\u201cYou\u2019re pale,\u201d she said as he came to the fire, shrugging slowly out of his coat and unwinding his scarf.<\/p>\n
Phelan shrugged slightly. \u201cI reinforced the wardings on the barrow,\u201d he said as he set his coat down on top of one of the shelves that held their dishes. \u201cIs there hot water?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jacqueline watched him as he sat down slowly, stiffly, as if the chill outside had left him half-frozen. \u201cYou need some tea?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably,\u201d he admitted as he peered into the basket of scraps she\u2019d been sorting through. \u201cWhat are you working on now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFiguring out what scraps are big enough to use for quilts and which we\u2019ll shred or something for batting.\u201d The healer put a kettle over the fire and regarded her lover with a long, measuring look. He stared at the fire in that way he did for a few moments before he glanced up toward her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d he murmured. \u201cYou\u2019ve got that look.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m worried about you,\u201d she said as she got out a pair of mugs and some tea. \u201cYou\u2019re still overreaching.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine, Jac,\u201d he said with a faint smile, patting the spot where she\u2019d been sitting a moment before. \u201cAs fine as I get these days, anyhow. Just a little tired and cold.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should probably be doing something other than rolling around in the snow, then,\u201d she said, studying his damp blue jeans.<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably,\u201d he agreed. \u201cBut I\u2019ll dry out soon enough sitting here and the company\u2019s better. I\u2019m guessing it\u2019s been quiet here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExcept for the explosives testing, yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phelan grimaced. \u201cYeah, there\u2019s that. Did they warn Marin and Neve before they started?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the sound of things, no.\u201d Jacqueline swung the kettle off the fire as the water neared boiling and filled the pair of mugs, leaving the tea to steep. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be trouble. Whatever they\u2019re really planning.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat makes you think they\u2019re planning anything other than what they said?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I know them,\u201d she said with a wry smile. \u201cAnd they\u2019re up to something. They\u2019re always up to something. I just hope you\u2019ll let me in on what it is so I can make sure it doesn\u2019t spontaneously combust in your faces.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cYou\u2019re pale,\u201d she said as he came to the fire, shrugging slowly out of his coat and unwinding his scarf. Phelan shrugged slightly. \u201cI reinforced the wardings on the barrow,\u201d he said as he set his coat down on top … Continue reading