“No.”
His body seemed to tighten at the question. Sore spot? Hadn’t the Voice said he wasn’t military but was trained as a lethal weapon? She had to find out if the Voice could even be trusted. Everything he’d told her about Travis seemed to be true.
“Did you used to be in the military?”
He finished chewing his bite as he shook his head no. His blue gaze was intense, as if he didn’t like her line of questioning.
“Have you been trained to fight and shoot a gun?”
His brows drew together. He plunged in another bite of pancake.
“Forgive me. That query feels too direct to you?”
He shrugged, not answering.
“O-kay. Mr. Mute doesn’t want to answer.”
His brows rose as he darted a glance at her.
“It’s all right. I can keep asking my questions. I didn’t mean to upset you; you just seem like a tough dude who could take care of business if necessary and you did pull a gun on me yesterday. Just wondering who trained you to be like that or if it’s just instinctive.” She was talking too fast, still half afraid he would take care of business and eliminate her after he finished his bacon. The bright sun glittering off the mountain lake and the warm, accepting presence of Greer reassured her enough to not run screaming into the mountains.
“Not upset,” he said, crunching on his final piece of bacon.
She waited, but that was all he was giving her. He was a tough nut to crack for sure. “Okay, a couple more questions. Then we’ll go meet Brave and if you don’t mind, I’d love an introduction to your horses.”
He gave her his slow grin and a nod.
She really liked that grin. She rubbed her hands together, pushing her worries aside. Greer couldn’t possibly hurt her. He was a true gentleman cowboy and the Voice had said he would respect and protect women.
“I’m so excited about the horses. Okay, last question for the breakfast table. Why do you eat like you’re a fireman and there’s going to be an emergency at any moment?”
He had his fork almost to his mouth with his last bite of pancakes, but he set it down at that question. His plate was almost clean. He’d probably been taught to “polish it clean” like Sister Weatherspoon had expected of Travis and Emery. Sometimes Emery left food on her plate simply because she wanted to be a bit rebellious, but over the past nine years she hadn’t been able to afford that luxury.
Now with the money from the Voice, she supposed she could be wasteful. She had no idea what to do with all that money. Maybe after she got the location of the weapon and went back to teaching school, she could donate it to World Orphans, her favorite Christian charity.
“Busy,” he muttered.
“I’m sure you’re a very busy, very productive cowboy, but you should try to slow down and savor your food. That was the most delectable breakfast I’ve ever had, and I’m not sure you fully experienced the flavor of one delicious bite.” She was teasing him, which should’ve been awkward as he didn’t seem like a guy most people would even attempt to tease. He was the last person on earth she should want to tease with, but she found she couldn’t help herself.
He smiled and shook his head. Then he lifted his fork that was loaded with pancake, peanut butter, bananas, and berries. He put it in his mouth and very slowly chewed, staring at her the entire time.
“Um … yeah … so delicious … ooh, la la … mmm-hmm,” she murmured in a fake husky tone as he ate. “I’m just helping you to enjoy the full experience.”
He swallowed his bite and chuckled at her. “Thanks.” Drinking some milk, he asked with no prompting on her part, “Finished with questions?”
She was impressed. He was trying to continue the conversation. “Apologies, but I do have one more. Peanut butter on your pancakes?”
He nodded. “Delicious and nutritious.”
She laughed. “I’ll take your word for it. And look at all the words you’re sharing with me. If you were one of my students, I’d give you a four.”
“Four? Not an A?”
“Nope. No letter grades in elementary school, thank you very much. Four means proficient, competent, adept, skilled, capable. Hmm … nope. Honestly, you haven’t talked enough to deserve a four. Maybe a two and a half. I was being benevolent earlier.”
He laughed again. Then he stood and started cleaning up breakfast. Emery stood to help. She would do about anything to make him laugh.
Even give up on your quest to avenge your brother?
She startled and got a sideways glance from Greer.
Anything but that. She had to think of Travis and be loyal to her flesh and blood. If the Voice was to be believed, she had to play her part, complete Travis’s mission, and be a true patriot to her country. There was no need to hurt or imprison Greer. She could easily believe he was a warrior but a pawn. She didn’t want any harm to come to him.
But Greer was proving to be much more than she’d bargained for. Already she found herself not hating him or thinking of him as “growly.” She had to somehow keep her distance or she’d fail the mission and probably put herself in grave danger.