The Red Badge of Courage: An Episode of the American Civil War by Stephen Crane (buy e reader txt) 📕

just above the horizon. We're close to my truck, but my ankle is really making this hike slow. He gives me a piggyback ride over the tough ground and hard areas of the trail, never once complaining about it. He's happy to do it, always being careful and cautious not to hurt me more.

A ray from the sun bounces off the hood of my truck, shining like a bright beacon at night.

“There it is,” I say excitedly.

We get to the vehicle and I take my keys out of my pack to unlock the door. I'm about to climb in, when he stops me.

“How about I drive us over to my truck, give you a little time to rest?”

“Sure, we can do that.” Sliding over to the passenger side, Bran puts my stuff in the bed and Buttercup climbs in the back with it.

Bran starts the truck and drives a couple miles up the dirt road to where he's parked. He puts the gear shift in park, and lets the truck idle as he stares at the wheel. He looks like he wants to say something, but he's not sure how.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Nothing, it's nothing.” Clenching the steering wheel, he rolls his hands back and forth. “I want to follow you out and into town. I want to make sure you get there safe.”

“I'll be fine, really. It's not that bad. I can drive.”

“Just let me follow you. It'll make me feel better to know you got home safe.”

“All right, you can follow me.” Opening my door, I climb down gently. “Buttercup, come on.” He jumps from the back and into the passenger seat.

Walking to the driver's side, Bran hesitates briefly before stepping out of the way. His eyes are on mine, big and bold. Moving his gaze around my face, he suddenly scoops my face into his hands and kisses me.

With crushing force, his mouth devours mine, kissing me deep and hard. Sweeping his tongue into my mouth, he tips my head, giving him better access. And I kiss back.

His lips are passionate and forceful, searing this moment in my mind. And then he's gone. His mouth breaks away as if this kiss wasn't just a kiss but a goodbye.

Taking a long step around me, he gets into his jeep and starts it up. I'm left breathless, trying to ground myself and tether my heart back inside my chest.

I can't breathe. He left me gasping for air and wondering how the hell I can feel this way from just a kiss.

It was just a kiss.

Wasn't it?

6

Melody

Still there.

I keep looking in my rear-view mirror to see if Bran is still behind me. He is, keeping close as we cruise down the road. Not walking has made my ankle throb a little less, but not by much.

I promised Bran I wouldn't be alone until I could get myself checked out. The knot is still on my head, but it isn't bleeding anymore. It's my ankle that he's worried about the most. The farm is the best place for me to recuperate.

Turning on my blinker, I pull into the driveway. Bran slows down at the entrance, his eyes lingering on mine for a long second. My heart starts to beat a little faster and my breathing slows as we stare at each other.

Giving me a light wave, Bran hits the gas and drives off. A wave of sadness washes over me as I watch his taillights disappear. I miss him. It's strange and weird, but I actually miss him.

Parking my truck up near the house, Ryder opens the door and smiles.

“Hey, stranger, you're a day early,” he says, walking to my door. His eyes widen as he sees my dirty clothes and scraped up skin. “What the hell happened to you?”

Ryder opens my door, and I carefully step out. “It's a long story.”

He looks me up and down, his eyes firmly setting on my ankle. “You're hurt, Mel. You're hurt really bad.” Looking up at the house, he calls out to Jenna, “Hey, hold the door open!” He sweeps me off my feet and carries me into the house. Buttercup nearly knocks him over as he runs straight through door to his food dish.

“I'm fine, Ryder, really.”

“You're not fine. Look at the size of your ankle. We need to get you to a doctor.”

“Ryder, stop, you're being insane right now. I'm all right.”

“You're going to the doctor,” he snaps as he sits me in one of the kitchen chairs.

“If it's still swollen tomorrow, then I'll go. I can move it. I know it's not broken or anything.”

“You don't know that. Are you a doctor?”

Rolling my eyes, I shake my head. I'm not arguing with him about this. I'll go tomorrow if it doesn't feel any better. But for tonight, I just need my bed.

Jenna comes out of the bathroom with the first aid kit and sets it down on the kitchen table. “You really did a number to yourself, huh?”

“Yeah, my trip didn't exactly go as I imagined it would.”

Ryder lifts my foot gently into his lap, and carefully pulls off my unlaced boot. “So, spill it already. What the hell happened?”

As Jenna feeds Buttercup and Ryder cleans my head wound, I tell them everything that happened. Well, almost everything. . . I tell them about the unusually high water and washing machine style rapids that sucked me in. I tell them how I lost my pack and hit my head. And reluctantly, I tell them about Branson, everything but the dirty sex. That part is just for me and Bran.

Ryder and Jenna glance at each other. It's quick, but I see it the second I say his name.

“What?” I ask, looking between them. “What was that look for?”

“Nothing, don't worry about it. I'm just really glad he was there to help you. I don't know what I'd do if something ever happened to you.”

“Tell me what it is. You can't look at each other like that and not tell