Page 106 of Thus with a Kiss I Die

Cal spoke to me, not encouraging at all, but brusque and demanding, telling me my strengthwouldendure, that Ihadto hang on for the brief time until he hoisted himself in place. Then he said, loudly and clearly, “Rosie, I’m directly above you. Do you see me?”

I barely shook my head. I was afraid to move, to loosen a single muscle, to change my position in any way.

“Rosie, look up!” He used the voice of a commander.

Like an obedient soldier, I looked up.

His shoulders and head hung over the broad edge of the rail. His arm stretched toward me, his palm and fingers large, reaching, open. “Friar Camillo will continue to hold you. I’m here to grasp you. All you have to do is loosen one elbow, so do that now.”

Slowly I started to straighten my right arm. My weight shifted; I gasped and kinked it once again.

“Friar Camillo needs relief. Let go with one arm and grab my hand.”

I stared at Cal, my betrothed . . . the lunatic.

“Rosie, there’s no other way,” he said. “Friar Camillo’s strength is failing.”

“Trust the boy!” Elder urged. “He’s right. It’s the only way.”

Cal spoke over the top of him. “Rosie, you have to let go and reach for me.”

In some part of my mind, I understood the words. I even believed him. But what he suggested was impossible. I’d scoffed at the fear of heights. Now no other thought occupied my mind except terror. Over and over, my brain gibbered the instruction:Hold on.

“Reach for me.” Cal’s hand strained closer.

I looked down and back across the safe, and now inaccessible, stretch of floor that separated the rail from the wall. Cal’s feet were nowhere in sight, which meant he’d wrapped his body around the stone as support, and the largest part of his bulk hung over the railing, and—

“Reach for me,” Cal said.

We could both fall!

“Rosaline Hortensa Magdelina Eleanor!” Cal commanded. “Give me your hand!”

I released a defiant bellow, abandoned safety, andreached.

CHAPTER58

Cal grasped my wrist.

I grasped his.

Friar Camillo pulled.

Cal pulled.

“Good lads!” Elder almost danced with the need to act. He dared not act, I knew, so he served as the unseen and unheard coach.

I freed my other arm.

As all my weight transferred to the men, they grunted with the strain.

Yet I rose. Gradually I rose.

My bodice rose with me, but a little ahead, so I knew mycamiciashowed in the gap between my skirt and bodice. The pressure against my belly informed me all too clearly I still suffered from Baal’s kick, and the pressure and pain made it difficult for me to catch my breath. Threads strained and popped, adding an urgency to the maneuver.

“Steady, lads.” Elder kept his voice strong and encouraging. “Steady. She’s almost there.”

I strained up, up to the top rail, touched it with my fingertips.