Harvest Moon Read Online Free PDF Page A

pain slowed me immediately. “ OW !”
    “Here.”
    He gently lifted me by my waist. I stood, and my head was in his chest. His genuine concern had softened my defenses toward him, but I had to stay focused. I stepped back, and he waited, holding the backpack as I rubbed my eyes and pulled up the zipper on my coveralls. My hip was still sore, but I could tell it was getting better. It hurt, but not as fiercely as before. Still, I let him slip a strong arm around my waist and hold me close against his body as we practically jogged back to camp.
    “I’m sorry I fell asleep.” With every step my head bounced against his shoulder.
    “It’s my fault. I did too, and now it’s almost dinner.”
    We quickly went up the next hill and then down again to the break in the fence. I stood on one foot as he rolled the chicken wire back then caught me again and lifted me through the opening. Quickly we were back at the small cabins, but just as we stepped out by the guardhouse, voices made us jump back.
    I almost cried out in pain at our sudden halt, and the fact that he was nervous made my chest tighten uncomfortably. Gallatin covered my mouth, holding me close against his chest. My back was pressed against the wall of the cabin, and as he peeked around the corner, he slid his palm from my face to cover my hand. Instantly, a feeling of calm flowed through me, unclenching the fear in my lungs. I thought of the way a cat relaxes under a long stroke, and my eyes almost closed.
    “I haven’t seen him since lunch,” I heard Ovett say.
    “I checked the barn, the yard, his cabin.” It was Cato, and she sounded agitated. “I had to help Oma with the milking this afternoon.”
    Gallatin looked down and gave me a mischievous grin as if he’d just pulled the best prank. My eyebrows pulled together. I didn’t understand his response, but I couldn’t help smiling in reply. Then he peeked around the corner again.
    “Maybe he is with the little one,” Ovett said. “The one who was injured?”
    “She’s in his thoughts too much.” Cato sighed. “I don’t like it.”
    Gallatin didn’t look at me this time, and my stomach felt squirmy being pressed so close to him now.
    “I thought he’d chosen celibacy. With his uncle and how dangerous it is—”
    “He’s too young to make that choice,” Cato snapped. “I’m not even sure it’s the right one for him anyway. Gallatin’s too much like his father to be celibate.”
    I watched the muscle in his jaw move, and he kept his chin lifted, not meeting my eyes. I might not have the best vocabulary in the world, but I knew what celibacy meant. I just didn’t understand what it meant with regard to him. Was Gallatin some sort of priest?
    “Please try and stay calm, your grace,” Ovett’s voice was gentle now. “He’ll turn up, and we’ll be leaving soon.”
    “That’s what worries me. If anything happens to him—”
    “We’ve received no alerts of danger. As far as we can tell, the plan’s working. I just spoke to his grandfather last night.”
    “As did I. Not much longer, it seems.” Cato exhaled a delicate sigh.
    “We’ll be gone in no time. Everything here will go back to the way it was before, and your brother will be safe.”
    Their voices grew quieter, and I could tell they were walking away. So many questions hung in the silence they left behind. I was sure there was no way I could avoid asking at least a few of them. We didn’t speak as he helped me past the guards’ quarters and across the empty yard. At the grove in the center he turned to me, but his expression was troubled.
    “Are you okay?” I said.
    Instantly it vanished, and he smiled. “Yes. Thank you for going with me today.”
    “Thank you for taking me.”
    “Would you like to do it again?”
    I couldn’t figure him out, but I decided to go with whatever he was doing. For now. “Is that okay? I mean, do you think it’s safe?”
    “Of course!”
    My investigation wasn’t complete, so I