Page 95 of Magnolia Summer

“Perfect. I’m so proud of you, Celia. You make a very lovely and capable nurse.”

“I bet you say that to all the girls who are in love with you.”

“No, just you.” He gave a half grin before grimacing.

Celia settled in beside him and leaned her back against the wall of the cave. “What now?”

Another clap of thunder, this time much closer, shook the ground beneath them. Fat drops of rain began to strike the leaves at the cave entrance, just a few feet from them.

“I figure we ought to wait for the storm to pass.”

Celia sat still beside him. She wanted to hold his hand, not caring that it was covered with blood, but she didn’t dare. She’d either start crying or want to kiss him again. Instead of holding his hand, she needed to think of a way to get him somewhere safe.

“After the storm I’m taking you to my house. Suggs might go to your house looking for you. If he sees you’ve been shot, he’ll know you’re the hooded horseman.”

She waited for him to argue with her, or to have a better idea.

“I suppose you’re right.”

His voice sounded weak. She sat forward and looked at him. Was he lying to her? Was his wound more serious than he had said? Was he dying? No, she couldn’t think like that. She had to stay calm. She couldn’t help him if she became hysterical.

“Truett, is there anything else I can do for you? Do you need water? I can go to the stream and get you some. It’s not far.”

“No. Having you beside me is all I need.”

“Truett, tell me the truth. Are you going to . . . die?” Her voice went up three octaves on the last word, then cracked.

Truett smiled, and then winced. “The worst thing is that I lost a lot of blood. But I think I’ll live. ‘Then may I dare to boast how I do love thee.’”

“This is no time for poetry. I wish you’d be serious.”

“I am serious. You just need to trust me. And trust God.”

Trust was not her strong suit. But neither was nursing, and she’d just done pretty well at that.

She gazed at him a long time. He was so dear to her.

She got up and took the blanket off the back of Truett’s saddle. “Do you want to lie down?”

“No, I think I’m better sitting up.”

She made a rectangle out of the blanket and tucked it behind his back and head.

“Thank you, darling. Now sit down and relax. The storm’s just starting.”

Darling.He called me darling.Her heart swelled again, forcing out a sigh.

She snuggled up to him, letting him lean on her. She prayed silently, asking God to heal the man she was unequivocally, irrevocably in love with, as the rain and wind began their deafening onslaught.

* * *

Truett closedhis eyes and tried to sleep, but the pain in his side kept him too tense. Lightning flashed and the rain poured down, driven sideways at times by the fierce winds as he watched it through the cave entrance. Soon, the thunder and lightning grew less frequent and the wind and rain less violent. The storm seemed to be passing over them.

Celia’s head rested against his bare upper arm. Her hair had come loose from the pins and a few strands lay across her cheek. Every so often she would lift her head and look closely at his face and ask, “How are you feeling? Do you need to lie down?” The concern in her voice put a smile in his heart and almost made him forget the pain.

She had said she would marry him. He stared at her profile, memorizing her features.

He reached out and gently smoothed the hair back from her face. But he didn’t take his hand away. Her skin was as smooth as silk, and he rubbed her cheek with the back of his fingers.