Reckless Rescue Read Online Free PDF

give Marlee a hug. “How are you holding up?”
    Marlee shrugged. “I’m surviving.”
    “What you need is someone cute to cuddle with.” Jaimma winked.
    “I don’t want to cuddle with anyone.” Jaimma was only trying to help, but it didn’t make Marlee feel any better. She didn’t want to even contemplate another relationship. Ever.
    “Come on, Marlee. It’s been nearly two weeks. You can’t avoid it forever. The council is only going to be patient for so long.” Jaimma patted her on the back. “I know it’s hard, but being alone can’t be much fun either.”
    Marlee ignored her comments, and stared at Beren who was walking around handing out numbers. How did he manage to stay so positive, so happy? He was alone too and had been for so long now. Since he hadn’t managed to father a child by thirty, no one even considered him as a possible partner now. Marlee felt a pang of sympathy as he handed her a number.
    “What are you beautiful ladies planning to do today?” he asked, winking at them both.
    Marlee took her number and turned away. It was a relief that she could be friendly to someone without everyone immediately assuming she wanted to sleep with him, but she couldn’t bring herself to smile at anyone today.
    “Marlee’s still upset about Nelor,” she heard Jaimma whisper, although she was pretty sure Beren already knew it. It wasn’t like anyone had any privacy around here.
    Kalim, one of the council members, called out numbers. She liked him. He was strong and fair, and always cheerful, despite suffering from horrible arthritis in his hands. Marlee turned to watch as he drew each number, written on a wood chip, from a bowl. With each number he called out, someone stepped forwards to choose tasks for the day. Hopefully her number would come up soon, and she could escape from the crowd.
    Jaimma squeezed Marlee’s hand as she watched Nelor walk over to pick his job. She couldn’t tear her eyes away. His face looked bare, the beard shaved off, and Marlee felt a pang of sadness. Kalim wrote his name on the board next to digging sugar beets and he headed outside, head down. Marlee stared after him.
    There were only a handful of people left by the time her number was called, and as she headed to the front of the room, she wondered if she dared request to work with Nelor. She hadn’t spoken to him since he’d left, and she missed him dreadfully. Surely there could be no objection to them talking?
    “What would you like to do today, Marlee?” Kalim asked, his eyes twinkling.
    She took a deep breath. “I’d like to dig beets.”
    Kalim’s brow furrowed. “I think we have enough people digging sugar beets already.”
    Since Nelor’s name was the only one beside the job, it was obvious what he meant—she should be obedient, move on, and stay away from Nelor.
    It was so unfair. She just wanted to talk to him, nothing more. Wasn’t she even allowed to do that now? They had been friends since they were children, and barely a day had gone by when she hadn’t talked to him, even before they had lived together. Now she was expected to forget he even existed?
    Marlee lifted her chin. “Nelor is the only one digging sugar beets,” she said. “That hardly seems like too many people to me.”
    Kalim shook his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea right now, Marlee.” His voice was gentle.
    “What, we’re not even allowed to work together anymore? We’re just going to be talking, in full view of the entire village, what do you think is going to happen?”
    “You need to let go, Marlee, and spending time with Nelor isn’t going to help that process. Pick something else.”
    Marlee’s eyes filled with tears, making it hard to see. Her momentary courage deserted her. She scanned the few jobs left on the board. She didn’t want to trim the goats’ hooves—there were too many people doing other chores in the barn. And boiling up the beets to begin the long process of producing sugar was