The_Originals_The_Rise_booksfree.org_

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forward in the saddle as much as she could. Oh, dear. The
patrol arranged her late “husband” on a roll of canvas
secured with rope.
Even with the extra burden of the dead man, the
encampment was only about a half-hour’s ride. Rebekah
was relieved, as it quickly became apparent that she had
drastically overestimated her soldier’s charms. No matter
how many hints she dropped about her arranged, troubled,
and practically dead marriage, he had little to say aside
from clumsy attempts to console the “grieving widow.”
She hoped that the captain would demonstrate a little
more imagination; she preferred to save compulsion for
emergencies rather than relying on it for every little thing.
There was no doubt which tent was his: it stood proudly
in the center of the camp and fleur-de-lis decorated every
available surface. Rebekah had to remind herself not to
dismount too fluidly, instead falling into her gallant
soldier’s waiting arms with deliberate clumsiness. The horse
helped by shifting and shying away as she moved; it was
better trained than the cart-horse had been, but it was no
more fond of her. “Please be brave, Madame,” her soldier
whispered as he released her hand, and Rebekah stifled a
laugh.
The short man had gone on ahead to alert the captain,
because as he hurried back toward their horses, Rebekah
saw that he was not alone. The new arrival crossed the
camp in long, easy strides that indicated effortless authority.