AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The dirt track beneath her feet felt as if he was leading her to their special place beyond the edge of camp. Even though the moon hadn’t risen and closing her eyes barely changed her ability to see, or not to see in this case, walking blind made her feel she was stepping into her own adventure, and she smiled. An adventure with Seamus.
‘You realise I do know where I am still? The scent of those pink flowers is unmistakeable.’
‘Dead giveaway, hey? But you don’t know what else you’re going to find, and that’s the surprise, macushla.’ He stopped her at the edge of the track and released her arm.
The slight ridge where dirt gave way to long scraggly grass was just there—she put one foot forward and tapped the ground. A grass stem brushed her bare leg, tickling her skin. Cocking her head, she heard a familiar scraping sound. Was Seamus lighting a match? He knew she didn’t like smoking and had refrained whenever they were together. ‘What are you doing?’
‘Nearly ready. Keep your eyes closed and give me your meal.’
She held the tray out, felt him take it and waited. Anticipation bubbled within her, heady as the Champagne she’d drunk once on New Year’s Eve, back before their world went mad. Whatever Seamus had planned, he made her feel like she was looking forward to that Champagne New Year’s Eve again. Like the world wasn’t on fire and a future awaited.
A future with Seamus?
He set a hand on her shoulder and took her free hand in his. ‘Open your eyes, Meg.’ His warm breath tickled her ear before she did as he said.
Before her, neatly set out on a hospital blanket, a lamp cast a cosy glow over their dinner trays and a bunch of wildflowers. He’d folded two clean handkerchiefs for serviettes, and a bottle of beer and a bottle of soft drink sat to one side, flanked by two tin mugs.
Meg was delighted. And touched by his thoughtfulness. ‘What made you think of doing this?’ She dropped onto her knees on a corner of the blanket and picked up the flowers. He’d included some of the perfumed pink flowers in the bunch. Bringing it to her nose, she inhaled their heady scent.
Seamus sat opposite her and grinned. ‘I can’t take my girl out to dinner at a fancy restaurant, so I made our own private dining room. Do you like it?’
‘I love it. I think it’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. However did you find beer and soft drink out here?’
‘Ah—’ He tapped the side of his nose. ‘I can’t reveal my sources, but let’s just say the cook was grateful for the bush tucker I’ve brought him. He has a private store of beer. As for the soft drink, the Aussies have an army canteen service making it. They told me tamarind is the most popular flavour.’ He picked up the beer bottle and knocked off the top then held it towards her, showing the label like a waiter offering the finest wine. ‘Would Madam like to taste the beer?’
Meg hesitated. She’d never drunk beer, but tonight felt like the beginning of something. Since there was no Champagne to be had . . . ‘Yes, please.’
He half-filled both their mugs and she lifted hers, sipping the brew. Her first taste of beer made her screw up her nose. It was bitter, but she wasn’t about to say so to Seamus. ‘I’m sure it will compliment our meal perfectly.’
‘And here was me thinking you’d find it bitter and that I’d have to drink the lot by myself.’
She picked up her mug, gave him a sweet smile then took a mouthful. Her nose wrinkled again but she made herself swallow. Exhaling an audible sigh of feigned delight, she met his amused gaze. ‘Absolutely delicious.’
Raising the bottle, he made to top up her mug.
Quickly, she put her hand over the top. ‘I’ll just work my way through this, thank you. Share and share alike and all that. Is the soft drink to go with dessert?’
Seamus grinned. ‘Maybe. Next time I’ll make sure to bring you Champagne and the finest foods, but for now, all I can give you is beer and cook’s stew.’
Reaching out, she touched his hand. ‘This is so much more than beer and stew. It’s magic and moonlight, and flowers and—you. You’ve made a little patch of joy amidst this horrid war. Thank you, Seamus.’
He caught her hand and kissed it, then turned it over and pressed a lingering kiss in her palm.
A queer little flibbertigibbet danced in her stomach. Breathless at his touch, she eased her hand from his hold. ‘We should eat our meal before it gets cold.’
‘That we should. Sadly, it doesn’t improve with age.’
When she’d eaten as much as she could—in Seamus’s case, he cleaned his plate, although she had no idea how he managed it—she raised her mug. ‘To moonlit picnics among the gum trees.’
‘And to many more dinners with you, Meg.’
They finished the beer and then Meg began tidying the remains of their meal. She stacked the trays and moved the beer and soft drink bottles and lamp to one corner of the blanket. Smoothing out a wrinkle, she turned and sat in the middle, patting a spot beside her. ‘I want to look at the stars and make a wish.’
Seamus sat beside her and put an arm over her shoulders. ‘What are you going to wish for?’
‘Aside from an immediate end to this war?’ She tipped her head to the sky. ‘For this moment to never end. Look at those stars. They’re so big and bright. Nothing like what I see from my home in the middle of Sydney.’
‘You’ve got stars in your eyes, macushla.’ Seamus kissed her cheek then trailed his lips over her skin to her neck, and the little spot just below her ear he’d discovered last night. The magic of the night and Seamus’s lovely surprise heightened her senses. She was relaxed and on edge at the same time, wanting him to never stop what he was doing.
