Through the Darkness Read online

  Holding his breath, he traced her jaw, the ridge of her cheekbone, then over the bridge of her nose. From there, he traced the arch of her brow and felt the flutter of her eyelashes against the sensitive skin of his wrist.

  Everett's fingers continued on his exploration down the side of her face, her grip at his waist tightened, digging into the bare flesh of his hips.

  They followed an imaginary line leading to the shallow dip under her bottom lip. He traced the subtle defining ridge of her mouth, then ran his thumb across to test its soft fullness.

  His gut clenched with need, and he fought against the overwhelming desire that flooded through him. With heart racing, an unwavering certainty took hold. If he didn't kiss her soon, he'd perish.

  Keeping his voice low, he asked, "Are you married, Pegleg?"

  She shook her head.

  "You don't have a sweetheart?" He said, even lower.

  "No…," she murmured on a breathy sigh, "Do you?"

  His lips bent in a wry smile, "I was engaged once, but she decided she fancied someone else more and broke it off a week later."

  "I'm sorry," she whispered.

  "It's all right. I wanted to take it back as soon as I asked her."

  "Why? You didn't love each other?"

  He shook his head and pulled her closer. "Not enough, it would seem."

  She took a shaky breath, then asked, "Why did you ask if I had a sweetheart?"

  His trembling hand cupped her jaw. "Because I'd like to kiss you," he breathed, "may I?"

  "Yes," she said in the softest of whispers.

  Moving a hand to cradle the back of her head, Everett let his other hand drift to the base of her throat, careful not to scratch her with his cast.

  Her pulse jumped at his touch, and his heart thumped in answer. He'd kissed several women over the years, but he couldn't remember ever being this nervous. Everything about this moment, and the woman in his arms felt different.

  His thumb caressed back and forth against the delicate skin of her throat as her muscles convulsed on a swallow. Did she feel nervous? He hoped so, if only so that he wouldn't be the only one.

  Slowly, he lowered his head, giving her ample time to pull away just in case she decided to change her mind. She clutched the waist of his cut off union suit and raised her lips to meet his in a tender exchange.

  The measured slowness in which her mouth moved against his delighted and tortured his senses. It became an exploration in learning the soft, pliable texture and the ambrosial taste of her lips.

  His fingers threaded through the hair at her nape and cupped the back of her head, bringing her closer. Pegleg moaned and clutched his waist tighter.

  Pressing his mouth more firmly against hers, he deepened the kiss, awed by the sudden rush of emotions that assailed him when her lips melded perfectly with his, matching the passion that flared to life between them.

  After a moment, he gentled their exchange and pulled back a little. Nibbling Pegleg's bottom lip, he tilted her jaw to angle her mouth to fit more perfectly against his, allowing him to drink deeply again of her lips.

  But then Nurse Winters' heavy footsteps marched down the hall and intruded on the moment, shattering his passion drugged haze. She'd be at his door in ten-seconds and would raise hell if she found him and Pegleg in such a situation.

  He cursed his poor timing, but gave in to the need for one last taste and pressed a fervent kiss to Pegleg's lips before releasing her.

  Heart pounding like he'd just ran a race, he took his cane in hand and hobbled the remaining two steps to his bed, managing to plop down with a pained grunt right as the old battle-ax darkened his doorway.

  Twelve

  "I've been informed you had a bit of a mishap earlier today, Captain," Nurse Winters stated, marching into the room

  Elyria covered her mouth still tingling from the Captain's kiss and swallowed. All the blood drained from her face, leaving her lightheaded.

  How had she not heard the woman's heavy-footed approach? Her eyes widened in terror at the thought Nurse Winters may have seen them kissing. What would she do if she had?

  "I fell, yes," the Captain said, "I thought you would have expected that to happen."

  "Not if you'd allowed Nurse Bixely to do her job."

  "Who?"

  Elyria cleared her throat and answered softly, "Tabitha."

