Loving the Enemy

By Ellie Grow

Brenda came across the unexpected thing in his farm: an injured soldier. At the risk of being even accused of treason, his house gathered, and it cured his wounds. In spite of the gratitude that was feeling for Brenda, Esteban had to leave. It was in enemy land and juror of death. What the two were not able to predict it was the love that was born in his hearts and that now was placing them in risk.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Candice Press
• Release date: Jul 14, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476014395

Book preview

LOVING THE ENEMY

by

Ellie Grow

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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Brenda came across the unexpected thing in his farm: an injured soldier. At the risk of being even accused of treason, his house gathered, and it cured his wounds. In spite of the gratitude that was feeling for Brenda, Esteban had to leave. It was in enemy land and juror of death. What the two were not able to predict it was the love that was born in his hearts and that now was placing them in risk.

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Loving the Enemy

Copyright © 2012 by Ellie Grow

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Published by Candice Press at Smashwords

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Cover design: Sunshine Design

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Smashwords Edition License Notes

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CHAPTER I

WHILE heated water for tea, Brenda approached the window. The sky was white clouds, which meant that there would be no rain in the morning. That was good, needed to check the fences. The neighbors did not care if his sheep mingled with theirs, in shearing the animals were separated from their pastures and honestly were not large enough to have his few losses if animals ate there too. However, it was more convenient to have their animals on their land. How many had.

Deep breath. His flock had today with just over half a hundred animals. Soon. If so there could still keep the property he inherited from his father. Had to get another way to get money until the herd recovers. Although he did not know what he could do, was certain that he would discover soon. It was that or give the land to the bank. There was no choice.

We observed the field of green paint that stubbornly hostile land. Hostile land that drove her mother. After two years living there, she returned to England, leaving behind her husband and daughter. He never returned. Brenda and his father stayed and went on with the sheep farm. Although born in England, Brenda had no recollection of there because it was only a year and a half when his parents had gone to the South Atlantic dreaming of making a fortune. The dream was shattered, and his mother was not to pick up the pieces. Like rats leaving the ship when it starts to sink, his mother left without looking back.

In those twenty years Brenda has never wanted to look for it. Had always acted as if she were dead. Nor had he sought his mother, sent a Christmas card or birthday. However, now, alone and in trouble, sometimes wondered if Brenda would not be time to demand their rights daughter to seek a new life.

It was almost a year since his father died. It was the only family she knew. The only living on the island. It is true that Brenda had friends there, most people in the same age as his father's older, but his friends. People who liked her like a daughter, who helped him at all, but what future would be there? No it did not get money somehow to pay the bank. Owed it to his father. Maybe sell the land and leave the island, but not lose to the bank. It promised his father and serve. Or die trying.

The water in the kettle singing brought her back to the reality of practical things. I could not waste their time with dreams, needed work. She prepared the tea and toasted several slices of bread, some to eat now, others to take the field. It would take a hearty breakfast because I wanted to stay working in the field until evening. As I spent a sweet toast looked at the dog sitting in front of the door.

We will spend all day in the field, Jack, what do you think?

The huge white dog put his head aside as if he were considering the issue, which made her laugh. Jack had this habit of tilting his head when his father talked to him or her. He still won Puppy Mark Donald, who had land on the island the East and West used to buy wool. More than creator, Donald was a merchant. Perhaps most important of the islands and with which his father negotiated every year. Jack was a Hungarian pastor and had been very helpful with the sheep, besides being a company in your life now so lonely.

Brenda got up, put the toast left over in a plastic bag and then placed in a canvas bag, picked up the thermos with tea and also put it in the bag. Jack stood up to see that she approached the door with her purse slung over her shoulder.

Let, said Brenda and held the door for the dog to pass, we now have a job that pleases you more than the herb garden or the garden. We will go to the field.

The dog jumped around his owner who went to the shed. A painting would do miracles here, thought Brenda, As the house. However, ink was a luxury could not afford this time, even if sell property. A dye layer would increase the cost. He took a blanket and approached the horse.

Good morning, Roy, greeted her, stroking her neck, today go to the field. It's a nice day, but it's not a walk, go to work.

Brenda put the blanket on the back of Roy and was behind the saddle. So that ended with Roy, took a hammer and nails, kept them in her purse, got on his horse and left. Jack ran alongside Roy in the field. Brenda liked to ride, but now go through their land did not bring him joy. All I saw was desolation. For a moment, he thought that was what his mother should have seen this place. She was not enough to see what her husband built there, to know the good times on the farm. All she saw was the same as Brenda saw now, desolation.

