r /> in the storm that's coming."
Patiently his tethered mount waited while Troy
lifted me up and sat me before him on the saddle. I
felt mean and spiteful as he swung up to sit behind
me, guiding his mount skillfully, even as he put his
free arm about my waist protectively.
"It's already raining."
"I know that."
"We'll never make it back to the house before
the storm strikes in full force."
"I suspect we won't. That's why I'm heading for
an old abandoned barn that used to store the grains
earlier Tattertons grew."
"You mean your ancestors knew how to do
something besides make toys?"
"I suspect everyone's ancestors had more than
one skill,"
"Yours, I'm sure, had servants to do all the
farming."
"You are probably right. However, it takes
some talent to make the money to pay tenant farmers." "It takes more than talent to survive in the
wilderness."
"Touche. Now keep quiet and let me get my
bearings." He brushed his wet hair from his forehead,
looked around, then turned his horse eastward. Black thunderclouds blew in from the
southwest, soon followed by sizzling bolts of
lightning, and despite my will to escape him, it felt
good to have his arm about me, holding me secure as
the barn came finally into sight.
It smelled old and sour in the dilapidated