Southern Beauty - By Julie Lucia Page 0,7

she was on the edge of a cliff she wasn’t sure she was going to have to jump or be pushed off.

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A day of difficult riding made Johanna exhausted and her insides ache. Her fingers were linked together around David’s waist. He hadn’t spoken to her or shown any kind of compassion towards her since the first time they met. When he did speak to her, he only spoke in short words that were cold and unsympathetic. Though she knew she was in danger and so was her uncle, her curiosity increased as they rode. David intrigued her and this won out over her feelings of fear. She knew they had felt some kind of connection the first time they met. Her impetuous thoughts burned within her. She then tightened the grip she had on him, bringing his muscular back toward the warmth of her body.

“Let go, you’re holding on too tight.” David coughed.

Johanna had been the only thing on his mind since he first laid eyes on her. Her gentle touch made his heart flutter like a school kid in his first crush. Passion interfered with his normal thought process. David was angry with himself, for he had no time for romance and no interest in marriage. Since Johanna had been around, he seemed to have forgotten what his general mission was.

“It’s Johanna’s fault for being so beautiful and smelling so-damn her,” he whispered to himself, he was furious with her for being so irresistibly lovely. He had no idea why he had not listened to Jacob who tried to convince him not to take the naïve Johanna. But, as soon as they retrieved the letter from her he knew she had to show them how to get to her family’s cottage. It sounded absurd at first, but it was the only way to complete their mission and besides no harm would come to her. They needed the Lieutenant Colonel’s papers and they would do anything to get them, the map and his military plans.

Thoughts of her sweet love clouded his mind. She held him more tightly as if she could read it.

“She must stay away,” David whispered under his steamy breath, so only he could hear.

“Did you say something,” Johanna questioned his murmur.

Her voice was that of an angel’s. “You can ride with Preston tomorrow I don’t need a Southern whore riding with me,” David brutally forced himself to say as he bit his tender lip, waiting for her reaction to his chilling accusation.

Stunned by his harsh words, she remained silent, which was very difficult for her. She let go of the tight hold she had on him and then turned her head away in frustration and shame. Although her eyes were filled with tears, she refused to let him affect her again.

Johanna had shown the men the way to her family’s special place, and it hurt her to share it with anyone other than her parents and her uncle. She had pointed out to Jacob that it was beyond the trees near the river. Preston went ahead to scout it out. He returned with a look of distress.

“The cottage is ahead, it’s completely deserted, but oddly enough, it’s fully stocked with food and supplies. I think someone was here, but left in a hurry,” said Preston.

“We can stay there for the night until we decide what to do,” David insisted. “We will keep our eyes open for any visitors.”

David looked behind him to see the confused look on Johanna’s face. Then he stopped the horse in front of the cottage and jumped off, taking the hand of Johanna to help her down.

Johanna couldn’t keep her eyes off the little house that had fallen into disrepair. She hadn’t been here in over a decade. She felt a flicker of sadness as she thought about being with her family here enjoying the simple life they never had time for, and no longer could enjoy. Her thoughts switched back to the ghastly man before her who was trying to take her hand and help her down off the horse.

Taking his hand briefly, they both felt a bolt of lightning strike their unsuspecting hearts, although their reactions differed. David held his breath surprised by the strong connection he felt when they touched hands. Johanna too angry, ignored the shock, and stepped down. She came face to face with him and with a blunt slap, she reddened his unshaven face.

“I am sure you are quite familiar with ladies of the