See, Jack! Roy told her to stop doing. Bring them here and I'll close the hole in the fence.

The dog ran to the sheep who were on the other side of the fence and made his work as pastor, bringing them to the side. Brenda had dismounted, fastened to the fence, and Roy took the hammer and nails of the bag. Once the sheep it was passed through the hole to hold back the board that had fallen. After the repair, set up and went walking around behind other holes. He found five small, which would not allow an adult sheep to pass, but if not get only increase. In addition, a month would lambs and those pass there.

While arranging the fence, Jack went to the beach looking for penguins. It was one of the things that your dog loved most: chasing the penguins. Although I could run much faster than they are, what he liked was to scare them. I pursued them closely, but never had even a bit. Jack was merely a joke. At other times, she would have fun watching the dog on the beach, but now he could afford the distraction. It also had no desire to be distracted. All his attention was how he could keep the farm.

When Jack started barking aggressively Brenda looked up and saw him running toward the rocks. His heart started beating erratically. Jack used to bark like that when a stranger approached. It was not just barking for the Penguins. Surely, someone was approaching. She reproached for not having brought the gun from his father.

Jack continued moving away to a stop near a clump. Brenda followed with his eyes. The dog was still barking. She stared toward the bush and saw a dark figure half hidden there. A penguin? Perhaps, though appeared to be at a distance the size of a person.

Jack stopped barking. The figure approached and sniffed. Then he sat down, looked up at the sky and howled. Exactly, the same way he did when he found a wounded sheep. Whatever it was, was alive. And wounded. Without thinking about the risks Brenda ran toward the dog.

She stalled when looking at the figure lying in the bush.

His heart jumped, and she gasped.

A man.

A soldier.

An Argentine.

Brenda brought his hands to his chest and began to tremble. Jack came back to sniff the man. What should I do? She wondered. I knew I should call the army, found it an enemy. Who else was there? When he arrived? For his appearance, was on the island long ago. Perhaps since the war.

He looked at the man. The pale face was full of sores, his uniform in tatters, barely saw the flag on one sleeve. He had dark circles and was very thin, and fainted. That way, it could not be considered an enemy of anyone. The man was near death. And if you leave it there?

As if reading his thoughts, Jack looked at her fiercely. Brenda shrugged, mumbling: Just a thought.

The tremor has decreased and she kept looking man, without making any movement. If the helper could be accused of treason, if left there, his conscience to accuse. I had another option: call the army. However, take along to arrive, and he would have died. Ultimately, the options were to save him or let him die.

Jack came over and pulled her coat sleeve. Brenda looked with affection for the dog.

Yes, my friend. He is a man, and all men have the right to life. Although it is an Argentine, is entitled. Even Argentines have the right to life.

Leaving the state of shock that he had been when he realized what he had found his dog, went into the Brenda action. Roy and sought after much effort managed to raise man to his back. Despite being very thin, the man was about six feet, which hampered her work. While conducting the horse to the house, Brenda trying to decide what his next steps.

By all means, you should start by cleaning the wounds and treating them, then give him food, but ... and then? Call the army and tell them that I had an Argentine home bruised and was watching? That would be a total lack of judgment. At the end of the world, could cure him without anyone knowing of his presence, but he could not stay in anonymous in his forever home. If it healed in secret, like get rid of it later? Looked at the dog walking beside him in silence.

You made me a much worse problem than the bank, Jack. If I had stayed beside me while I arranged the holes, we would not have found.

And he would die, he added mentally. This idea has caused you a knot in my stomach.

Once they approached the house the man opened his eyes glazed over and whispered words that she did not understand. He had regained consciousness, was delirious because of fever. Roy Brenda led to the kitchen door and there fell a man. He managed to do this a few steps, and so it was not very difficult to conduct him to the bathroom that was next to the kitchen. She left him lying on the floor, leaning against the bathtub, and returned to the kitchen.

The stove was ready to be lit, just needed to fill the pots and hot water. He finished in the kitchen and returned to the bathroom. Jack stayed with the man and lying on his body as if to heat it. Brenda frowned to look at them.

What is Jack? Never liked the strangers.

The dog looked at her with indifference and licked the hand of man.

All right! I understand who sympathized with him. Treat him as he picked up what I need.

The dog stayed with the man, and Brenda went to the bedroom that had belonged to his father. I needed clothes and towel for the man, and your herbs. He took what he needed to clean and tidy, the bed made ready to throw it and returned to the bathroom.

