The Promise by T. J. Bennett Read Free Book Online Page A

campaign that it took him a moment to realize where he still stood.
    He spotted Inés and Fritz a few paces outside the tent, trying desperately to appear uninterested in what had transpired within. Inés pretended to cook, though her pots were empty, and Fritz stared up at the scattering clouds, seemingly fascinated with the weather. Though Günter did not know when Fritz had arrived, he realized Inés might have heard much of the conversation inside the tent. In a community made of fabric walls, private matters were camp business, and few secrets existed between friends.
    Günter glanced at Fritz once more. The younger man had been dogging his heels for some time, determined to learn soldiering before the next mustering in. Günter had found the attention mostly annoying, but now he realized Fritz might serve a purpose. He whistled sharply, and Fritz came to him like an overeager pup. Free of his company, Inés darted inside the tent.
    Günter crossed his arms over his chest and looked Fritz up and down. Fritz bore the perusal manfully, staring at Günter with unabashed admiration.
    “Well, son, can you be trusted?” Günter asked after a long silence. He spoke softly so as not to alert either Inés or Alonsa within the tent.
    Fritz stood taller and nodded.
    “I can be trusted with your money, your life or—” Fritz’s eyes shot to the tent, “your woman.”
    Günter smiled.
    “That is a fair answer, Fritz, and in the proper order, too. Come, I have a task of great importance for you. If you are up to it,” he added in a voice implying he had his doubts. He did not. However, he always found it encouraged the recruits to work harder to impress him when he used that particular tone of voice.
    Fritz glanced speculatively at the tent and puffed out his chest.
    “I am, sir.”
    Günter nodded.
    “Good. And don’t call me ‘sir.’ I am a sergeant. Sir is for officers and noblemen.”
    Fritz grimaced in apology. Günter walked away, knowing without a doubt that Fritz would follow him to the ends of the earth if he required it. The young man’s bloodhound qualities were about to make him very useful indeed.

    Within the tent, Alonsa paced in an erratic circle, muttering under her breath, waving her hands about as she held a furious debate with herself.
    How could she have allowed him to kiss her in such away, to handle her body so intimately? As if … as if she were already his! He must think her a complete wanton. A fool who thought only of the pleasures of the flesh. He had merely touched her, and she had fallen apart.
    Oh, and how she had wanted his touch. It had felt so right, and yet it could not be more wrong. By allowing it, she had put him in mortal danger of his life.
    She pivoted and charged in the opposite direction.
    And he! How dare he take advantage of her weakness? Still, she could hardly blame him for his actions when she had practically attacked him after a mere kiss. Surely, he thought her a loose woman, waiting only for the next man to come along and take her at his will.
    She wrung her hands together at the thought.
    Part of her wanted to run after him and deny she had ever responded in such a way to any man, except, of course, the first. But the more sensible part knew chasing after him would be mere foolishness, and he would likely take her appearance as an invitation to lift her skirts once more. Her cheeks burned at the memory of his big hand on the back of her thigh, and she stomped around the tent once more.
    Inés, after cleaning up the smashed bits of glass from the broken water bottle, stood quietly, arms crossed. Finally, she stepped into Alonsa’s path.
    “Well?”
    Alonsa stopped abruptly, annoyed at the interruption.
    “Well, what?” she snapped.
    Inés rolled her eyes. “Do you intend to accept his offer?”
    “Of course not!” Alonsa gasped, horrified. “I could not even consider such a thing.”
    Inés flapped her arms in frustration.
    “In the name of the Holy