began to rustle the leaves above. Dark,

stringy clouds converged as they always seemed to do

whenever I was on the verge of finding something

valuable. My rotten luck!

Oh, you bet, I felt so damned sorry for myself, even before the drizzle of rain began, I couldn't stifle

my sobs.

Then a small noise came from behind me, and

an amused voice. "I always wanted to save a maiden

in distress."

My head swiveled around to see Troy about ten

feet away. How long he'd been watching me I couldn't

guess. His riding clothes were snagged in several