Free Marie's Journey (Ginecean Chronicles) by Monica La Porta Page B

moved his head on the pillow to better look at her.
    She moved accordingly to help him avoid unnecessary movements. “My hair is yellow and I truly wish it was darker.”
    “I like it.” His hand reached for one of her long locks before she understood what he intended. “It’s silky.” His fingers slid through her hair in long strokes before she had the wits to stop him.
    She shivered, then realized his hand was still under hers and she wanted to let it go, but couldn’t move. “What are you doing?”
    “Wanted to touch your hair.” His voice was blurred, but the hurt was unmistakable.
    She was shocked, and at the same time, she felt bad for him. “You shouldn’t take these kinds of liberties with a woman,” she murmured under her breath. As if she wanted to explain her words, she added, “I could report you.” But deep inside, she knew she wouldn’t have. As she hadn’t reported him when she had seen him for the first time stealing food from the cellars.
    He surprised Marie by throwing another compliment at her. “You have pretty eyes.” His owns eyes were closing and he was trying his best to keep them open, but it was a lost battle. “You’re nice.” And with that, he finally went to sleep, leaving her angry and flustered.
    Angry because she was flustered by his words. She shouldn’t have been flustered by a man’s words.
    “Under opiates, they say the darnedest things. Don’t mind the boy. He’s been having the worst luck lately. In and out of this place three times already in the last two weeks.” Rane was back at Grant’s side and Marie hadn’t heard her coming. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”
    “You didn’t.” Marie lied through her teeth because she needed to feel in control again. “What happened to him?”
    Rane let her have her small victory and answered her question. “He got caught, not once, but three different times, trying to escape.”
    “Escaping?” Marie left the stool for Rane, who thanked her and went to check Grant’s vitals. “But to go where?” Where would a worker go once outside the farm’s walls?
    “Somewhere nicer for him.” Rane was holding his right wrist between thumb and index. “Do you know how to take the pulse?”
    Marie shook her head. She had seen Madame Carla check one of the girls who had fainted once, but she didn’t know what to do.
    “Come here and take his other wrist.” Rane waited for Marie to take position by her and reach for Grant’s left wrist. “Yes, like that, good.” She helped Marie to find his pulse. “Gently press your finger on the bigger vein and count his heartbeats.”
    Marie didn’t feel anything at first, but then she registered a soft thump under her fingertip and her heart thumped in unison with his. It felt too intimate, but she didn’t move. Rane was looking at her and she didn’t want to disappoint the woman.
    “He’s okay for now. Let’s hope he doesn’t wake up soon.” Rane let down the wrist she was holding tenderly.
    “Where would he go?” Marie mimed her and gently laid Grant’s hand on the sheet. The skin on the back of his hand was splashed with dark freckles and amidst them, there were old scars. She caressed his marred knuckles without realizing she was doing it and blushed when Rane gave her a pointed look. “If he were to escape, where could he possibly go?”
    “How would I know?” Rane’s eyes were inscrutable. “This isn’t suitable conversation for a fathered woman.”
    “But you started—” Marie regretted having opened her big mouth the moment she said the first word. “I apologize.” Still, she wanted to tell Rane what she thought of her choice of suitable conversations. Do as I say, not as I do . Fine by me .
    “Help me with the patient on bed four. Bad concussion.” Rane was already past the lecture.
    “How did he hit his head?” Marie followed the brunette to the fourth bed and took a look at the man’s head. A big bump was visible under plastered hair.
    “Do