whenever he closed his eyes. Will tried to smile up at Sammy, but his vision was becoming blurry. “Maybe not, Sammy. I don’t think that’s a good idea…”
She saw the tears begin to spill from his eyes and knelt down to embrace him, pressing his face into her hair. “It’s all right, Will. You’re home now. It’s all over. You won’t have to do any of those things ever again. I’m here. We’re all here.”
It took him a minute to get himself back under control, and before he was ready, he heard Annabelle calling from the front of the house. “Will! Come help me hang up the wash!”
He shared a glance with Sammy, and she looked at her hands, which were covered in dirt. “Don’t worry, I’ll wash my hands and be right there,” she assured him. “I’ll stand in between you.”
***
A few days after that, when he had almost completely recovered, he woke suddenly in the night. That had become a frequent occurrence, as his dreams were often bad, but this time it was for another reason.
He had taken to sleeping in the front room with his uncle, so the three women could share the bedroom. His uncle slept on Will’s cot while he slept on the floor near the hearth.
His eyes opened with a start. Annabelle was lying beside him, her face next to his own. Her hand was under the blanket. Will wore only a long shirt while sleeping, and her hand had found its way under that as well, where it was urgently kneading something with expert fingers.
He started to open his mouth, but she covered it with her own, kissing him. Then she drew back. “This is just a good dream, Will. I know you’ve had it before, but this time it will be better.” Her hand continued moving, and she shifted her body, preparing to straddle him. “You’re ready now,” she whispered.
He was definitely ready. He was so ready he wasn’t sure he would last until she had mounted him. He froze for a moment. It would be easy to let her do what she wanted, what he wanted. But it isn’t what I want, he shouted to himself. Not this, not her! He caught her shoulder with his hand, pushing her off to one side. Again, the first words that came from his lips were, “I didn’t give you permission to kiss me.” Why do I keep saying that? he thought angrily.
Annabelle frowned, but remained determined. “You’re not objecting to this, though, are you?” Her hand continued to move in slow, sure motions.
“Stop it,” he ordered.
“There’s another trick I could show you,” she said, beginning to scoot farther down.
“No, Annabelle,” he insisted, finally finding the will-power to grab her wrists and stop the pleasant torture. “I don’t want this, and neither do you.”
“You do. Everyone does.”
“Goddamn it. Get out of my bed,” he hissed, trying not to wake his uncle.
The fury in his eyes finally convinced her, and Annabelle got to her feet. She stood in front of him, stark naked. A second later she reclaimed her nightgown from the table and slid it over her head. She looked hurt, but as she left, she made one final declaration. “You’ll change your mind.” Then she went to the door and returned to the main bedroom.
Will saw his uncle’s eyes open, noting the girl leaving the room, but Will closed his own, pretending to be asleep. The last thing he wanted was another conversation.
***
The next morning, he made his announcement. It was time to return. He didn’t expect the reaction he got, as everyone seemed universally against the idea.
“You’ve done enough,” said his mother. “The army will be fine without you.”
“But Eric is still there…”
“And if I could keep him here, I would bring him back in an instant,” declared his uncle.
“Please don’t go,” pleaded Sammy.
Will glanced at Annabelle, and she mouthed the words ‘don’t go,’ and that settled it for him. I definitely have to go, he told himself. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I signed a contract for five years. I don’t want to be a deserter.”
His mother glared at him. “You didn’t have a choice!”
“I did have a choice, Mom. I chose to get Uncle Johnathan out. I have to go back. Selene trusted me.”
“She’s dead,” said Annabelle coldly.
“No, she’s not,” declared Will. “I don’t know where she is, but I’m sure she’s waiting for me to keep my word.”
The argument continued for a while after that, but his mother could see