memories of a man who was beginning to mean too much to her. So tonight, she would make more good memories that would remain long after they’d said goodbye.
Six
“H ow much farther is it?”
Zain glanced back at Madison, who was trudging up the drive slowly. “Only thirty meters or so.”
“My metrics suck, Zain,” she said, sounding winded. “And apparently so does my stamina. But at least you were kind enough to stop for food, however rushed the meal might have been.”
He’d feared being identified in such a public place. Fortunately, they’d somehow escaped recognition. “We are almost there.”
As they rounded the bend, the three-quarter moon provided enough light to illuminate the small flat-roofed structure that had been a second home during his youth. He paused and pointed. “It is right there.”
She came to his side and squinted. “Who lives here?”
“My friend Malik. He owns the surrounding land and raises sheep.”
Madison knelt to retie her shoe. “Does he know we’re coming?”
“No, but he will be glad to see me.” Or so he hoped. Seven years had come and gone since their last contact, but they had been the best of friends though they lived on opposite sides of the social dividing line.
She straightened and secured the band in her hair. “Let’s get going, then, before my legs give out completely. If that happens, you’ll have to carry me the rest of the way.”
He saw no reason not to do that now. Without giving Madison warning, he swept her up, tossed her over his shoulder and started toward their destination.
“Put me down, you royal caveman.”
Had she not been laughing, he would have complied due to the insult. “I am not a caveman. I am a gentleman.”
“A gentleman Neanderthal.”
“I am the Neanderthal who is coming to your rescue, therefore you should refrain from complaining.”
“My hero.”
Ignoring her sarcasm, he continued until he made it up the single step and onto the small porch before he slid her down to her feet. “Are you sufficiently rested now?”
She adjusted her clothing and sighed. “I’m probably a mess.”
“You are a beautiful mess.”
She smiled. “You are a wonderful liar.”
He reached out and touched her flushed cheek. “It is unfortunate you do not realize the extent of your beauty, yet is it also refreshing. I have known too many women whose beauty is only superficial. Yours is far-reaching.”
She laid her palm on his hand. “You are determined to say all the right things tonight, aren’t you?”
He also wanted to do all the right things, avoiding any missteps along the way. That alone prevented him from kissing her now, though he desperately wanted to do that, and more. “I am only trying to give you an enjoyable evening.”
“So far, so good, expect for the marathon walk. Now, do you think you might want to knock before your friend goes to bed?”
“That is probably a good idea.” He reluctantly dropped his hand from her face and rapped on the door.
Several minutes passed before Malik answered the summons. “Yes?”
Zain removed his cap. “Do you have water for two weary travelers, sadiq? ”
The initial confusion on his friend’s face quickly dissolved into recognition. “Zain, is that you?”
“Have I changed that much?”
Malik greeted him with a stern expression. “No, you have not changed. You are still the kalet who always appears unannounced.”
Sadly, he had mistakenly believed he would be welcome. “Perhaps I should return another time.”
“I prefer not to wait another seven years before I can beat you at a game of Tarneeb.” He opened the door wide and grinned. “Marhaban , sadiq.”
The warm greeting lifted Zain’s spirits and concerns. He entered the house and accepted his friend’s brief embrace before he remembered Madison was still waiting outside.
He turned and gestured her forward. “Malik, this is Madison Foster. Madison, Malik El-Amin.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet
Six
“H ow much farther is it?”
Zain glanced back at Madison, who was trudging up the drive slowly. “Only thirty meters or so.”
“My metrics suck, Zain,” she said, sounding winded. “And apparently so does my stamina. But at least you were kind enough to stop for food, however rushed the meal might have been.”
He’d feared being identified in such a public place. Fortunately, they’d somehow escaped recognition. “We are almost there.”
As they rounded the bend, the three-quarter moon provided enough light to illuminate the small flat-roofed structure that had been a second home during his youth. He paused and pointed. “It is right there.”
She came to his side and squinted. “Who lives here?”
“My friend Malik. He owns the surrounding land and raises sheep.”
Madison knelt to retie her shoe. “Does he know we’re coming?”
“No, but he will be glad to see me.” Or so he hoped. Seven years had come and gone since their last contact, but they had been the best of friends though they lived on opposite sides of the social dividing line.
She straightened and secured the band in her hair. “Let’s get going, then, before my legs give out completely. If that happens, you’ll have to carry me the rest of the way.”
He saw no reason not to do that now. Without giving Madison warning, he swept her up, tossed her over his shoulder and started toward their destination.
“Put me down, you royal caveman.”
Had she not been laughing, he would have complied due to the insult. “I am not a caveman. I am a gentleman.”
“A gentleman Neanderthal.”
“I am the Neanderthal who is coming to your rescue, therefore you should refrain from complaining.”
“My hero.”
Ignoring her sarcasm, he continued until he made it up the single step and onto the small porch before he slid her down to her feet. “Are you sufficiently rested now?”
She adjusted her clothing and sighed. “I’m probably a mess.”
“You are a beautiful mess.”
She smiled. “You are a wonderful liar.”
He reached out and touched her flushed cheek. “It is unfortunate you do not realize the extent of your beauty, yet is it also refreshing. I have known too many women whose beauty is only superficial. Yours is far-reaching.”
She laid her palm on his hand. “You are determined to say all the right things tonight, aren’t you?”
He also wanted to do all the right things, avoiding any missteps along the way. That alone prevented him from kissing her now, though he desperately wanted to do that, and more. “I am only trying to give you an enjoyable evening.”
“So far, so good, expect for the marathon walk. Now, do you think you might want to knock before your friend goes to bed?”
“That is probably a good idea.” He reluctantly dropped his hand from her face and rapped on the door.
Several minutes passed before Malik answered the summons. “Yes?”
Zain removed his cap. “Do you have water for two weary travelers, sadiq? ”
The initial confusion on his friend’s face quickly dissolved into recognition. “Zain, is that you?”
“Have I changed that much?”
Malik greeted him with a stern expression. “No, you have not changed. You are still the kalet who always appears unannounced.”
Sadly, he had mistakenly believed he would be welcome. “Perhaps I should return another time.”
“I prefer not to wait another seven years before I can beat you at a game of Tarneeb.” He opened the door wide and grinned. “Marhaban , sadiq.”
The warm greeting lifted Zain’s spirits and concerns. He entered the house and accepted his friend’s brief embrace before he remembered Madison was still waiting outside.
He turned and gestured her forward. “Malik, this is Madison Foster. Madison, Malik El-Amin.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet
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