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

now,” he said as she tried to dislodge his grip.  “I’m not a man to speak lightly of such a serious pledge.”  He held on.  Her response would come.
    Sonja nodded.
    “I’ll have a lot of work to do, but I promise, I’ll do everything I can to help before I move on.  Maybe I can even change your mind of me as a Rebel.
    She looked down for a moment.  “There’s much to be done.  You’ll have your work cut out for you, Lieutenant.  Are you up to the challenge?”
    “I believe I am, Mrs. Brooks.”  Giving her a wry grin, Ty angled his head, tilted toward the barn.  “Is there room in there where I can bunk?”
    Sonja nodded.
    “Well then, I’ll get my things and be out of your way.”  With a two-fingered salute, he started back to the cottage.
    “Wait.”  Her voice held flustered impatience.  Shaking her head at him, she said, “The nights are still cold this early in the year.  You can bunk by the fire in the front room if you like.  I don’t mind.”
    She started to turn back to the woodpile, but before she turned to leave, her features relaxed some.  Inwardly he smiled.  Perhaps he would win the day after all.
    “All right, you have a deal.”  Rubbing the length of his thigh through the homespun trousers, he smiled.  “I should be able to handle the chore by tomorrow, the next day at the latest.  Leave the wood splitting for me.”
    She studied him coolly.
    He winked.  “I’ve had a good doctor.”  With a wicked grin, he turned before heading back the way he’d came.  Whistling a mindless tune, Ty motioned for the goat to follow.  Retracing his steps to the front porch, he settled once more to rest his leg.  Though strong, the leg hadn’t healed completely.  He didn’t assume he’d been exaggerating about the progress he made.  At the rate of healing he’d witnessed, he’d give the limb a day or two before he could get started on the work.
    “All right, I’ll leave the wood to you,” she said after she trailed behind him to gather her garden basket.  Positioning a straw bonnet over her golden curls, Sonja veered away from the house toward the path leading to the swamp.
    From his perch on the porch, he examined her trim form as she walked the foot trail toward the garden she’d told him about.  Her hair shining in the sun reminded him of spun gold. Hesitating a moment, Ty considered what he’d set into motion.  Being a Rebel meant he had a duty to fulfill.  Dallying with a woman wasn’t part of his duty.
    The widow Brooks was a fetching woman to be sure.  He couldn’t take his eyes off her until she disappeared into the undergrowth.  She held herself in check while sharing only what she deemed necessary.  The woman had secrets.  Ty debated the challenge of discovering all her secrets.  She would be worth the effort.  After all, he’d promised to help out.  Besides, a mysterious woman always proved interesting.  He did find Sonja Brooks quite mysterious.  With his curiosity peaked, Ty set about making plans.
    He had some obstacles to overcome.  One being the fact he remained the enemy.  Another was the fact he had Indian blood, a half-breed.  Both he could work with.  After all, he had a talent for waxing inventive when it came to wooing a woman.  Sonja Brooks fascinated him.  Oh, yes, he wanted nothing better than to get to know her on a very personal level.
    He hadn’t been completely honest with her about wanting to repay his debt.  The reason for staying had been two-fold.  As an officer in the Confederate Army he had unfinished business.  Discovering the real reason for the attacked on his unit encompassed that business.
    Though disguised as a supply detail, his mission had been to deliver much-needed weapons, mainly gunpowder to Jeb Stewart’s army.  They were planning to meet the Yankees in an area deemed ‘the wildernesses.  With plenty of time to consider the ambush of his detachment, Ty had concluded, spies had infiltrated