Daniel's Desire Read Free Page A

Where he was born and raised, planned to stay his whole life, working his horse farm, and eventually passing it down to his son. Then the war came and everything changed.
    Soon the cold sent him back into the scant warmth of the house.
    Amelia and Jace lay curled together on the cold floor, like a couple of kittens. Chandler chose to stay with his mama, but even before Daniel had left the room, the boy’s soft snores brought a smile to his lips. Daniel rested his hands at his waist and regarded the two younger Wilson children. They would freeze before morning.
    Wandering around a stranger’s house felt a bit odd. He found the children’s bedroom, with one bed and a small cot pushed against opposite walls. Apparently, the boys shared the bed, and Amelia slept in the cot. He returned to the parlor and lifted the little girl. She opened one sleepy eye and yawned, then stuck her fingers into her mouth. Her soft, warm body rolled toward him and she rubbed her face against his shirt. He placed her in the cot and removed her shoes, then drew up the plaid quilt over the little body now coiled into a ball. Then he returned to the parlor and did the same for Jace.
    As tired as he was, he had to see to Mrs. Wilson. Her dry skin had burned with fever when he’d left her a short while ago. Returning to the kitchen, he splashed cool water into a pan, grabbed the last of the torn petticoat, and entered the bedroom. Chandler had fallen over, his thin body, all spindly arms and legs, splayed over the chair. Daniel gathered him in his arms, and carried him across the hall, then placed him in the bed with Jace before returning to Rosemarie’s bedroom.
    Moonlight cast the room in silver shadows. The woman slept in a fitful, fever-induced slumber. Every once in a while she would moan, her brow furrowed. He drew the sheet down, exposing the pale skin above her chemise and below her drawers. With her leg now wrapped in clean cloths, no evidence of fresh blood or pus stained the makeshift bandage. Tomorrow, he would remove the dirty sheet she lay on and replace it with a fresh one.
    Tomorrow?
    No. He’d done his duty. When the sun rose, he would instruct Chandler on how to take care of his mama and be on his way. Daniel took a big risk sticking around.
    As he bathed her soft skin with the cool water, he considered this woman’s predicament. Alone with three children, with no one to help her work the farm, how would she keep them all from starving? His gut clenched, but he shoved the picture from his mind. The family would be fine. A lot of women in both the North and South were keeping home and hearth together while their men folk fought.
    How many of them are laid up with a seriously injured leg?
    “Hans?” The raspy whisper jarred him from his thoughts.
    “No.”
    A lone tear leaked from her eye and slid down her flushed cheek. “Leg hurts.” She thrashed on the bed, tossing her head back and forth. “So hot.”
    Daniel reached for the glass of cold water on the small table next to the bed, and raising her head, held the liquid to her parched lips. “Drink.”
    She took a few sips, then turned her head away. He settled her back on the pillow and her eyes opened. Glazed with fever and pain, she studied him. “Who are you?”
    “A friend.”
    Her body tensed and her eyes widened. “My children?”
    “Sound asleep in their beds. You need to rest.”
    Her gaze roamed from his face to his dirty, torn uniform. “You a Reb?” Her lips curled as she spit out the words.
    “Yes, but I’m not going to hurt you or your family. I want to help.”
    Two more tears tracked down her cheeks, then she closed her eyes and returned to sleep as he continued to wipe her down with the cool water.
    • • •
    Daniel waved his hand in front of his face to chase away the insect tickling him. As it returned, he waved once more. This insect must have been huge because it began to shake his shoulder.
    “Mister, why are you sleeping in my mama’s