Necessary Secrets

Home > Romance > Necessary Secrets > Page 21
Necessary Secrets Page 21

by Barbara Phinney


  The major had taken them aside that morning and, to Sylvie’s surprise, apologized for everything that had gone wrong. The investigation had revealed that a young German liaison officer, sympathetic to one rogue band of guerrillas, had arranged for the incorrect grid references and subsequent ambush. He was immediately repatriated to Germany for a court martial.

  Setting that aside, Sylvie glanced around until she spotted her childhood friends there, too. Soft-hearted Denise stood tall and beautiful, crying, while the shorter, wiry Lucy thrust tissue after tissue into her hands. Someday, the trio would go back up to the lookout. Someday when they’d all found happiness, like Sylvie had.

  Her wedding had been hastily planned, by Andrea of course, but it had been a smashing success. Sylvie had only just been released from the clinic herself, yesterday, and she’d left Andrea to handle all the details, even pick out her wedding gown. She smoothed down the pale-pink silk dress. She’d never have considered such a feminine style, but the dress was…well, pretty.

  Jon had insisted on marrying her now, before he had to return to Toronto where he’d fill in his request for a transfer to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, out here in Trail. He already had the chief of police’s approval.

  She felt Jon’s arm slip free of hers and loop around her waist. He leaned forward to bury his nose in her short hair, styled today by Andrea. “Thank you,” he whispered.

  Pulling away slightly, she smiled. “For what?”

  He looked into the distance. “Where do you want me to begin? For fighting back for me? I’ve dealt with people who’ve been desperate, too, and they’ve given up. You didn’t.”

  “Out in the line shack? I didn’t want you to lose little Rickie, not after all you’d gone through.” She sighed. “Before that, I wondered if I was going to die along with him.”

  He gripped her, and she knew he didn’t want to think about that. “When I got home, I had to face all those boxes. All of Rick’s life rolled into a few barrack boxes and cartons and a duffel bag.”

  She rubbed his arm. “I wish I’d been there to help you.”

  “It was something I had to do myself.” He glanced around before pulling her into the closest corner. “As it was it took me months to get to it. It wasn’t until I opened the first box, did I understand your courage. You say you were a coward that night in Bosnia. And we both thought what you did was a mistake. Maybe some people would agree, but I don’t anymore. You were scared and desperate, but I wouldn’t call anything a mistake that brought me to you.”

  He glanced down at her hands, to the ring he’d put on her finger less than an hour ago. His voice dropped, and he had to grip her fingers to stop his own hand from shaking. “Not even Rick’s death. I miss him like crazy. I wish he hadn’t died. But he was an adult, and he knew the risks. And you tried to cope with a situation that no one is ever fully prepared for. I know. I train constantly for just such situations. A person can train and act automatically, but you’re never really prepared to face death. You just cope the best way you can. I can’t blame you for wanting to find something good in all that bad. It’s natural.”

  He dropped a kiss on her furrowing brow. “He died in the line of duty. I remember when he called to say he was slated for Bosnia. He said someone had to go there and keep the peace. He said there were too many innocent children over there who needed that peace.”

  Her heart swelled. Jon was thinking of Rickie, too. One more innocent child who needed peace and love.

  “Are you ready to be Rickie’s father?”

  He smiled and the pensive moment passed. “As ready as I am to be your husband.” He eyed her speculatively, one dark eyebrow lifted. “Are you ready to be my wife, Mrs. Sylvie Cahill?”

  There was that silky tone again. He just said her name exactly the way he’d said it that early-June day, right there in Trail. And it still conjured up visions of hot moonless nights and smooth, knowing caresses.

  “Umm. You’ve never spent a winter in Alberta, have you? This isn’t balmy Toronto. We’ll see how ready you are for the cold.” She pulled him close, pressing herself against him with suggestive intimacy as she wiggled her eyebrows. “And those long winter nights.”

  He crushed her to him, and she could feel how ready he was. The sounds of the church hall faded away as she savored his unspoken intention.

  Sadness had brought them together, and they’d searched for some kind of closure. Who would have guessed that their closure had been found in their mutual love?

  She pulled Jon down for a hot, smiling kiss. Maybe Rick or little Rickie. Maybe.

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-7377-5

  NECESSARY SECRETS

  Copyright © 2005 by Barbara Phinney

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Silhouette Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

  ® and TM are trademarks of Harlequin Books S.A., used under license. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.

  Visit Silhouette Books at www.eHarlequin.com

 

 

 


‹ Prev