The Legend by Melissa Delport Page B

need me ,” he adds, without a trace of arrogance. It’s the truth, after all. We both know that he is my ultimate soldier.
    â€œI do need you,” I admit, “but I don’t want to be with you. I just can’t have any distractions at the moment.”
    â€œYou know what I think? I think that being torn between the two of us is only fuelling your frustration. I think it’s a big part of why you are in this place you’re in.”
    â€œThat’s ridiculous.”
    â€œReally? Think about it – could you choose? If faced with an ultimatum, forced to choose between us. Could you do it?” A fleeting truth occurs to me, but I shove it out of my mind so quickly that I could have imagined it and I remain silent. “You couldn’t, could you?”
    â€œI made my choice, I chose you. But that was before . . . I’m not the same person now.”
    â€œI’m no fool, Rebecca. Why do you think I left you? You chose me, but your heart was torn between us from the moment he walked through that crowd and you realised he was alive. Before that, even.” I have never heard him speak with such earnestness.
    â€œIs this what you two have been discussing behind my back?” I smile, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
    â€œWe don’t talk about you as much as you seem to think,” he mocks, “but he’s not as bad as I thought.”
    â€œSo, did you tell him? About the other day?” The day I jumped your bones, I add in my head.
    â€œA gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell, Rebecca. That would be playing dirty.”
    â€œYou once said you would fight dirty to keep me.”
    â€œThat was when you had me believing I wouldn’t need to.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” I blurt out, turning to look at him. He waits patiently. “I’m sorry I made you feel that you had to leave. I’m sorry for how I’ve been acting – for what I did to Morgan. I’m sorry for what I said to you. I’m sorry for taking advantage of you . . .” I flush scarlet but he interrupts.
    â€œYou really don’t have to apologise for that last one, Tiny. I wasn’t complaining,” he drawls but I refuse to be sidetracked.
    â€œAnd I’m sorry about the baby. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you and I’m so, so sorry that I couldn’t save . . .”
    â€œNo!” he yells, so loudly that I give a start of fright and slam on the brakes. We are both thrown forward and I hit the horn with my chest. Reed quickly eases himself through his open window and yells to Jethro and Kwan, who are now running towards us.
    â€œIt’s fine, everything is fine! Woman driver!” he concludes, and I can see them laughing as they slow to a walk.
    I wait for him to get back in his seat and then I ease my foot back on the gas.
    â€œLet me make this very simple, Tiny.” His voice is low and serious. “You don’t ever apologise for that. The rest, yes – you’ve been a super bitch and you owe a lot of people an apology – but that? That’s on me.”
    I can feel the heat in my face and my emotions are spinning wildly, but rather than get into an argument, I keep my thoughts to myself.

 
    chapter 12
    W e make it across the bridge without incident and I watch as the first Humvee moves onto the other side, a minuscule black shape in the distance.
    Jethro and Kwan are talking amiably with Reed, and I shield my eyes against the sun as I stand with my back to the three of them. Twenty minutes later we are once again on our way.
    â€œWe should make Corning just after lunch.” Archer is consulting the map. Corning, a city in Clay County, Arkansas, is only seven miles from the Missouri border boundary fences, which run along the old State Line Road. Our plan is to attack the fence tonight, under the cover of darkness. That leaves us the afternoon to prepare. “Or not,” Archer adds a moment later and I