Home Fires Read Free

time is it?”
    “Nearly six. We…my mother was worried about you.”
    She closed her eyes in misery. “I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to cause her concern. I don’t want to be a burden.”
    “You’re not. We all understand.”
    “Even Ingrid? She doesn’t like me, does she?”
    “Signe is her friend. Ingrid thinks she’s being loyal.”
    “I’d probably feel the same way if I were in her shoes.” She sighed. “I should get back to the house before I cause your mother any more worry.”
    As they began to walk, a sharp, sudden pain knifed through Erik’s leg. He stumbled, then doubled over his cane as he tried to catch his breath, waiting for the pain to subside.
    “Are you all right?”
    “Yeah, I’m fine.” Humiliation heated his face. The last thing he needed was for Anne to witness his weakness. “I’ve still got pieces of shrapnel in my leg.”
    “And when they move, they cause you tremendous pain.” She put a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s sit down and rest a minute.”
    He had no choice but to let her lead him to the side of the road and ease him down to sit on the edge with his legs resting against the slope of the ditch. She sat beside him.
    “I’m sorry about your leg. Did it happen at Dieppe?”
    He didn’t want to talk about it. “We should get back.”
    “A few moments won’t make any difference.” She plucked blades of grass from the ditch. “Have you spoken to Anders?”
    “I have.”
    Her brow furrowed. “Is he…is he happy?”
    He wouldn’t lie to her. “He says he is.”
    She ripped the grass stem in half. “And Signe? She’ll be good to him?”
    His heart broke for her. “She will.”
    “That’s good.” She jumped to her feet. “Do you think you can walk now?”
    “Yeah.”
    She offered him her hand. Erik looked at it for a moment, then at her face. Not a trace of pity marred her beautiful features. He took her small, soft hand in his and was surprised at the strength with which she pulled him to his feet.
    “You’re a lot stronger than you look.”
    She laughed, the first genuine sound of amusement he’d heard from her. “Probably comes from spending the war lifting men twice my size.”
    “Anders said you’re a nurse. Are you planning to continue nursing now that the war is over?”
    Her smile disappeared. “I hope not. I’ve seen enough misery to last me the rest of my life.”
    He nodded. After witnessing the blood bath at Dieppe, he knew exactly what she meant.
    “How far is it to the house?” she asked.
    Erik leaned on his cane. “Not far. Wait. You’ve got dried leaves stuck in your hair.”
    He pulled the offending leaves from her hair, letting his hand linger on the silky tresses. She looked up at him, her dark brown eyes huge and round. But she didn’t move or stop him from touching her. With her porcelain skin and fine bone structure, she looked like a delicate English rose, yet he detected a strength in her that would put any man to shame.
    “We should go,” she whispered.
    Erik dropped his hand. What was he doing? This beautiful English rose was still in love with his brother. His handsome, fit, unscarred brother. She didn’t want him.
    He’d do well to remember that. He’d already been rejected by one beautiful English girl because of his scars. Another rejection would be more than he could bear.
    ****
    Erik walked silently beside her all the way back to the house. Anne glanced at him from beneath her lashes. What exactly had passed between them a few moments ago? His touch had been so gentle, so reverent, so sensuous it had frightened her, even as it left her wanting more.
    What was wrong with her? She’d just been told her fiancé didn’t want her. How could she take pleasure in another man’s touch only hours later?
    It must have been the shock of hearing Anders had married someone else. She had no other explanation for it.
    As they reached the farmyard, Ingrid and Astrid hurried to them, Astrid throwing her arm around her