AN ETERNAL LOVE

Adira wanted him. She knew it with a sudden, urgent pang that left her breathless. But she knew it was impossible. For Damien was a church minister, and she was a witch. She had to put him out of her mind. She must. But she was unable to do that.

After the sermon and prayers concluded, the entire population of the Thunder Bay Sanctuary turned out for the mid-day meal to welcome the new minister. It was held outdoors since there was no building yet large enough to accommodate everyone for the meal.

Adira sat upon a blanket near a shade tree, putting out the food her aunt had brought along when she felt his gaze on her again. And looking up, she saw him, Damien Walter, staring at her. He did not look away when she met his eyes. Instead, he inclined his head very slightly and then turned to go back inside the church.

He wanted her to come to him. He had made it quite clear. Adira's throat went dry as she rehearsed in her mind what she would say to him. She had gone over it before, of course. Many times she had tried to imagine what explanation she could devise should she meet anyone who had seen her being hanged. But always, she had been imagining this man in her mind's eye. Secretly hoping, perhaps, that she would see him again one day.

"I left my shawl inside," Adira told her aunt.

She only looked at Adira and winked. "Best go and find it, then, Adira. Before someone else does."

Adira thought her aunt had some clue, that she was truly going to speak privately with Damien. But no hint of disapproval clouded her shining eyes.

Adira went inside and saw him sitting on a bench near the front of the church. Her hands trembling, she went to him, stood before him, looking down, and thus having a view of the door beyond as well, lest someone came in and overheard what Damien was going to say. Would he accuse her? Condemn her? She did not know.

Lifting his eyes to hers, he whispered, "It is true, then, after all. You are alive."

mother's words seemed to ring in her ears. 'Trust no one. No one!' She could not tell him what she was. Especially

odd things, Pastor. Of course,

slowly, wonder in his eyes. "I saw you die,

for someone else, then. I have never died, else how

brought your dead body down myself, held your corpse in my arms, and dampened your hair with my tears. I..." He broke off there, closed his eyes, and lowered

me down?

and she felt an incredible yearning build

day, Adira Thompson. And now you stand here before me, as beautiful and alive as you were the first time I looked into your eyes

deny who she was, for he would never believe her. No more than she would have believed him, had he told her that

her shoulders, warm and firm. She could feel him wanting her, just by his touch. And she wanted him, too. "I knew you

idea how many times I have doubted my own

so sorry. Yes, Damien, I came to you that night. I... they wanted to put you off the ship, they thought you carried the

slowly, closing his eyes in relief. "I knew it was you. Even without the light. I would know you even if I were blind,

lowering her head. "I... I never forgot how you tried to

you will tell me the truth,"