Free Northern Star by Jodi Thomas Page B

above the pillows. When he looked back, his angel had vanished as quickly as if she’d slid beneath the table. A beam of light widened from the hallway as a man entered clumsily. Hunter lowered his weapon. No attacker could be so awkward. The intruder must be the guard on duty.
    “I see you’re awake, Captain,” a crisp voice said. “I’m on night watch and thought I heard you yell out.”
    “I must have been dreaming.” Hunter didn’t try to keep the pain from his voice. The sudden twisting for his weapon had cost him.
    “The cook said for you to drink some of her spiced tea if I saw you awake.” The soldier lifted a cup from beside the hearth. “What with the cook’s herbs and a touch of brandy, it’ll make you sleep like a baby and keep those nightmares at bay.”
    Hunter suddenly felt very tired and confused. If he’d been talking aloud, could she also be as real as his words? “Did anyone come in or out of this room just now?”
    “No, sir. I’ve been standing not three feet from your door all evening. Anybody who’d get past me would have to be a ghost.”
    “Or an angel,” Hunter answered, then drank the tea in long gulps.
    “Pleasant dreams, Captain.”
    “Thanks.” Hunter barely had the energy to hand the guard his drained cup. “I plan to.”
    He leaned back against the pillows and thought of the way she’d felt in his arms, of how sweet her mouth had tasted. He tried to remember her soft voice. She was still near; he could feel it.

Chapter 6
    An hour before dawn, Perry climbed back into her dirty old clothes. She took great care to rub a thin layer of mud over her hands and face. She even smeared a few smudges of rancid lard across her shoulders to ensure that Hunter would no longer think she smelled nice. Remembering the feelings he’d awakened in her had robbed her of sleep. After much thought she’d come to one firm conclusion: She couldn’t allow Hunter to be part of a crime. If he knew she was a traitor and didn’t turn her in, he would be just as guilty as she. He was not the kind of man to take his honor lightly.
    Abram was waiting for her at dawn with the wagon ready. Hunter was awake and looked rested, but his gaze watched the sunrise. He was silent, but his eyes showed longing.
    Perry climbed onto the seat and looked over her shoulder at Hunter. Her heart tore apart as she saw the sadness in his stormy gray eyes. A sadness not from his injured arm and shoulder but from his heart. She knew he was remembering last night and longing for the feel of her in his arms, and she equally longed to be there. A part of her wanted to crawl into the back of the wagon and hold him forever, but she’d seen the strength in his character. The question weighed heavy in her mind. Would he accept herif he knew the truth? Would she still see the loving warmth in his eyes if he learned that they fought on different sides? She’d seen no weakness, no compromise in him when he’d faced the deserters the day before. Would he be as unyielding to her if he discovered what she had done?
    The cook hurried to the wagon and handed Hunter another cup of her hot herb tea. “You drink this, Captain. You’ll sleep for several hours and wake up feeling a mite better.”
    His words for the old woman were kind, but the sadness never left his gray eyes. Almost before he’d finished the last drop, he was sound asleep. The cook pulled the blankets close around his shoulder as Perry watched, wishing she could do the chore for him.
    Abram thanked the soldiers and slapped the team’s rumps to start them moving down the muddy road. He seemed in high spirits and unmindful of Perry’s quiet mood. “We’ve a long ride to Philadelphia. Soon we’ll have Hunter where he can get proper care, not that your brother didn’t do his best under the circumstances.” Abram urged the horses forward. He glanced back to make sure Hunter was asleep. “I promised your brother I’d see you safe on the road to your