Return of the Outlaw Read Online Free

situation seem more awkward. Backing away she said, “Jeffrey it’s so nice to see you again.” She had always called him by the long form of his name, knowing he disliked it.
    “We ’ve missed you so much, young man.” She spoke in the same false, mawkish way he remembered.
    “Thank you,” he replied.  “You look very well Mrs. Hammond.”
    In an attempt at girlishness that made her look foolish, Audrey primped and smoothed her dress, obviously misunderstanding the compliment. There was an uncomfortable silence, brief but significant.
    “Everett isn ’t here,” she said.  “He should be back any time.”
    It seemed a strange thing to say but Jeff was too apprehensive to spend any time pondering strange things. He was back. He had survived some of the bloodiest battles of one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history. He had been wounded and had hovered near death for weeks , and he had survived this too. He had endured terrible pain and loneliness, and in his present sick and weak condition, he had crossed most of the breadth of the continent. He had kept his promise: he had returned. And now, here under the roof of Anne’s home, he did not care where Everett was; he had come to see Anne. 
    “Is she here?” he asked.
    “Why yes, yes she is,” Audrey paused, and her smile became more forced. “Alice, go get Anne.”
    Alice left the room, and Audrey motioned Jeff to a chair against the far wall. “Sit down, Jeffrey; I need to check the stove.” She turned and disappeared through the doorway to the porch, closing the door behind her.
    Jeff knew Audrey had to tend to her cooking. He a lso knew the door was used in the summer months to keep the heat of the stove from entering the house; still he felt abandoned and ill at ease. As he crossed the room to sit down he passed a mirror hanging on the wall and saw his reflection for the first time in weeks. Immediately he regretted his impatient decision to come here first rather than going home to clean up and change clothing. His body was thin and slightly stooped from fatigue. His clothes hung formlessly on his gaunt, six-foot-two-inch frame. His face was bearded and haggard, and he knew by his reflection, even more than by the way he felt, that the doctors had been right when they said he was not ready to attempt such a long journey.
    “ Well I’m here now,” he thought as he tried to comb his unruly, dark hair with his fingers, “and that’s what really counts.” He knew that any second Anne would burst through the door and rush into his arms, and nothing else could possibly matter after that.
    But it was more than a few seconds, in fact it was ten minutes before he heard a soft rustle in the hallway and Anne appeared.
    He rose and faced her expectantly, holding his hat in his hands.
    She looked different. Her face was ashen and drawn, her eyes were red and there was no welcoming in them.
    “Hello Anne,” he said.
    Alice appeared in the doorway behind Anne., The door from the porch opened and Audrey entered the room bringing the tantalizing smells of hot food with her. Jeff’s stomach growled. He was sure he would be invited to stay for supper. Anne smiled weakly, and walked toward him. They embraced in the middle of the room, but she avoided his lips and held to him but briefly, then stepped back. He watched her, but her eyes would not meet his. He was mystified by this change in her.
    “It ’s good to see you again,” he said, unable to think of anything else to ease the awkwardness.
    She looked up at him, and her face was lifeless. “It ’s good to see you too, Jeff.”
    This time he caught her eyes and tried without success to define what he saw there. He attempted to hold her gaze, but she looked away. The porch door closed again —Audrey had returned to her cooking, but Alice remained in the doorway. Jeff wished she would leave, so he and Anne could speak more freely.
    “Shall we go for a walk?” he asked.
    She moved toward the door.