Heal My Heart

TWO

Adrian was speechless. That's something he experience often, so to have it happen now, he didn't know how to act. He didn't say anymore as he guided his horse toward home. Shock still stiffened his limbs and frozen his mind.

This couldn't be Nicolette!

There was no way the woman in front of him who had been in his arms as he carried her, was the little thorn that had been in his backside almost ten years ago. When he'd joined the military, she was an awkward adolescent who tried to get him in trouble. The little menace followed him around, which he'd told her not to, until he had to start acting mean just to get her to stop. Being seven years his junior, Nicolette wasn't someone he wanted around him all the time. Father had wanted Adrian to treat her like she was part of the family, but he couldn't do that. She wasn't blood relation to him, and so in his mind, she was not family.

And now, here she was, looking like a beautiful – and shapely – woman wearing men's clothes, which only enhanced her womanly curves. No longer was her hair brittle and ragged, but instead, it appeared soft as silk, and her curls flowed over her shoulders and down her back.

He couldn't believe this was the same girl. She was an imposter. His mind wouldn't accept any other explanation.

Then again, by her tone of voice a few moments ago, he could tell she hadn't gotten rid of her temperament. He was willing to bet she still acted spoiled, too. After all, her aunt hadn't had any children, and his father hadn't had any daughters.

The road they traveled toward his home had thick trees on both sides. He didn't like feeling this enclosed with someone he didn't like very well, and yet couldn't stop picturing her pretty face in his mind. They weren't going fast enough, and he nudged the horse with his heels to make him quicken the pace.

The birds in the trees were squawking up a storm, which matched the sound of the horse's hooves on the hard ground. He'd forgotten about this stretch of road. As a boy, he loved chasing through the grove as he played with his older brother. They tried to hide from each other. They also were competitive to who could climb the fastest or the tallest tree. Jacob usually won.

Suddenly, the birds took flight in unison and their squawking disappeared. He slowed his horse, holding his breath. Someone was in the grove. That was the only reason the birds would leave.

An eerie feeling crawled over him. He quickly scanned what he could of the grove, but the sun's glare made it hard to see everything. Something wasn't right, and he didn't want to stick around just to find out why he felt this way.

"Adrian?" Nicolette whispered. "I think we need to get out of here—"

The exploding rifle and the pierce of a bullet in Adrian's arm, jerked him into motion. He kicked the horse and took off, leaning over Nicolette since it was his first instinct to protect. He tried to block out the burning pain, but he'd only experienced being shot once before, and it was difficult not wonder how much blood he was losing.

Behind him came shouting. Adrian couldn't tell how many men there were, but he didn't care. All he knew was that he needed to keep riding. The twisting in his gut intensified as he tried to think of why they would be after him. One voice knew his name. And yet, why would they shoot him? Had he upset someone? Yet, he'd been gone all this time, so who would he have upset all those years ago that was still bent on revenge?

"Adrian," she said in a tight voice, "turn the horse right."

"Right?" He couldn't be hearing her correctly. There wasn't anything that way except trees and hills.

"Turn now, Adrian." She grasped the reins, pointing the animal in that direction.

He tried to get back the reins, but the pain in his left shoulder increased, and he was slowly losing strength.