Beyond the Shadow of War Read Online Free Page A

off at some unseen memory. The slight stiffening of her shoulders as if bracing for confrontation. The way she nibbled at her thumbnail without ever actually biting down on it.
    He took a deep breath and tried to set aside such thoughts. He knew it would take some adjustment, this marriage of theirs. Anya wasn’t just a new bride; she was still recovering from the war’s deep and jagged scars on her emotions. But at this moment, Danny chose to shun such thoughts because this was their wedding day.
    She stirred, rousing from her sleep. “Did you say something?”
    He shook his head and brushed the wisps of hair away from her eyes. “No, but I do have something I need to tell you.”
    Her expression tensed. “Tell me what?”
    He crooked his finger, motioning her closer then whispered in her ear, “I love you, Anya Liesj Versteeg McClain.”
    A shy smile eased her expression. “Such a mouthful, all those names.”
    “Yes, but they’re yours and I love them. All of them. Preferably together.”
    “And would you prefer I call you Daniel Howard McClain?”
    “Actually, I prefer Lieutenant Daniel Howard McClain. But I’ll make an exception. Just for you.”
    “How gracious of you.”
    “Then again, I don’t care what you call me as long as you call me.”
    “Is that so?”
    “Yes, ma’am, that’s affirmative.” He leaned down to kiss her lips. When she didn’t respond, he sat back. She motioned with her eyes, nodding toward the elderly lady in the seat facing them. The white-haired woman smiled, apparently enjoying their public display of affection.
    “Got it,” Danny whispered. “Okay, then.” He nodded toward the window. “Take a look. We’re coming into London.”
    “Already?”
    He’d meant it as a diversion, hoping to distract the old lady. But when he saw the crumbled, massive piles of debris and still-smoldering ashes, he froze, unable to look away.
    As the train gradually slowed, a number of houses flashed by, some still intact but most gutted and empty. As if a giant had walked through the neighborhoods, squashing each home to ruin with mighty, deliberate steps. In some areas, demolition had cleared block after block, leaving only crumbled foundations and an occasional chimney where homes once stood.
    In the front yards of those still standing, people of all ages picked through the rubble. He wondered if they were looking for missing heirlooms, searching for anything that could be salvaged. Or were these complete strangers, pilfering through the dusty remnants of someone else’s life?
    With her back still leaning against him, Danny felt Anya’s shiver as she gazed at the sight. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer.
    “Anya?”
    She turned to face him, and the haunted look in her eyes almost undid him.
    “It’s all right. I’m here.”
    She grasped his hand and held tight. “I know. It just looks‌—‌”
    “‌—‌too much like home?”
    She nodded slowly.
    “That day I found you in your house. Do you remember showing me the little pig Hans had carved for you?”
    “Yes. I was just thinking about that this morning.”
    “Do you still have it?”
    “Of course. Why?”
    He was stalling, trying to keep her distracted from the rubble passing by outside the window. “Oh, no reason. Just wondering. What do you call it? In Dutch, I mean?”
    Her expression lightened. “ Mijn vliegend varken.”
    “Main veekend farkan?”
    Anya shook her head and tried not to snicker.
    “What’s so funny? I said it just the way you did.”
    She covered her face as silent laughter shook her shoulders.
    “Oh, come on now. It wasn’t that bad, was it?”
    Still smiling, she finally looked up at him. “That was worse than bad, Danny. Please‌—‌you have to promise me you won’t ever try to speak Dutch again.”
    “What? Why?”
    Anya pressed her fingers against his lips. “Because you sound like a pig, and it’s an insult to the Dutch language.” She shook her head, still