Enemy of Mine

  Chapter 29

  It took several attempts at pushing eyelids to do the unthinkable, but finally there was light. The sun streaked its way through the orchard, browned the grass Will laid on. His horse’s back hooves moved nervously close to his head.

  “Get his legs.” Will heard Clio’s hurried voice say.

  “God, he’s big. I thought men of this time were supposed to be shorter, especially weigh less,” said another voice.

  “Urania, you lived through this age just like we did. What are you talking about?” an annoyed Erato asked.

  He looked up to see Clio, Erato, and another woman who looked almost exactly like them, all clad in Continental uniforms, trying to pick him up.

  “I said, get his legs, Urania,” Clio ordered. She looked down as the sounds of fighting nearby suddenly streamed through his consciousness. Smiling at him, she said, “Hi, Will. How you doing?”

  “Erva?” he croaked, but then clasped a hand over his heart. Oh, that hurt.

  “Oh my God, the first thing he thinks about is her,” Erato cooed. “It’s so cute. They’re so cute.”

  “Yes, yes, they’re cute. Now grab his shoulder. We have to get him out of here before his men try to take him from us.” Clio looked down again as she tried to heft him, while Urania, Will guessed the other muse to be—though he wasn’t that knowledgeable about Greek mythology—grabbed his legs and lifted him a few feet in the air. Clio smiled again. “Your men will think we’re Continental soldiers, looting your dead body. Now act dead, okay?”

  “Pardon?” he could barely ask. His chest was deeply affected by something, but he didn’t feel an internal wound.

  “Ick, looting his dead body? Won’t the British be pissed then?” Erato asked.

  Clio nodded as all the sisters finally began walking with his sprawled body between the three of them. “Unfortunately, the Continentals really did rummage his dead body. They got his sword and the engagement ring he had for Erva. By the way, Will, nice choice on the ring. The emerald was especially eye-catching. She’s really going to like that.”

  “God, he weighs a ton,” Urania complained.

  “Kevlar is heavy,” Erato smiled and winked down at Will.

  “When we get him deeper into the woods, we can take off his Kevlar vest, then he’ll be lighter. Plus maybe by then he can walk on his own.” Clio jostled him as the three women walked faster. She glanced down at him again as the trees thickened, making the sun disappear. “You took quite a hit, buddy. You okay?”

  “What—what do you mean, Erva’s going to like the ring?” he rasped.

  “Set him down here,” Clio demanded, and they dropped their cargo, making Will wheeze in agony. Clio knelt beside him and gently cradled his head. “Sorry.”

  Urania stood over Clio, arching a brow. “You said he was smart.”

  “He’s very smart,” Erato hissed defensively.

  Clio rolled her eyes but then smiled at him. “I obey the laws of history. Sure.” After pursing her lips for a moment, her grin grew enormous. “Well, I obey the spirit of the law and screw over the letter of the law. Which means, unfortunately, you’re dead, Will. At least in this time, but now you can live with Erva in her time. That is, if you want to?”

  Erato clutched her hands together and placed them over her heart. In the blue Continental uniform, even wearing taupe breeches, she looked quite comical and cute. “Say yes, Will,” she said.

  Urania huffed. “Aren’t you ever going to introduce me? I mean, I just saved the man’s life, and he doesn’t even know who I am.”

  Clio and Erato turned to their other sister, both of their dark red eyebrows cast down.

  “Not now,” Erato hollered. “He’s got to answer Clio’s question first.”

  Urania huffed again and knelt close to Clio, then took Will’s hand in hers, shaking it. “Hi, Will. I’m Urania. I’m going to be your tutor while we take you to Erva’s time.”

  “Tutor?” he moaned.

  Urania smiled broadly. “That’s right, big guy. You’ll be taking orders from me, because I’m going to get you through medical school in a flash.”

  Erato knelt close to the other sisters, right above Will’s head. “But he hasn’t answered Clio’s question yet.”

  Urania rolled her eyes. “And you’re the muse of love? Love stories, right? But even I, the scientist that I am, can tell what his answer is.” She smiled down at Will.

  He couldn’t help but beam up at the muse.