Casserine Read Online Free PDF

as if he were having trouble. This brought a quick, playful slap to the side of his head. “I know you do this on purpose, Jake, now don’t make me hurt you.”
    He smiled to himself as he fastened his right boot, thinking of her steady progression over the time since their arrival. Jake glanced up to see her, hands on hips, glaring down at him. “Don’t hurt me, Honey. Why don’t you go on out this morning by yourself for a change?”
    Adrian’s mouth dropped open for a moment, as Jake had broken with their little ritual. The thought of him not sitting next to her at sunrise could no longer be thought of as a disappointment, but of an unbearable longing. He had nursed her along through the torturous first month; insulting her, cajoling her, and even carrying her like a baby, when she could go no further. He had cooked her meals, cleaned her clothes, and helped her to get clean. The man, smiling playfully while he dressed, had never even touched her in an inappropriate manner. As she looked down at his scarred countenance, she suddenly realized what he meant to her. She dropped down on her knee next to him, placing her hands gently over his left arm. The look on her face tore the smile from his.
    “What’s wrong, Adrian?” He asked, quickly finishing his boot fastening, all thought to his ribbing now gone.
    “Nothing, only please come out to the porch with me.”
    “Of course, I didn’t mean to upset you. I’ve gotten so used to kidding around with you, I guess I forgot about joking around at sacred sunrise.” He stood up, bringing her with him.
    “You really are a beast,” she smiled. “Now come on.”
    They sat together sipping their tea, munching on the breakfast Adrian had prepared, and kept warm within the small-insulated box, she had talked Jake into placing on the porch. In between the dusky sunset on
    Casserine, and its sunrise, lay a red gold wonderland of crystalline majesty, as light turned the heavy air into what ancient scholars must have envisioned paradise to look like. This particular morning, Adrian kept hold of Jake’s arm as they drank their tea. He sensed some change in her, almost fearful in its nature.
    “We will have to go up to base tomorrow,” Jake reminded her, thinking that was causing her sudden wariness. “I hope it won’t upset your balance here very much. I talked to Colonel Risling, and he gave me permission to cut short our furlough as soon as we check out, that is of course, if you still wish to come back here.”
    She set her teacup down, and gripped his arm with both hands. “I never want to leave here, Jake. I…I love you.”
    His teacup dropped from his suddenly nerveless fingers, spilling the little bit of tea into his lap. Ignoring his now wet left thigh, he turned to face her in the glistening dawn, cupping her face with his left hand. “But Adrian, we hardly know each other.”
    She laughed, and grabbed him around the neck, drawing him to her. “You unrepentant beast of a man. You would zing me even now, and I love you for it.”
    Jake slowly pushed her away, until he could gently press his lips to hers. The shock of this first journey into intimacy raced through them both, product of weeks fraught with gentle looks, and simple kindness. When finally he pulled away, he whispered, “I love you more than my life. I never want you to leave me. I have longed for you all of my life, and only now did I know it.”
    She leaned against him, as they watched the finish of their first sunrise, joined in spirit and reality.
    “Jake, I feel like I can fly,” Adrian informed him as they disembarked the cruiser to begin their medical furlough.
    “It will be bad when we go back for a short time. Keep that fact inmind.”
    “No it won’t, because it will not be unknown, just like you said.” “I want to stop at the base store before we report in to Colonel Risling,” Jake said casually. “What for?”
    “A ring,” Jake replied. “I want to marry you.” She turned