Page 26 of Legacy's Call

“This is me.” She pointed at a small two-person tent behind the big tent where she worked.

“Where are all of your belongings?” He frowned. There was hardly any room in the tent.

“In the admin tent in the trunk under the conference room table. I have room enough for a change of clothes and my sleeping cot here. I have some books and a lantern. It’s battery-operated and rechargeable. Plus, I can zip this flap. Less creepy crawlies that way.”

“And where’s your tent? Because it looks like it was sent to you from a camping store.”

She shrugged. “It was. My cousin sent it to me. I didn’t need all that room. We put homemade bunk beds in it and provide beds for twenty children.”

Ronan crossed his arms over his chest. “Not many people would do that.”

“Wrong.” She laughed. “I did it. Shelly sleeps in the medical tent and gave up her tent for the same reason. Louis sleeps in the camp’s communications tent and gave his up, too.”

Ronan smiled at her. “I stand corrected.”

Fleur grabbed at her heart. “Oh, a man who admits when he’s wrong. Be still, my heart.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “I enjoyed tonight. What time can you meet tomorrow to go over those reports?”

“Ah, I have to help Shelly with the clinic line in the morning. I’ll be back as soon as that’s done. Butyou have access to the documents. You saw where they were filed, right?”

“I did.”

“Then just make yourself at home. Earl Adams and Louis Halstead were the only people working in the tent with me. Both are on loan to other sections because convoys have been stopped. Earl works with sanitation, and Louis is helping out with repairs and works in the administration tent when he can.”

“I’ll do that after I talk to Habib.”

“Oh, that’s right.” She slapped her head with her hand. “I forgot. I’ll see if someone else can cover for me on the clinic line.”

“It would be better if you weren’t present.” Ronan held up a hand when she started to object. “Simply because I can meet with him on his ground in his camp.”

“You’re going to go into the militia camp?” She shook her head. “Remember when I said you were the complete package? I retract that. Brains are required to be that, and you’re obviously missing a few.”

Ronan tossed his head back and laughed. The deep, throaty boom surrounded her, and she smiled at him. Their sense of humor melded so well. “I won’t be going alone or unarmed.”

She put her hands on her hips and stared up at him. “Well, that would change things.”

“I’ve worked with factions of militia throughout the world. They respect money and power. Guardian has both.”

“But there are only five of you and over seventy or so of them.”

Ronan chuckled. “That makes it an unfair fight. We’ll have the advantage.”

She rolled her eyes. “Not full of yourself, are you?”

“Nope. I just know the capabilities of my team. Good night, Fleur. I’ll see you after you get done at the clinic.”

“Good night, and thank you for dinner. I admit I was hungry.” She lifted the remains of her dinner.

“The invitation stands, and I mean that.”

“Thank you.” She watched as he walked back toward his camp then unzipped the small tent, stooped to go in, and turned on the battery-operated light. After zipping herself in, she took off her boots and sighed, wiggling her toes. The freedom of not wearing boots was simple but one she enjoyed. She slept in the clothes she wore and would shower and change her clothes in the morning. The light blanket she had wouldn’t be used except as protection forher cot. She pulled the rubber band off the bottom of her ponytail and unbraided her hair. Her one luxury was her brush—real boar bristles with a mahogany handle. She closed her eyes and brushed her hair, starting at the bottom and working her way up.

“Knock, knock.” Shelly’s voice came from outside her tent.

“Come on in.”

Shelly unzipped the flap and stooped in. After zipping up the flap, she sat on the end of Fleur’s cot. “Okay, I’m insane. Tell me I’m insane.”

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