Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 83(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 83(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
"Looks like it’s doing better," he murmurs, and I bite my lip. I can see the way the sunshine pouring through the window picks out the slight glitter of stubble on his skin, and I can almost imagine how it would feel beneath my fingertips-
And then, all at once, I realize that someone else has joined us. His dog, to be precise. He is nuzzling into my hand slightly, snuffling away like he’s trying to work out what he thinks of me. The man chuckles and straightens up.
"Looks like he’s warmin’ to you."
I manage a smile, scratching the dog’s head.
"What’s his name?" I ask, even though I know the answer.
"Woodrow. And I’m Boone."
"Cora," I introduce myself. Well, now that we know each other, I guess I shouldn’t be in quite such a rush to get out, even if I still don’t know what the hell is going on in this place.
"Cora," he replies, as though he is testing out how he likes the sound of my name on his tongue. "You hungry? I got a stew on the stove that I doubt Woodrow and I’ll finish between us..."
I nod, and follow him out into the room next door – just as quaint as the bedroom, with a soot-blackened stove sitting at one side and a couple of chairs at the other. Two chairs – I wonder if someone else lives here, or, perhaps, if they did...
I don’t dig too hard on the matter as we eat, asking about Woodrow and how long he’s had him. He seems happy enough to talk about the dog, and I am just glad to have something to talk about that isn’t going to dredge up the questions of what the hell is happening here.
He notices my eyes drooping as I scrape the last of the savory goodness from my wooden bowl, and he draws me to his feet, nodding at me to go back to bed.
"You need rest," he tells me firmly.
"Where will you sleep-"
"Nothing to worry about," he shoots back firmly. "I can take care of myself just fine."
There is a slight edge to his voice, as though he is trying to convince himself as much as me. I think better than pushing for more, and, as I close the bedroom door behind me, I stare back down at the covers, still in a mess from where I pushed them back.
He hasn’t made any move to try and explain to me why he’s been living like this. Which says to me that he doesn’t think he has to. Which says to me that...that this might not be some elaborate set-up or hoax or fantasy that he is living out.
This could be real.
I could really have been cast back to another time.
That’s impossible...
And yet, here I am. The sound of the baby’s cries still ring in my ears, and I wonder if something called me here, something reaching out across time to pull me to this place so I can...
So I can what? I don’t have a damn clue. Suddenly, I gasp with a sob that catches me off-guard, tears welling in my eyes. None of this makes any sense, and I don’t know if it’s going to start anytime soon...
I slump down on to the covers as the tears begin to pour from my eyes, clamping a hand over my mouth so Boone can’t hear me. I don’t want to burden him with my doubts.
Not when he’s already done so much to keep me safe.
CHAPTER 4
Boone
The next morning, she picks at her eggs, barely lifting her gaze to mine as she pushes them around her plate.
"How’d you sleep?” I ask, breaking the silence between us at last. Her eyes flick up to meet mine.
"Not well," she shoots back. "That bed’s hardly comfortable."
I cock an eyebrow. Not exactly the response I expected, given that I’ve put her up under my own damn roof, but I guess nothing about her has exactly made sense so far.
She’s still in those short pants she was wearing before, but she’s got one of my shirts on over the top of it – it sits low on her body, showing a few inches of her chest, like she’s trying to distract me. I let my gaze trail back to her face.
"If I’d known you were going to injure yourself in the forest," I drawl back to her. "Then I’d have made sure to get the place a little more comfortable for you."
She presses her lips together, unable to ignore my sarcasm.
"And what exactly does that mean?”
I lift my chin, meeting her gaze steadily.
"That you could stand to be a little more grateful, all things considered."
She rolls her eyes skywards.
"Oh, could I?” she replies, her voice edged with annoyance. "Because last I checked, you carried me off to your place in the middle of God knows where with no warning and no choice in the matter!”