Capturing Today (TimeShifters Book 2) by Jessica Keller, Jess Evander Page B

trembling. Catching my eye, he gives my hand a squeeze and then pulls me within a few inches of his face. “I’m sorry you had to come here. If there was another way …”
    “There’s not.”
    The pressure of his fingers on my hand tightens. “We should have grabbed you a mask. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. We’ll get you one.” He tugs me along beside him.
    The trench is wider than what I’ve pictured. We can walk side-by-side without an issue. Wooden planks line the bottom, but they don’t seem to be doing much good because water pools above most of them. Each step elicits a squashing sound. A rat with dirt-matted hair scampers between us, and I choke back a scream. None of the men we pass seem bothered by the furry visitor.
    Michael locates a pile of equipment. “They pull whatever they can off the dead.” He hands me a face mask. “If something should happen, put this on before helping anyone. I’m not kidding. Seconds of the gas can burn your lungs, and even Darnell can’t cure that.”
    A line of soldiers wait to have their feet checked. The first one removes his boots. Half of his foot is black. I gag and turn away.
    Get it together. I press my palms into my temples.
    Perhaps Nicholas hasn’t sent me anywhere because I can’t handle this stuff. Michael is talking softly to the man, giving him instructions, touching his dying skin. He hands him a dry pair of socks from the pack on his hip.
    It’s then I notice a man a few feet away from me. Staring. He squints at me and then glances at my midsection where I wring my hands together. Squints again.
    In a childish attempt to hide myself, I wrap my arms around my middle.
    He hops to the nearest wooden plank. “I’m sorry to bother you.”
    I step back but run into a mud wall. “If you want your feet checked, you have to get in line.”
    He leans toward me, his eyes going to my wrist. “You’re a Shifter,” he whispers. “Aren’t you?”
    How does he know? My heart stops. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    The guy laughs. “You’re wearing all black, and I know you aren’t a nurse.”
    I sneak a glance Michael’s way, but he’s completely focused on examining the next soldier in line.
    I lift my chin. “Are you a Shade?”
    “Ach.” He grimaces. “Those buggers? No. I’m a Pairing, so I can see you.”
    “Oh.” That’s new.
    Now that I know he’s not a creeper, I look him over. Despite the mud caked to his uniform, he’s handsome, in a Hallmark movie, pretty-boy-next-door kind of way.
    He cocks his head. “Are you Gabby?”
    I don’t even try to hold in my gasp.
    “Sorry. That was rude. I should introduce myself.” He lays a hand on his chest. “I’m Eddie.” He unbuttons the pocket near his heart, gently pulls out a bent photograph, and hands it to me.
    Draped in pearls, Lark looks like she walked off the set of the movie Titanic . Her hair is pinned back in an elaborate way, complete with a large hat.
     Eddie puts the picture back in his pocket. “Lark described you so well. I saw your bracelet and knew who you were straight away. I said to myself, there is Gabby.” He flashes a perfect set of white teeth at me. They stand out because everything around us is so dirty.
    “You’re Lark’s Eddie?” I realize that was already established. Give a girl a minute to absorb some shock.
    “I’m the lucky man.” And he means it.
    “Lark talks about me?”
    “Often. She considers you one of her closest friends.”
    “Ah. I see you share her humor.”
    “I’m in earnest.” Eddie’s eyes go wide. “I promise you that. You see, everyone in your place, especially the other ladies, are intimidated and tend to shy away from her. Which is unfortunate because she’s a wonderful person. I think it’s because of her father’s position. Too bad, there. But Lark said you’ve never acted in that manner. You were always up front with her. She values that.”
    “Good to know. How is our