  "Miss Ormond," Nurse Winters said. Her voice dripped with barely concealed venom as she turned to face Elyria. "I'd like to have a word with you in my office, if I may."

  "Yes, Head Nurse," Elyria took a few steps and stopped. Where was her walking stick? Panic engulfed her, made all the worse when Nurse Winters suddenly shoved it into her hands.

  "In my office, Miss Ormond," Nurse Winters gritted out through clenched teeth.

  Elyria nodded and walked from the room, doing her best to remain calm and failing miserably. Nurse Winters excused herself and followed close behind her.

  It became one of the longest walks of Elyria's life. They wound through the corridors—each step growing louder, sounding more like a death march until they arrived.

  Nurse Winters stepped around her and opened the door, "Inside, if you please."

  Elyria entered the room, jumping slightly when the door slammed shut behind her. She forced a nervous swallow down her throat and waited.

  A sense of impending doom permeated the room, leaving no doubt in her mind that whatever Nurse Winters planned to say, it couldn't possibly be good.

  "Let me first begin," Nurse Winters intoned, "by offering my sympathies and condolences for your recently departed brother."

  Elyria blinked. Such a beginning from the famously cold and aloof Head Nurse could never have been expected.

  "Thank you," she relaxed her shoulders. Perhaps this confrontation wouldn't be so terrible.

  "However," Nurse Winters continued, much to Elyria's dismay, "A death in the family does not give you permission nor the luxury to overlook your duties for an entire week here at the hospital. We are at war Miss Ormond. Death happens every day."

  Elyria clenched her bottom lip between her teeth to still the trembling. Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to allow them to fall and bowed her head, "Yes, Head Nurse."

  "Furthermore, while the Major and I were willing to overlook your unauthorized absence, we simply cannot turn a blind eye to what transpired earlier today between you and Captain Montrose." Nurse Winters paused, her tone hardening, "You're fortunate his fall did not result in more harm to his person. He should have been supervised by one of the trained staff—as he was before your arrival today."

  "May I explain?"

  "There's no point now that your time here has come to an end."

  Elyria's heart jumped to her throat. "It has?"

  "Most assuredly…" Nurse Winters let out a heavy sigh and continued, "While we applaud your willingness to serve, the Major and I both agree that perhaps your…talents and desire to aid in the cause…would be better suited to a different atmosphere than that of a hospital."

  "I see."

  Nurse winters tsk-tsked and adjusted her seat, her chair squeaked in protest, "If only that were the case. You could have done much good here, if not for your…shortcomings."

  Elyria stood there, not knowing how to respond or what to do, stunned by the harsh words used even though she had come to expect them from the insensitive woman.

  "Now, if you'll please collect your belongings and leave the establishment, Miss Ormond," Nurse Winters murmured. "we may put this unpleasantness behind us."

  "May I say my goodbyes to the Captain before I go?" Elyria forced out past numb lips, wondering how she remained standing when the room had fallen out from under her.

  "No, you may not."

  "Why?"

  Nurse Winters slammed her hands down on her desk, "Because as I told you before, your time here has ended, and Captain Montrose is to be discharged today. The last thing I need before he departs is another one of his outbursts due to
any theatrics on your end."

  He was leaving, never to be near her again. She'd known it would eventually happen, but so soon? And without her being able to speak to him one last time? He would return to his old life and forget all about her and the magical kiss they'd just shared.

  If it was possible for a heart to whither and yet allow its owner to remain standing, then surely it happened to her.

  "Miss Ormond," Nurse Winters barked. She stomped to the door and pulled it open, "You're still here."

  Elyria turned to face her and blinked, not even caring that the action released the tears she'd been holding at bay. Intending to leave, she took a few steps toward the door, but she stopped mid-stride.

  A rush of all-consuming anger rushed through her veins, fortifying her as a retort perched on the tip of her tongue waiting to be loosed.

  She hesitated for the smallest of moments, unsure if she should be worried that what she wanted to say might be proof Captain Rattlesnake had rubbed off on her. In the end, it didn't stop her, "You are a hateful woman."

