“I have difficulty imagining anyone doing that, even you. When I try, I see you falling to the ground and hurt beyond repair.”
“My odds were at least even that I would not fall.”
“How reassuring. I would like you to promise me that you will never try that again, no matter what the reason. I will sleep better knowing you have given that up for good, even to escape a fate worse than death itself.”
She trod on, watching the landscape, looking for indications that they neared that house. “Ask me for the promise tomorrow, Gabriel.”
He stopped walking. “Amanda.”
What a lordly tone he used. If she spoke her mind about that, they would end up in a row. “I think we should leave this road and angle that way.” She pointed right. “I think I see a wall among the trees over there. The road seems to be turning that way too.”
He squinted, then looked up to note the sun’s low position. “Since we can’t just walk up to the gate, we will cut through this field.”
They left the road and trod on, aiming for the trees and wall.
“See how sensible it was for me to wear these clothes?” she asked.
He only shook his head like a man much put upon.
* * *
“Let me see,” Amanda whispered.
Gabriel peered over the wall while he hung by his fingertips. “There is not much to see. The back of the house. No one is in the garden or on the grounds.”
“How far away is the house?”
“No more than two hundred feet from here. This is a side wall.”
“That means we could get closer.”
He looked down on her. “There is no need. I can see fine from here.”
“Let me see too. Get down and help me to look.”
He lowered himself to the log he had pulled over to provide a step up. Amanda appeared to be examining the wall in a very suspicious manner.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Just waiting for you to help me up.”
“Are you seeing if you can climb it?”
“Me? Impossible, I’m sure. Also I am wearing boots, aren’t I? Now give me a boost up so I can see.”
Reluctantly he jumped off the rotting log. She took his place. He positioned himself, grabbed her around her waist, and raised her up. “Look quickly because I can’t do this long.”
“Oh, you can let go now.”
He didn’t, but he angled so he could see her grasping the top of the wall. “If I let go, you will drop.”
“I won’t.”
Her manner irritated him. Her weight did not strain him as much as he’d expected, but he was tempted.... The drop would not be far. He let go.
Her body remained on the wall, her chin at its top.
He looked down. Her boot toes rested in spots where mortar between the stones had fallen out.
