Free The Value Of Valor - KJ3 by Lynn Ames

good idea, so she thrust her hands into her pockets instead.
    “I don’t know who I am or what my life was like. I don’t know whether I’m straight or gay, married or single. I don’t know where I live, whether I have a job, how old I am.” Fresh tears started to fall anew, and her eyes reflected the confusion and fear she’d felt since the first day she’d arrived on the reservation. “Your mother says when it’s time, I’ll remember. But when will that be? And what am I supposed to do in the meantime? What if I never remember?”
    “You will,” Trystan said with certainty. “I don’t know you very well yet, Alexa, but I can see that you’re a very determined woman. You’ll find your way.”
    “How can you be so sure?”
    “Because you have a strong spirit and a will to live. To me, that says you have something to live for, and that’s a powerful healing tool.”

    The Value of Valor

    Trystan hesitated, then opened her arms. “Right now, though, you look like you could use a friend and a hug. Can I help?”
    Alexa nodded and moved into the embrace, soaking up the comfort.
    “You smell nice.”
    “Yeah? Thanks.” Trystan rested her cheek on Alexa’s hair, her heart pounding in her chest. Holding Alexa felt so right, and she’d come very close to missing out on the opportunity. She knew she needed to go slowly if she stood any chance of being in this woman’s life. “I’m sorry if I came on too strong before. I’m not going to pretend I’m not attracted to you, Alexa, because that would be a lie. But I can see that what you really need is a friend, and I’d like to be that for you. Will you let me?”
    Alexa pulled back, recognizing somewhere deep in her soul that being in a woman’s arms was where she belonged. It gave her some measure of comfort to know at least one thing about herself. “Yes, I’d really like that, too.”
    “Okay, friend,” Trystan took Alexa’s hand. “How’d you like to walk to the water with me? I can show you one of my favorite hiding spots.”
    Alexa smiled. “That sounds perfect.”
    They walked in silence for a distance, Trystan still maintaining her hold on Alexa’s hand.
    Alexa chuckled, prompting Trystan to bring them to a halt and face her. “What are you laughing about?”
    “It seems to me that normally this would be the time when people would get to know each other, except you already know as much about me as I do.”
    When Trystan looked in Alexa’s eyes, she saw amusement but also a glimmer of real fear. She tried to keep the moment light by laughing, too.
    “I hadn’t thought of it that way, but I guess I do, at that.”
    “Okay, so tell me about you,” Alexa said, as they resumed their walk.
    “There’s not much to tell, really. I’m an only child born to a young mother, and I’ve lived on the reservation most of my life, off and on.”
    Alexa bit her lip, considering how personal she wanted to get, then simply decided to go for it. “Where’s your father?”
    Trystan stopped momentarily and looked at her. “Boy, you don’t beat around the bush, do you?”
    Alexa blushed. “You don’t have to answer that if you don’t want to. I probably shouldn’t have asked. It’s none of my business.”
    “No, that’s all right.” Trystan shrugged. “I don’t have any idea who my father is. My mother never talks about him. All she’ll say is that it was a youthful indiscretion while she was in medical school.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be. I’ve had a great life. My mother is wonderful—tough when she has to be and the best friend I’ve ever had.”

    Lynn Ames

    “You’re very beautiful. I wonder what nationality your father was.”
    Trystan shrugged. “I’ll probably never know. Not that I haven’t thought about it a time or twenty, but my mother won’t give even a whisper of a hint.”
    “I’m sure she has her reasons,” Alexa said gently. “I can’t imagine she would keep that from you to hurt