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Excerpt
Laura trudged through the prickly grass and heather toward the mound that Rhean pointed out, felt the cold wind in her hair, and saw the absolute
wonder that brought her to this part of the country. She pulled her thick coat around her, and huddled deep into its collar, as the wind whipped the copper
strands around her face. Words to describe the moors flooded her mind—ethereal, constant, and unending. The grass and heather stretched out before her. Clouds
above her danced through the sky in a rhythm as old as time. She eventually came to the hillock and climbed it. Laura took deep breaths;
in...out...in...out. She tried to keep the tears back, but it didn’t happen. They fell again. Misery, hurt, betrayal, and anger bubbled inside her as if she
were a shaken bottle of Coke. More deep breaths, then finally, the bottle exploded. She raised her face to the sky and yelled her hurt and despondent
feelings out, as tears rained down her face. Her scream faded away as the gentle perfumed breeze gained in strength and a slow drizzle began to fall and mix with
her tears, as if the weather were in sympathy with her. She yelled again. This time, abject frustration took the place of the hurt and sadness that had fled
her emotion-torn body. After taking more deep breaths, her yells eventually ebbed away to nothingness. Drained, her throat raw Laura bent down and put her
hands on her knees, and gulped down the cold, fresh, pure moor air as it revitalized her.
Laura's breathing calmed as a strong arm encompassed her, drawing her into the warmth and safety of Rhean's wide chest. The rough texture of his
duffle coat tickled her nose as she snuggled into his body. She inhaled his fresh masculine scent, allowing herself for the first time in ages, to be
comforted. In Rhean’s arms there was safety, security and perhaps even peace. As Laura’s emotions settled, her body sagged into the strength Rhean exuded, and at that moment, she had never been more grateful for his tenacity and determination. Unexpectedly, she felt a soft kiss, as light as a snowflake on
the top of her head. It seemed to awaken something within her she could not quite put her finger on. Laura closed her eyes, relishing the comfort offered to
her.
“I don’t think my parents quite heard you, you know,” Rhean teased, breaking Laura out of her musings.
“And Woolly didn’t seem bothered. He's still over there munching. Feel better for that, do you?”
Laura pulled away from Rhean’s warmth into the chillness of the late afternoon sun. She turned her face upward, and attempted a smile at him with
red-rimmed, tear-stained eyes.
“Actually I do. There is something about this place. It seems to be, well, just magical, if that doesn’t sound silly.”
Rhean shook his head and rewarded her with a warm smile.
“Not at all. Actually, I come up here a lot,” he
confessed.
“Dare I ask if you and Woolly over there have a standing date then?” Laura tried to joke, feeling slightly better, and wanted to lift the mood.
He laughed as if sincerely amused.“Baa-rely,” Rhean quipped back, as Laura winced at his dreadful pun. He put his arm around Laura as they walked back to the car.
Without Saying A Word is available from the links below.