The Hermit Read Free Page A

again.  I desperately want to know what happened to you.” 
     
    He
patted her gently and stood, replacing the quilt over her chest and going into
the kitchen.  As he had since finding her, he cleaned and locked up and
collapsed in his chair across from the couch in front of the fire.  Stretching
his legs out in front of him, Ryan fell asleep in the same place, with the same
view, he’d held for eight nights. 
     
    Over
the next few days, she opened her eyes more and more but didn’t speak again.  When
she was awake, she shook constantly.  He carried on as he had been, sleeping in
the living room and nursing her back to health. 
     
    His
questions would have to wait.

Chapter Two
     
    She
opened her eyes and kept completely still, totally silent…it was important to
establish where she was and who was the greatest threat before she let anyone
know she was awake.  Moving only her eyes, she took in her surroundings. 
     
    The
first thing she noticed was the lack of foul smell.  It smelled clean
here…wherever here was…like pine and wood smoke.  It wasn’t the place
she’d become unfortunately familiar with over the last months.  Barely moving
her head, she glanced at the quilt over her body and suddenly realized she was warm for the first time in so long.  She was also fully…covered, even under her
clothes. 
     
    Then
she saw him sitting in a chair not far from her.  Her breath hitched and her
heart began to race.  Wait.  He was… sleeping , and she wasn’t tied up or
shackled. 
     
    Sitting
up carefully, feeling every ache in her body, she curled into the corner of the
couch, presenting a smaller, less vulnerable target.  The quilt came with her;
she couldn’t bear to let it go yet.  The softness and warmth so novel to her
now, when once, such things had been common in her life.  She looked around
more fully, taking in the small fire, burning down in the hearth and the
neatness of the space. 
     
    Bringing
her gaze back to the man, she examined him more carefully.  He didn’t appear to
be armed.  He was clean, though not clean-shaven.  He wore what looked like
several months of beard growth.  His hair was dark blonde, his beard slightly
darker.  He wore a flannel shirt and jeans with heavy hiking boots.  From what
she could see, he was in very good physical shape. 
     
    How
had she come to be here?  Where was she and who was this man?  A log popped in
the fire and she felt her entire body spasm in abject terror. 
     
    “It’s
just a log.  Please don’t be afraid.”  Her eyes came back to his, wide with her
fear of the unknown.  He didn’t so much as blink the bright blue eyes peering
at her intently.  His voice was soft when he told her, “I’m not going to move. 
I won’t hurt you.  I don’t know exactly what you’ve been through but you are
safe here .  If you need the bathroom, it’s behind the couch.  There is
water and food in the kitchen.  I won’t touch you, I won’t hurt you.  I’m going
to stay right here until you feel comfortable then I’ll go bring in more
wood.” 
     
    She’d
tightened her whole body into the most amazingly small ball and had the quilt
clutched to her chin, only her frightened eyes visible above it.  “There’s a
brass candlestick on the fireplace hearth.  It’s very heavy.  It would be a dangerous
weapon if you swung it at someone’s head.  You can keep it with you and brain
me if you think I’m going to hurt you.” 
     
    She
looked at the fireplace, finding the candlestick with her eyes, moving nothing
else.  “I have one question, you don’t have to answer it if you don’t want
to.”  Her gaze swung back and she stared at him, scared out of her mind.  “What
is your name?”
     
    Confusion
washed over her.  “My…name?” her voice was rough but he could hear the
bell-like quality beneath.  “You…you want to know my name?”  He nodded once,
being careful to remain very still.  “I haven’t