Free Guardian Bride by Lauri Robinson

thought zipping around in
    her head. All of a sudden, she knew it was time to leave—
    while she still could. "I like patients who follow doctor's
    orders. And it's time you get some sleep."
    "There's not a doctor here."
    Had his voice always sounded so husky and persuasive?
    She squirmed, preparing to stand, but his hold on her hand
    tightened.
    "The doctor left orders with me for you to follow." Was that
    her voice sounding so shaky? She swallowed. "And one of
    those orders was lots of sleep."
    He closed his eyes. "I guess I am a little sleepy. But will
    you stay a little longer? Just talk as I drift off."
    "About what?" she asked, more than willing to stay.
    He yawned. "Whatever you want." He rolled his hand,
    lacing his fingers with hers. "Just don't leave."
    "I won't," she promised.
    "Neither will I," he said, clearly drifting off into slumber
    land.
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    Guardian Bride
    by Lauri Robinson
    Summer sat there, on the edge of the bed, holding his
    hand for a very long time. She didn't talk, and even after his
    fingers went lax, telling her he was fast asleep, she sat,
    simply absorbing a deep, satisfying security she'd never
    experienced.
    Closing her eyes, she once again searched for Jonas. It
    had to be his presence easing her fears, quelling her doubts.
    But try as she might, she couldn't feel the spirit who'd been
    with her the past few years. She'd almost told Snake, a few
    minutes ago, that it had been Jonas who told her to leave
    Dodge. For two nights he'd hung in her mind, and when she
    finally conceded, he led her directly to the Quinter house.
    "Summer?"
    She jumped off the mattress, lids ripping open as she
    turned toward the door.
    "What's wrong? Did Snake tear open his stitches this
    evening?" Stephanie asked quietly, moving into the room.
    "N-no, I don't think so. A-at least he said he didn't. H-he
    just-just wanted—" Summer stammered, searching for an
    answer.
    "Has he had you in here talking to him?" Stephanie's voice
    held a hint of humor, and love.
    A warm sensation rippled her insides, and Summer paused
    to consider what it meant. The Quinters, strong and
    resourceful, loved one another unconditionally, something
    she'd never thought much about before.
    "He's always been a talker. Why, he even talks to his
    plants. Almost as if they were humans and could hear him."
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    Guardian Bride
    by Lauri Robinson
    Stephanie stopped beside the bed and stroked Snake's wavy
    hair away from his forehead.
    A wave of loneliness or loss rolled across Summer's
    shoulders hard enough to make her quiver. She'd missed her
    mother often over the years, to the point at times it turned
    into anger. Pinching her lips, she held her breath, looking
    inward for Jonas. He always came when thoughts of her
    mother attempted to overwhelm her common sense.
    Low and behold, there was no sign of him, even when her
    lungs began to burn and she had to let the air release. Where
    was he? She needed him, and he was no where around.
    "Come on," Stephanie urged, placing a gentle hand on her
    shoulder.
    The weight was enough for her to abide. Summer let her
    fingers slip away from Snake's and allowed the other woman
    to lead her from the room.
    As she closed the door, Stephanie asked, "Are you sure
    you don't want to share my bed? It's big enough for two. And
    I don't snore." She let out a silly snort. "Not much anyway."
    Summer had to smile. In the pale light, with the older
    woman grinning like a school girl, Summer could see a
    youthfulness that years and wrinkles distorted in the light of
    day. In her younger years, Stephanie Quinter had been a
    beautiful woman. Catching the remnants of that beauty in
    every tiny, well-sculptured feature, Summer believed she saw
    the woman Jonas knew. The woman he fell in love with, and
    though he no longer walked the earth, she knew the man still
    loved his wife with a deep passion.
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    Guardian Bride
    by Lauri Robinson
    "No. I'll sleep out here." Summer glanced to Snake's
    bedroom door. "In case he