Page 17 of Prisoner of War
“They didn’t have to,” she assured him.“I just have to watch you move through your day to see it. You’re driving yourself too hard, Nick.”
He patted her hip. “I need access to the gun,” he said gently.
She moved off him. As he sat up, she reached for her jeans and slid them on once more.
“I’m not angry with you,” Nick said at last.
“I know.”
“It’s just that you’re the second person today to tell me to take it easy.”
“I didn’tsay to take it easy,” she told him gently. “I just said I can see how hard you’re working. That’s all. I’m not stupid, Nick. If you don’t do it, there is no one else.”
He stiffened.
“What?” she asked, sitting next to him. She could feel the heat radiating from him, this close.
“That’s not the way I planned it.”
“Planned what?”
“It’s not supposed to be me at all,” he said softly. “It can’tbe.”
“What’s not supposed to be you?” she asked gently.
He was silent a long time. It was so unlike Nick to not have the answer at hand that she could feel her heart starting to thud with the tension of wondering what had disconcerted him so much.
He picked up her hand and placed it on his thigh. He stroked the fingers, sending shivers up her arm, but he did it absently. The physical man’sequivalent of doodling. “The Mexican government has asked us to reopen diplomatic relations with them,” he said at last.
Calli nodded. “That makes the people in this house the official representatives of Vistaria...” Then it fell into place for her. “Nick, are you saying you don’t think you’re fit to lead them?”
“I’m not a leader.”
“Yes, you are,” Calli said quickly. “You’re a natural leader.I’ve seen you. It’s second nature to you.”
He shook his head. “I’m not supposed to betheleader. That’s not my place. General Blanco is destined for that role, not me.” He sighed. “He will not step into it.”
“Will not, or cannot?” she asked gently. “There is a difference, Nick. For you, leadership comes easily. Blanco can direct military affairs, because in that role he has systems, predictableactions.”
Nick shook his head. “I am not the one to be their leader. That was not what I was supposed to be. I’m not even a proper—”
“No!” she protested. “Don’t tell me you’re not a proper Vistarian.”
“It is a truth we cannot ignore,” he said gently.
“Do you have a coin in your pocket?”
She could feel his puzzlement. Still, he delved into his pocket and pulled out one of the big Vistariancoins and held it out to her.
“Throw it on the sand over there. About twenty feet.”
He tossed it and it plunked onto the wet-packed sand in front of them, about twenty-five feet away.
“Ready?” she asked.
“For what?”
“Try to stop me.” As she finished speaking, she went for the gun on Nick’s hip. She pulled it out of the holster, turned, sighted and fired. At the same time, she threw her leftarm up, blocking Nick’s hand as he reached for the gun.
With a sour whine, the coin flew up into the air, flickering before falling into the froth of an oncoming wave. Bull’s-eye.
She returned the gun to the holster and looked at Nick. Even in the dark, she could feel his astonishment. “We’re all doing things we never thought we would be called upon to do,” she told him. “Why should you be theexception?”
