Page 74 (1/2)

“Whatto speak to you now?” she asked childishly

He took her chin in his hand and forced her to look at hiot her back I would do it again—for you as much as for her”

Lou confessed, “I was so scared when Elizabeth called All could think of was that you had let so sobs that rocked them both

He held her until the sobs subsided and she wiped her nose with the back of her hand He held out his towel to her, “Do you want my towel?”

“Oh, God Your eye” She reached up and touched the cut above his eye He flinched

“What is it with you woroaned

“Does it hurt a lot?” She took the da away the blood “You ht need a stitch or two You definitely need some ice”

“I’ll settle for a kiss” He bent slightly, and she stood on tiptoe and kissed his temple softly

“Are you stillSarah?”

“No I’m thankful you saved her life” She snorted indelicately “You also gave her a fine evening of dancing,” she said sarcastically “Are youlike a shrew?”

“Nope I probably would have felt the same way Hell, I do feel the same way I wanted to kill the son of a bitch”

Lou and Brody both turned when they heard Sarah call, “Mommy?”

Lou pulled herself out of Brody’s embrace and turned toward the door He pulled her close one more time and whispered to her, “Can we finish this conversation later?” He nuzzled her hair, breathing in the scent of her

“The only person sleeping in hter, Brody I’h the door and closed it tightly in his face He heard the bolt shoot home as she locked it

“Guess I’ll go and lick my wounds all by myself,” Brody mumbled as he went back downstairs Sadie and Jeb were still sitting at the kitchen table Brody sat down heavily in a chair and groaned, grasping his side, re the punch he had taken to the middle