Diamond Mine by Felicia Rogers

she’d given up. She’d confined herself to her room for almost an entire month. That was when her writing had truly begun. Hannah had used it as a way to express her worries and frustrations. And now the reason behind that was sitting here next to her.
    She had dreamed of this moment forever. First she was going to give him a tongue-lashing beyond anything he could imagine. Then she would grill him for hours in a tiny room under a hot light as to why he’d left her without even a goodbye. But now, now that he was actually here, none of those questions seemed to matter, and she didn’t know whether to throttle him or kiss him.
    She moved a strand of hair from her face. Abandoning all thoughts of censure, she asked, “Do you have any food?”
    Relief washed over his face. “Yes. Let me help you back to the jeep.”
    As he walked, she noticed something odd. It reminded her of something, but in her current state she couldn’t put her finger on it.
    Never being very diplomatic in speech and lacking the energy to start now, she blurted, “What’s wrong with your leg?”
    Rory’s body tensed but he didn’t answer. His hand shot forward, she grasped it, and he pulled her. She stood within inches of him, her nose close to his chest. If it was possible, he looked even more buff than he had eight years ago.
    â€œI didn’t hurt your leg, did I?”
    No answer forthcoming, he twisted around and limped to the jeep, leaving her staring at his back. What was wrong with him? One minute he wants to talk, the next he wants to ignore her? Well, she had news for him. She’d been holed up in a cell, keeping her mouth shut, except to yell at the soldiers, and now she was ready to speak.
    She stalked toward him with her hands on her hips. “Rory Chance, answer me. Why are you limping? You’re such a baby. I didn’t hit you that hard.”
    He kept moving, not stopping until he reached the jeep. When he did stop, it wasn’t to answer her questions. He opened the chest, pulled out cold food items, and placed them on the bumper.
    â€œWe’ll shelter here for the night. The sun will go down soon. We need to be careful about building a fire because of traffickers passing by. Be ready, and we will leave here at 0600 hours. That should keep us traveling in daylight.” Rory never looked at her as he spoke in the stilted tone. He laid a blanket out a few feet away and placed the food there.
    Hannah watched in restrained shock. He avoided my question and somehow started talking in militarese . What is up with him?
    Hannah shrugged. “If that’s what you think, then that’s what we’ll do. But when daylight comes, I’m going back to the camp.”
    She turned her back on him and rifled through the food chest on her own. Roughly, he grabbed her arm and twirled her around.
    His brow furrowed. “Are you crazy? You’re never going back there again.”
    â€œYes, I am,” she replied, twisting free of his grip.
    â€œNo, you’re not,” came his terse response.
    Hannah could sense his fury, but she wasn’t backing down. Melanie needed her. “Rory, you couldn’t possibly understand…”
    Before she could speak another word, Rory grabbed her, pulled her close, and crushed his lips to hers. His hands cradled her head as he deepened the kiss. He pulled back, and they both worked to catch their breath. Their foreheads touched. Hannah struggled through the kiss to retain her earlier thoughts. Now that she could breathe, she finished her words.
    â€œI can’t leave a man behind.”
    He scooted way from her so suddenly she almost fell. Limping away, he left her to stare at his retreating form.

Chapter Seventeen

    Rory retreated to a nearby copse of bushes to review his strategy. Clearly, Hannah had no intentions of leaving Melanie behind.
    Tapiwa had shown him at least fifteen young white girls before he’d