C l scheel, p.22
C L Scheel, page 22
"Miz Jennings, this is my sister's kid, my nephew, Sam Akkers."
There was no mistaking the translucent white skin and the blue-black eyes. Her breath caught in her throat and she took an involuntary step backward.
"Well, he's not a kid exactly. He's ‘bout as ornery as me, just a little younger.” Vandervelde grinned.
There were no furs or swords—and no haunted look in those fierce eyes. The ghost of an aged photograph and a smiling boy standing in front of his father, touched her memory and her heart. Major Tom Akkers’ son.
She pulled off her own glove and accepted his hand, warm and strong. He smiled at her and for an instant, a fleeting timeless moment, she thought she saw recognition in his eyes.
"Okay, we gotta roll out,” Van said. “Temperature's dropping."
Sam Akkers dropped her hand. “What about Dr. Kryk, Van?"
Vandervelde shook his head. “We're not going to find him tonight. Besides, I hate to say this, but I don't think there's much hope. It's too damn cold. We'll get some more men and try in the morning."
Sam reached for her duffel. “Here, let me take that.” He swung the bag over his shoulder and gestured to the vehicle. “I see you've got your cat, too."
"Yes, I always take him with me, on all my adventures.” She attempted a wry smile.
He opened the back door for her. “When we get back, you'll have to tell us how you got up here in the mountains, so far from civilization."
She looked at him for a long moment, taking in the astonishing familiar details of his proud face: the firm mouth and hard line of his jaw; the thick black hair just touching the collar of his coat and those fathomless eyes that seemed to see right through her, past time and memory.
"It will take a long, long time,” she said.
A warm smile touched his lips. “I have all the time in the world."
Time for her to find out why things had changed.
Or maybe, why they had never changed at all.
Suzanne climbed into the Hummer and placed Legolas next to her. Both men slid into the front seats and slammed the doors shut.
"Okay, let's roll, baby!” Van called to his ‘bad girl.'
The Hummer roared to life, spun around and headed down the road to the valley below.
Suzanne looked out through the windshield and saw the moon, gleaming and benevolent, its shining light leading the way ... home.
C.L. Scheel
"My sixth grade teacher encouraged me to write, but an opera star inspires me to persist, to stay with it."
Like most authors, writing has been a part of Christine's life for as long as she can remember. “If it is in your heart, there is no way you can ignore it or stop it."
Under A Warrior's Moon is her first published work in the science fiction/fantasy genre, and she has plans for two sequels. Having penned several works in other genres, Christine also intends to expand into the paranormal and eventually mainstream.
Born in Portland, Oregon, but raised and educated in the Pacific Northwest, Christine finally settled in Reno, Nevada and resides there with her family, a fluffy red chow-chow, and recently, an elegant, stuck-up black cat. Her interests range from horses to ballet; mountain hiking to opera. However, books and writing are closest to her heart.
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Visit www.hardshell.com for information on additional titles by this and other authors.
Red Eclipse (html), C L Scheel
