Dnaleri

Ch-11

Rebecca woke to loud noises and roaring pain. She couldn’t move. Everything hurts. The darkness was closing in all around her and the only thing she could think of to comfort her was Jacob. Where was he, was he alive?

“Jacob…” she called out weakly. “Jacob…” she called again. Relief swamped her when she felt him hold her hand, squeezing gently. She gave a soft whimper of relief, knowing he was at least alive. She then heard him gasp and a weight that she hadn’t realized was on her chest lifted. He must have been resting his head on her chest.

“Rebecca, oh thank God!” He took her into his arms and hugged her, and she hugged back as tightly as her weak body would allow. “I’m here, I’m here.” When she could, she opened her eyes and her heart melted at seeing his face. All the worry he’d felt was washing away right before her as he kissed her forehead and rubbed her back.

“You gave us quite the scare Rebecca.” he said softly.

“How long was I out?” she asked, puzzled. Slowly, he laid her down then sat on the bed beside her. He took her hand again and this time she squeezed heavily. Little by little, the worry and stress melted away from his handsome face. He took a moment to make sure that it wasn’t a dream, that she was truly awake and talking.

“You were out for a week now.” She swallowed, her throat still heavily bruised from Colin’s assault. Though it hadn’t felt that long, Rebecca could tell it had been Hell for him to wait, hoping she would wake up.

“I’m sorry I worried you. You probably didn’t sleep much at all did you?” She said, gripping his hand. Jacob smiled; he loved how she knew how he was feeling. Then her eyes became clouded with tears. “You must hate me.”

“No… no of course not! What made you think that?” Jacob asked, in total shock from her change in mood.

“You heard what Colin said.” She whimpered. “I’m evil, the daughter of a murderer…”

“Stop that, stop that right now!” he said sternly, taking her by the shoulders and embracing her. Rebecca clung to him, her body trembling with despair. She felt if she didn’t cling to him now, he would evaporate into thin air and she would be alone again. “Don’t you remember what I said that night?” he said more gently, stroking her hair. “What your father did has nothing to do with you. You are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me since…” he broke off, tightening his hold on her. He had almost told her his secret.

“Since… what?” she asked, slowly looking up at him as she wiped her cheeks.

“It’s nothing.” He said, tucking her back into the pillows.

“If it’s nothing, then why are you upset?” she pressed. He bit his lip.

“If I tell you, you will be scared of me and not want anything to do with me. And I couldn’t live without you Rebecca.” He whispered, his Adam’s apple bulging in his throat. Rebecca was stunned. ‘Something’s happened to him, and it hurts him’ she thought. After all the times he’d comforted her and made her feel protected she never once thought he had his own nightmares to deal with. It made her feel selfish that she’d never repaid him for his loving kindness, but now she had the chance to return that affection.

“Surely you couldn’t have done anything that bad. I mean, if you can care for someone like me, then I should be able to accept whatever it is you’ve done or been through.” she insisted. When he still wouldn’t respond she said, “You know my secret, let me know yours.”

He sighed, took a deep breath and whispered,

“I was born in the year 1760 in Jamestown, Virginia…and I was murdered in 1780.” He waited for her to scream, to push him away and never want to see him again. But she only stared in shock.

“You’re…dead?” she whispered.

“Yes.” he whispered.

“How, what happened to you?” she asked, squeezing his hand even tighter.