How did it start?" he asked finally, turning away from her to stand facing the snapping fire on his hearth. Even the cloth of his shirt didn't hide the uncompromising rigidity of his back and shoulder muscles. Lily looked around the shadowy room, stalling for time. If she told the truth, she knew Caleb would do something rash and probably ruin his career in the process, yet she didn't see where she had any real choice. "There was a man inside my cottage when you left. He gagged me and tied me up." Caleb whirled. "What?" Lily wet her lips, hating to go on, yet knowing that she must. That she would be forced to, if she refused. "I tipped over a lamp, and he panicked and ran." Caleb's gaze swept over Lily's singed hair, her burned, soot-stained dress. "My God." She started to approach him. "I'm all right, Caleb. Isn't that the important thing?" He caught her shoulders in his hands. "Who?" he rasped. Lily closed her eyes for a moment. God knew she had no desire to protect Judd Ingram from justice, but she didn't want Caleb dealing with him in this state of mind. "I'm not going to tell you," she said gently. Decisively. "Not until morning." Caleb's jawline went taut, and his grasp tightened on her shoulders. His tone of voice was a warning. "Lily … " She stood her ground. "Whatever our differences, Caleb Halliday," she said firmly, "I love you, and I won't see you court-martialed or hanged because of something you did in the heat of anger." He
( Linda Lael Miller )
[ Lily and the Major ]
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