Read Sojourner for Free Online Page B

touched me, my fingers trying to understand all the emotions and panic swirling around me.
    I draw a shaky breath, trying to reconcile the Lev of my nightmares with this guy.  He frowns, and his hands remained close, as though he desires to hold me.
    “I want to go home’” I whisper.
    “Let’s go to the truck, and I’ll take you.”  He gently moves his hand toward my back but I forced myself to hurry so he won’t touch me.  It all blurs together, and I need some sleep.  I want to make it go away.  I can feel him behind me, ready to reach out.  He follows me to the passenger side and opens the door for me.  When he’s sure I’m inside, he closes the door and strides to the driver’s side.
    The rest of the way home a silence flourishes between us.  His hand rests on the gearshift. And he keeps looking at me.
    “Why are you in my dreams?” I whisper, staring at his perfect profile, his golden hair shimmering in the headlights of a passing car.  His frown deepens, and I know he’s hiding something, especially when I see his hands clench the steering wheel.
    “I’m sorry, but I don’t have a clue what you are talking about.”  The words come out through tight lips and he stares at the road, not at my face.  “What dreams?”
    Knowing I’m not going to get anywhere, I shake my head and look away. “It doesn’t matter.”  I want to close my eyes, but I know the dreams will be waiting, and so will the Lev I don’t understand, the dangerous gleam in his eyes, not this person who is warm and seems to care.  How can I reconcile the two?
    Without directions, he drives right to my house and pulls into the driveway where Jimmie stands on the porch.  As the vehicle pulls in, the headlights’ flickering arrests his pacing, and he’s already striding down to the pickup before I even open the door.
    “Lizzie?”  He cranes his neck, checking both the driver’s side and the passenger seat.
    “I’m right here, Jimmie.”  I step away from the car.  Even in the shallow street lamp light, he notices the baggy clothing draping my form.  And then his gaze settles on Lev.
    “Where have you been?” he demands.  “I was worried sick about you when you didn’t come right home or answer your cell.  I was just about to drive to the cemetery.”    He stares at Lev.  “And who are you?”
    “Lev Walker, sir.”  He offers his hand to Jimmie for an introductory shake.  Jimmie stands back until Lev lowers his hand.
    “What happened?  And whose clothes are those?”
    “Mine, Sir.  Elizabeth slipped on the bridge at the cemetery and fell into the water.  My father is Evan Walker, the cemetery caretaker.  We live on the property so I took her to my house where my sister, Celia helped her into a warm bath and gave her some of my dry clothes.  She was soaking wet and freezing.”  He swallows hard, probably wondering if Jimmie is going to come unglued.  Instead Jimmie grabs my arm.
    “Are you all right?” he demands.  Worry lines crease his forehead, and his grip cinches down on me almost painfully tight.
    “I’m fine, thanks to Lev and his sister.”
    “Where is the Jeep?”
    “At the cemetery.  I lost my keys and purse in the water so I thought maybe you could drive me to it in the morning right before school.”  Jimmie stares at us both, weighing our words against his better judgment.
    “All right,” he finally concedes.  “I can do that.”  He slips his arm around me.  “Let’s get you inside.”
    I let him lead me, aware that Lev still watches from beside his truck, keys still in hand.  My steps falter and I turn slowly.  “Lev?”  I say, my voice trembling.
    “Yeah?”  His worried eyes stare.
    “Thank you.”  I barely get the words out before Jimmie whisks me inside.  Maybe he is my downfall, but all I know is that he could have left me in the icy water.  That has to count for something, doesn’t it?  From inside, I stand at the window and watch him