Sparked Read Free Page B

must be new in town. The boys were sure to descend on her soon.
    He walked toward her, trying to get a better look, but suddenly realized there was a group of kids who seemed to be following her. Could she have a child? She didn’t seem near old enough for that. 
    Then he realized what was happening. The boys were throwing popcorn in her hair when she wasn’t looking—trying to make a game of it. He frowned. Boys were always so stupid around beautiful women, but their horsing around had gone far enough. 
    He was so heated he almost failed to notice that the woman had changed direction. She was walking away, trying to disappear into the crowd. But the boys were following her, continuing their immature little game. Did she even see what they were doing?
    The little brats.
    And no one was stopping them. Not a single person. He looked at her again, registered her worn dress, her tired shoes. She must not have much money. People could be so cruel sometimes. Anger rose in his blood, hot and strong. No one deserved to be treated like that.
    He marched right up to her and hooked his elbow into hers.
    “Sorry I’m late, darling,” he said, making sure his voice was loud enough for the whole crowd to hear him. They might not welcome a newcomer, but he was a Briggs, and that name meant something. Their eyes shifted from her to him, which was exactly what he’d hoped would happen. 
    He turned to the little delinquents. “Scram,” he said. 
    The boys’ eyes grew wide. They ran. If they knew what was good for them, they’d keep running.
    Then the woman turned and looked up at him. His heart nearly stopped beating. Those eyes. Those incredible blue eyes. He hadn’t been able to see them from afar, but close up they were mesmerizing—clear and dark as sapphires with flecks of black as deep as the night sky. 
    They were also staring at him in a mix of anger and hurt and confusion. Could she really be so wary of him? So shocked at such an easy kindness?
    Somehow, he managed to get ahold of himself long enough to speak again. 
    “Walk with me?” he asked.
    Every muscle in her body seemed to tighten at his suggestion.
    “No,” she said. She looked downright appalled. 
    But, why? Certainly he was a better alternative than the staring crowd?
    He leaned in and whispered. “Play along or they’ll eat you alive.”
    “But you’re a Briggs,” she whispered violently.
    “Who better to help teach them a lesson?”
    That seemed to change something in her. She drew up her shoulders, lifted her chin.
    “Fine,” she said.
    It wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement, but he’d take it.
    Clayton led her along the shore. With each step they took away from the crowd, she seemed to get more and more agitated. It was one of the oddest things he’d ever seen. Women weren’t exactly shy about vying for his attention. But she seemed like she wanted to run as far away from him as soon as possible. He had to resist the urge to clutch her arm tighter to prevent it.
    Finally, he found a dark spot where a tree trunk curled over the lake, its tangled roots making a natural seat above the lapping waters. They sat.
    He took the candle from her hand, then dripped the wax onto a flat spot of root and stuck the candle there. 
    “Now here. Let me get that stuff out of your hair.”
    Panic struck her face. Her hand flew to the back of her head. He could see the wave of shame as it rolled over her and he immediately regretted saying anything at all.
    “Thank you, but I’ll manage,” she said, and stood up to leave.
    “Please stay?” he said, catching her by the hand. “I’m sorry. I want to help.”
    Her mouth drew tighter, but her eyes searched him, shifting in deep, vivid clouds that betrayed her true thoughts. She was torn. He could see it. She didn’t trust him to help, but she didn’t want to walk back through that crowd either, and it was the only way off the beach.
    “Come on,” he said, moving to stand behind her. Bobbed hair