Be right back, she said leaving the towel and clothes there.

Returned to the kitchen, he felt the water temperature. Almost ready. Went to the pantry and took several pots of herbal preparations. They were for the sheep, but could be applied to people. That man had more wounds than any sheep who had dealt in life. Returning to the kitchen prepared a tea made with a blend of herbs that would lower man's foot and found the bath water. Because of the foot, bath should be warm, if not worsen.

While the tub filled with water, Brenda thought of his father. Had had a stroke three years before his death and remained with the body partially paralyzed for a long time. After he had recovered almost completely. However, the symptoms returned in the early days of the year and as the doctor had asked them, were the capital. There was no time, another stroke took the life of his father. Brenda's eyes filled with tears because of memories of how his father had carefully. He did everything possible to make your life more enjoyable. Now do the same for the unknown.

Exit, Jack, she said approaching the man.

The dog who knew the ritual of baths she gave her father, immediately turned away, sitting on the bathroom door. He did not like water, but knew she needed him later.

Brenda looked at the man who was in a deplorable state. Wrapped in rags and smelling worse than a skunk, the beard and hair grew long and matted. He decided that he would cut his beard, and he could not untangle your hair with conditioner, also cut. He took her the rags of uniform and lifted him into the tub. His whole body was covered with sores and little was seen of muscles. The man was skin and bones. A feeling of compassion invaded it. He suffered greatly. Certainly, there were starved, felt loneliness and perhaps fear.

She cleaned the wound and when he moaned in pain, murmured an apology. Once your hair washed and untangled, Brenda was delighted with its black color and smooth it was. Rejoiced by not having to cut it It would be a shame. He drained the tub, dried man and put him on a blanket. Jack came up with his teeth and grabbed the ends of the blanket held that Brenda. She got up and looked at the dog.

Take him to the room dad, Jack.

The dog looked at her doubtfully.

Take him to the room of my father, Jack, she repeated.

It was enough. Jack began to pull the blanket, dragging it to the bedroom of its former owner. Brenda was walking beside the blanket, making sure that the man did not fall to the ground. In the polished wood floor, mat slid easily.

Jack stood beside the bed. The man returned to open their eyes and shake-up amid the delirium of fever. This helped the task of Brenda lay him in bed. He stood almost alone. She just gave him the direction to the movement. He gasped, proving that his forces were on the edge of life.

She stared at the face without color. I had never lost a sheep to stay wounded and helpless, not lose. We tried the herbs, and the tea which he had prepared. It made him drink a cup of tea, which was easy because he was thirsty. Then she could devote himself to the wounds. Each covered with a thick layer of the preparation of herbs and covered with gauze. Because the number of wounds that had the body, the man was like a mummy.

Brenda dipped a handkerchief in water and put on his forehead. You needed to download the fever. Jack looked at him and smiled.

It will be a long night, Jack.

The dog gave a raucous and lay at his feet.

Some time later, before dark, she left the man alone with the dog. The fever had dropped slightly, and the delirium had passed, now he slept peacefully. Brenda has prepared a cooked for her and her guest. He needed to regain his strength, but in the state, it not withstands a more elaborate meal. Maybe not wake up tonight, but even sleeping could make him drink the broth as it did with the tea.

Before night fell, she went to the henhouse to collect eggs during the day and feed the chickens. There were forgotten them, and Roy. Sought in the horse barn and breathed relieved to see him lying in his usual place.

Good boy, she said. I've been very busy with our new friend and forgotten you.

Brenda's trough filled with hay and brought him water. She knew she'd be stuck at home for the care of the stranger in the next few days, and so it was better to get everything ready for a few days. He returned home with the eggs.

The stew was almost ready, and she was in the bathroom that had cleared the man. He looked at the uniform thrown to the ground, and his heart began to beat wildly. If anyone saw what might be in trouble. And the big one.

He touched the cloth. Certainly, those rags would have a special meaning for man, but could not save them. The best I could do was to burn the uniform so that no one could find his trail. Well, maybe I could save a piece of it ... thought to cut the flag, but it would be dangerous. He decided to save a piece of mango. No one could identify that was a uniform retail Argentina. At least, that was what she expected.

Once placed in the fire of the stove felt a twinge of guilt. However, it was what he should do, and did so without remorse. He poured the cooked and ate it in haste. Began to get nervous about the presence of man there. Furthermore, had grown more than an hour away from him and felt responsible for his life. Put in the feed trough and Jack filled the trough. He put on a great cup of the broth just cooked. So that was warm try to get the man to drink.