  Nurse Winters sputtered in outrage, but before she could make a coherent reply, Elyria continued, "I may be blind, but it doesn't mean I can't see you for the spiteful, condescending, and intolerant woman you are." She paused, her voice trembling and thick with emotion, "I pity you." And without another word, she left.

  Thirteen

  Everett drummed his fingers against his left leg, wondering how long it would be before Pegleg would be back. Kissing her had been a mistake—no, he corrected himself with a growing smile, the kiss itself had been absolute perfection. The only error came down to his timing and the location.

  Laying back on his bed, he stretched his right leg out and rubbed the sore muscles of his thigh. Maybe he could persuade her to go for a walk outside, someplace away—

  "I've good news for you," Tabitha said, walking into the room and interrupting his thoughts.

  She rummaged around without saying anything further. What on earth was she looking for? There couldn't be that many objects left in here, he was pretty sure he'd thrown everything out during his fits of temper.

  "And that would be?"

  She walked to his bed and dropped boots on the floor and clothes onto his lap. "You're being discharged. You get to go home today."

  Panic twisted his stomach into knots and made him want to throw up. He couldn't go home yet, not without seeing Pegleg first. "But I'm not healed."

  "You're getting stronger every day and in much better condition than when you first arrived." She said, patting his hand as though he were a damn child. "Now, Major Buchanan will be in to remove your eye bandages in a few minutes, so let's get you dressed and ready. I've brought a shirt, trousers, and a pair of socks…what shall we start with first?"

  "I'm not a damn invalid. I can dress myself, thank you."

  Tabitha took a deep breath before saying tightly, "Very well, Captain. I'll be right outside your door should you need any assistance."

  "I won't."

  "Well, just in case."

  "Where's Pegleg?" He shoved the clothing from off his lap and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "Have you seen her? I thought she'd be back by now."

  Tabitha fell silent, then let out a nervous laugh, "Oh, you mean Elyria! The last I saw her, she went to Nurse Winters office."

  "How long ago?"

  "I couldn't say, an hour…maybe more." Her tone suggested she didn't want to discuss the issue further.

  After two failed attempts to dress without bending his bad leg, he had to get creative to pull on the socks and trousers. Sitting back down to button his fly, he took a minute to catch his breath before putting the boots on, almost wishing he hadn't been so stubborn and accepted her help.

  Picking up a corner of the sheets, he wiped his sweaty brow and then found the shirt Tabitha had brought.

  It took a couple of minutes working the right sleeve over his cast, but once he had it on and the buttons down the front were done, he almost felt normal.

  "All done," he murmured, knowing she most likely had been standing there watching him struggle the entire time. "When do I get the cast taken off?"

  "How about now, Captain?" The Major boomed from the doorway. He marched over to the bed, Tabitha's mincing footsteps following directly behind him. "Remove your shirt, and we'll get it taken care of first."

  "But I just put the shirt on," he muttered under his breath, peeling it back off.

  Tabitha took the shirt from him while the Major worked at cutting the plaster cast off. It took longer than he expected and required several instruments before the Major extracted his arm, poked, prodded, and then finally declared it healed.

  "Move it around a bit," The Major commanded, "tell me how it feels."

  Everett flexed his wrist and wiggled his fingers, not sure what else they expected of him. "Yep…feels like an arm."

  "Good, good," The Major grunted, "now, let's take a look at your eyes."

  Everett waited, holding his breath while the Major slowly unwrapped the bandages from around his head. Next, he removed the damp gauze padding over each eye.

  "The skin's still a bit red, but it does look like the burns have healed quite nicely," the Major tilted Everett's head this way and that. "Nurse, turn down the light, and we'll have him open his eyes."

  "Yes, Major."

  "Now, keep in mind they may still be sensitive to light, the quality might not be what it used to be…and there's always the chance the damage may be permanent."

  "I get it, don't expect too much."

  "Yes…now, when you're ready, Captain."

