The Lady in the Mist (The Western Werewolf Legend #1) by Catherine Wolffe Read Free Book Online

gentle no to mention kind, he mused.  “Thank you for the book, Alice in Wonderland.  I’d read about the release of the latest by Louis Carroll before I left home.”  He glanced up from his next spoonful of dumplings.  “I’m enjoying the story.”  Satisfaction at both the meal as well as her company had him smiling for her again.
    “Where’s your home, Lieutenant Loflin?”
    Very direct, Ty mused.  He liked that.  Most women danced polity around a subject picking at the topic until they wormed the information out of her counterpart, leaving the person drained by the encounter.
    “Texas.  Tyler, Texas west of the Sabine River.”  Her warm whiskey colored irises followed his every move.  “Do you know where I speak of?” he asked.
    Nodding, Sonja gave him a brief smile.  “I understand Texas is a big place, but I know about where you mean.  Have you lived there all of your life?” she asked in return.
    He gave her one of his careless shrugs as his mouth split into a boyish grin.  “All my life except when I traveled to Savannah for schooling.”
    “Savannah?  School,” she said and reminded him of a magpie.
    “Yes.  My pa made sure my brother and I had an education.  He sent Seth to West Point while I attended St. Matthews Military Academy.”  Giving her a wink, he couldn’t help but add, “Since my mother was Choctaw, I wasn’t eligible for West Point, but I got an excellent education at St Matt’s.”
    Sonja nodded.  She understood his meaning.  Rather than try for outrage at the affront of his plight in life, she firmed her bottom lip before asking, “You are decorated?”
    Surprised momentarily, Ty paused.  She’d examined his medals.  Now if she would tell him where his clothes were.  “Yes, I fought in the first Manassas.  Received the badge of honor for bravery there.”
    “I’m impressed,” she offered coolly.  “Do you miss your family, Lieutenant?”
    Something had her back stiff.  “Yes, very much.  I find the not knowing to be the worst.  Still, no word from me can’t be good for their nerves.  Of course, I can take care of myself, but that doesn’t hold water where Maggie and Cloe are concerned.”
    “Your wife and mother?” she asked.
    “No, my brother’s wife is Cloe and Maggie is our housekeeper.  She’s like a mother to us though; she’s been with us ever since I came along.”  Ty paused a moment when he remembered how he’d been thinking of them that night in the swamp.  With his death near, he realized he’d been wishing to see them one last time.  “Did you find me in the swamp?”
    Sonja nodded.  “Yes, I did.”  She dropped her gaze to her lap.  “You were dying,” she said softly.
    Ty waited before asking the questions he’d wanted to ask since he awoke.  Afraid she wouldn’t tell him, he hesitated.  She must’ve seen the hesitancy in his face.  “Go ahead.  You have a question.  Ask, Lieutenant.”
    A warm flush filled his jaws as he realized she’d read his mind.  “Are you the woman who came to me out of the mist?”
    “Yes”
    “Did you carry me?”
    Sonja tensed with the question.  Her jaw clinched telling him she didn’t want to give away anything but maybe he could get at least that much out of her.  “Yes, I located a horse.”
    Horses?  Where had there been horses?  The Yankees had shot theirs first.  He didn’t recall the vision he’d seen in the mist on a horse.  “I thought perhaps your husband helped you carry me home.”
    She sent him another tense lipped glance. “He’s… he’s gone.”  Her chin lifted a fraction.
    The statement had taken some consideration.  Finding something amiss, he went on, “Gone where?” he asked.
    Sonja glanced at the drapes over the singular window in the room.  Tiny beads of sunlight poked through and played across the bed, eliminating the dust particles floating in the light.  She lowered her head.  The statement became clear before she answered