Jodi Thomas by In a Heartbeat Read Free Book Online Page B

Day? In hearts and flowers and all that nonsense?”
    “It’s better than dying inside and refusing to feel anything.”
    Colt’s voice was low, filled with anger and pain. “This advice is coming from a woman who ran away from marriage? Who gave up a man she thought she loved because she didn’t think he loved her enough?”
    Joanna’s free hand balled into a fist. She’d never wanted to strike someone as much as she did him. She’d told him why she’d taken the job in trust and now he was throwing that trust in her face.
    “Maybe, Miss Whiddon”—Colt’s voice was only for her ears—“you don’t know as much about men as you think you do. Whatever gave you the idea I’m dead inside?”
    He tossed his coffee in the dirt and handed her the empty cup. “Take my advice and get back inside where it’s safe.”
    “Is that an order, Captain?”
    “You’re damn right.” Before she could say another word, he’d turned his back to her.
    Joanna stormed back to the mess hall, wishing the Indians would attack. She was angry enough to whip the lot of them.
    If Captain Colt Barnett didn’t get killed today, she just might do the job herself tonight.

Chapter Six
    The morning crept by with the sounds of the children playing in a corner of the mess hall and a few of the wives talking as if nothing were wrong. Joanna tried to think of anything but the argument she’d had with Colt. It made no sense. Why hadn’t she just dropped the subject and walked away? Why had she allowed him to upset her so? He had a right to believe or not believe anything he wanted about love.
    Buckles hurried into the mess hall just after lunch, his smile spread wide. “The captain said it’s all right to go back to your homes. Seems the rumors were just that, nothing to worry about.”
    Aunt Etta jumped up and hugged Buckles. “Praise the Lord!” she shouted.
    Joanna couldn’t miss the smile widening across Sergeant Buckles’s face.
    He patted Etta’s shoulder gently. “Now, don’t you worry none. We’d fight to the last man to save a cook like you.”
    Giggling like a schoolgirl, Etta gathered her things to head back to her own kitchen. “Sounds like you’re trying to wiggle an invitation to dinner out of me, Sergeant.”
    “And if I am?” Buckles patted his stomach.
    “Then consider yourself invited.”
    Joanna smiled at the older couple but didn’t want to be part of their lightheartedness. “I’ll stay behind and clean up,” she yelled after Etta. “You go on without me.”
    Johnnie waved good-bye as she and the twins followed Aunt Etta. “Don’t forget the blankets in the cellar, Miss Joanna.”
    The child’s memory surprised Joanna, for in truth she had forgotten all about the blankets they’d brought over that morning. She put the cups away and headed down to the cellar, where she’d spread out a blanket for each of them.
    As she folded the last one a noise rattled from above her and she wondered if Sergeant Buckles had returned to help her with the load.
    But Colt walked down the steps slowly, allowing his eyes to adjust to the dim light. “It’s dusty down here,” he commented as he reached her level. His eyes were still black with anger from their conversation hours before. “What did you need, Miss Whiddon?” The light outlined his frame, making him seem huge as he moved toward her.
    “Me!” Joanna’s word was drowned out by the sound of the cellar door closing, cutting out all the light in the tiny room. One moment she could see the captain standing only a foot in front of her, and the next, the room was as black as a starless night.
    Colt’s swear words were loud enough for anyone outside to overhear. He bolted up the steps and slapped against the door just after the lock fell into place.
    “Open the door, Captain!” Joanna suddenly felt a kind of panic at being trapped in the cellar. “I don’t want to be down here in the dark.” She heard Colt’s body slam once more against the