  Everett curled his fingers into tight fists, terrified after everything the blindness would remain. He clenched his teeth and counted to ten, then slowly opened his eyes.

  Darkness permeated the room, but he didn't know if it was supposed to be that way or if the fault lay with him.

  "Well, Captain?" The Major asked expectantly.

  Everett blinked and tried again, this time able to find the blurry shape of his hand on his lap. "It's blurry…but," he squeezed his eyes shut. When he next opened them, the room had brightened and held blurry shapes and objects.

  He stared at his hands and brought them closer, grinning at being able to see the hairs on the back. He could see! Granted, he had to hold his hands six inches from his face to do so, but it didn't dampen his excitement.

  "Try these on," the Major said, placing a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles on his face. "We'll see if they make it any better."

  Everett's eyes widened, and his jaw fell slack in shock at seeing the faces that belonged to the voices who'd cared for him during his stay.

  To his immediate left stood Tabitha, a petite woman in a disheveled nurse’s uniform beaming at him with pride and pale blue eyes filled with tears. Her white nurse's cap sat crooked atop wiry brown hair that resembled a Brillo pad more than actual curls.

  The Major stood directly in front of him, wearing a traditional long white doctors coat, stained with blood down the front. His tall and burly stature seemed misplaced somehow, belonging more to that of a butcher—which, in a manner of speaking, Everett supposed, he was.

  Bald, with a collar of salt and pepper hair around his pate, he had bushy black eyebrows that hovered over brown eyes like angry and confused caterpillars. But his nose took command of his face, accented by a thick handlebar mustache that curled up at the ends.

  "How many fingers do you see?" The Major asked, holding up a hand the size of a dinner plate with five sausage-like digits.

  "Five."

  "Excellent," he turned to Tabitha, "see that he's in the lobby in the next," he pulled a pocket watch out and flipped it open, "ten to fifteen minutes. He's to leave on the five o'clock train."

  "Yes, sir," she said with a short bob.

  "Safe travels, Captain. I hope not to see you again."

  "Me too, sir," Everett said, "thank you, sir."

  The Major grunted, then marched out of the room as though he had som
eplace more important to be.

  Everett pulled his shirt back on and watched Tabitha straightening up the remains of his cast and the instruments used to remove it. "Where's Pegleg? I'd like to see her before I go."

  Her movements slowed, and her body stiffened, but she kept her back to him. "I'm afraid I don't know, Captain."

  A lie if ever he heard one. Her voice always did a funny little dip at the end when she skirted around the truth, just like she did right now.

  "Tabitha," he growled.

  "I should go see if there's a pair of boots your size," she gasped, the tray shaking in her hands. "I'll send John over to help you to the lobby." Without another word, she fled the room.

  "Tabitha," He barked. "I'm already wearing boots!" Cursing, he grabbed up his cane and hobbled as fast as he dared out of his room.

  He stopped in the doorway, unsure where he ought to go in search of the elusive Pegleg and looked in both directions before turning left.

  "You're walking better than expected." A tall, slender woman said. Rather pretty, she had cold green eyes and a familiar voice. It took him a minute to realize it was battle-ax Nurse Winters, the last person he knew to have seen Pegleg and the one person who most likely knew of her whereabouts.

  "Where is she?"

  Nurse Winters frowned and reached out a hand to steady him when he wobbled to a stop. "Who?"

  "Pegleg," he said.

  She frowned and shook her head, "I have no idea who you're referring to."

  He growled low in his throat and stomped his cane. "The nurse you removed from my room earlier today. Tell me where she is."

  A light of understanding sparked in her eyes, suddenly replaced by hateful glee as she sneered, "Miss Ormond isn't a nurse. She's merely a blind woman the Major took pity on in a moment of weakness."

  "Blind?" Everett frowned, "Where is she? What have you done with her?"

  Nurse Winters face hardened, and she grabbed him by the arm, propelling him down the hall. "She isn't here, Captain. Now if you'll come with me, John will see you are comfortably transported to the train station."