Page 53 of Burnin' For You

“It doesn’t seem to want to power on,” Brownie said. He was fiddling with the connection to the battery, a large 12-volt.

Brownie got up, made a face. “We might have to use the battery from the car. It’ll drain it, but if we only use it for a short burst, the radio’ll power up.” He turned to Gilly. “Did you find everything?”

She managed a nod, not sure what to say.

“I’ll be right back. Make yourselves at home,” Brownie said and headed outside.

The door shut behind him with a click, and she looked at Reuben.

He stood up, watching Brownie go, then turned to Gilly.

“What is it?” He walked over to her. “You’re freaking me out a little. Why didn’t you want to get into the car with him?”

She ran her hands over her arms, suddenly aware of the chill that had gathered in the cabin. “It’s nothing—I was being…it doesn’t matter. The important thing is that we get help.”

He must have seen her shiver, because he reached out and touched her shoulders. Ran his hands over them, down her arms.

He had warm, big hands, a solid grip, and she had an insane urge to lean into him, to let him enfold her in his embrace.

She was just tired. And hurting. And— “The fact is, the car reminded me of something that happened. Years ago—it’s not a big deal, but…”

And then she swallowed, because itwasa big deal and her lie would lodge there, right in the center of her chest. Her throat suddenly thickened and she shook her head and stepped out of his grip. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up. Really, it’s not important.”

She headed for the kitchen, but Reuben’s voice stopped her.

“Gilly.”

He came up behind her, and she could feel his solid presence. “What happened?”

She shook her head, crazy tears burrowing behind her eyes. Now? Really? But maybe if she could get it out, he could tell her she was just overreacting, letting the past manhandle her. She could break free, find her footing, not let her fears turn her weak.

“I was attacked when I was sixteen by a man in a station wagon.”

She said it plain out, hoping that by voicing it, it might dispel the silent hold the secret had on her.

She felt his hand on her shoulder, turning her. And when she looked up at him, Reuben wore horror in his eyes. “Did you say you were…attacked?”

She made a face, trying to shake away the rush of emotion. “He didn’t really hurt me—someone came along and scared him off. But, yeah. I was walking alone late at night, going home from the fire base. It was summer, and nothing ever happens in Ember—we all know each other, right? And I only live about a mile away. It was late, though, and dark. I reached the gravel road and heard a car behind me, slowing, pulling up. I turned, and I saw it—this station wagon. Just like Brownie’s—with the round window in the back.

“I freaked out a little, started to run, and that’s when I heard footsteps. It was dark and I tripped, otherwise I would have outrun him. That’s when I hurt my knee—I landed hard on a boulder, and it hurt so bad. I didn’t realize I’d broken my kneecap. I couldn’t get away.”

He swallowed, looked stricken.

“I don’t know what he looked like. And it was dark. He came over, picked me up, threw his hand over my mouth, and I was just—helpless. I kicked and tore at him, but he wrestled me back to the car. Opened the back door and threw me in. And it smelled…” She pressed her hand to her mouth, the bile rising. “Dirty. Old. Feral. He was ripping at my shorts, and I was kicking him, but he was big—really big—and strong, and I was no match for him.”

“Oh no.” Reuben’s jaw hardened, and he shook his head, something fierce in his eyes. “Tell me he didn’t—”

“No, that’s the thing. Jock, Kate’s dad, came driving up the road—I could hear his motorcycle from a distance, and I started screaming. I think maybe the man realized that he couldn’t, well…so he let me go. Just threw me out of the car, into the ditch, and drove off. Jock found me there and took me home.”

“And you never saw him? Never pressed charges?”

She shook her head. “I didn’t know who it was—I could never have recognized him. I didn’t tell my parents for years. And they were so worried about my knee, and I felt so angry and…weak. And helpless. And stupid for walking home in the dark.” She looked away, not able to tell him the rest, the real reason she was walking home so late, so she cut to the important part. “I vowed that I’d never let anything like that happen again. Ever.” Tough, not tender. Brave, not beautiful.

Reuben took a long breath, nodding. “I’m so sorry, Gilly.” For a big, tough man, he wore a surprising amount of emotion in his eyes, and she had to look away. “I need to know, right now—do you think it was Brownie?”

She shook her head. “No. It was just the memory…”

She felt his hand on her arm, and then, suddenly, he tugged her into his embrace.