Trapped in Time 1: The Time Takers Read Online Free Page A

probably end up being a meal themselves, if they tried that avenue. Well, first things first. He saw movement and looked to the right. The Swede interpreter was walking toward him. Andy saw she was devastatingly beautiful but he also figured she knew it as well. That was not a good trait. Beautiful women often used their beauty as a weapon, “What’s up, Linnae?”
    “Something you said earlier started me thinking.”
    “What is that?”
    “You said that everyone here is of childbearing age. It also made me realize we are stuck here with no rescue from this nightmare. Do you see it differently?”
    Andy sighed, “I don’t think someone would go to all the trouble to create this cave and transport us here if they were planning to remove us. I think we’re stuck here.”
    Linnae nodded, “I thought as much. I also suspect that if we decide to move forward and build a life here, everyone is going to start pairing off. I was wondering if you would consider pairing up with me.”
    Andy moved his head back and then smiled, “You do get right to the point.”
    “Would you prefer subtlety? You impressed me as someone that would appreciate honesty.”
    “Why do you want me? There are many men in here that are far more attractive than me.”
    “I think you know the answer to that. Every woman wants the best father possible for her children. You’ve demonstrated that you possess the skills needed to defend a family and you also possess information that no one else has. You could teach our children the things they would need to survive. That’s two very important attributes in a mate.” Linnae stared at Andy and then said, “I also think you’re beautiful.”
    “Now I know you’re being deceptive. I’m not that much to look at.”
    “No, I’m not being deceptive at all. Beauty is more than just a face and body. It’s the underlying character that makes a person desirable. You could have taken control of us at the start and become our leader; but you choose to avoid it. You forced us to come to decisions among ourselves and you avoided directing us into doing things that we didn’t agree on. It’s those actions that tell me you have a good heart and don’t possess an enlarged ego.” Andy was surprised at Linnae’s remarks. He sighed and slowly shook his head. Linnae said, “What’s wrong? Do I not measure up to your standards?”
    Andy decided that she didn’t know just how beautiful she was. “No, you’re beautiful, smart, and straight forward; I could go on and on.”
    “Then what is it?”
    “I loved a woman who betrayed me with my best friend recently. She broke my heart and I’m still suffering from the experience. I gave her my trust and love and she threw it all away. I just don’t know if I can trust anyone again.”
    Linnae sat down beside him, “Are you going to wait a hundred and forty million years to get back with her?” Andy’s eyebrows went down and Linnae said, “That place is now gone. She and everything you knew is beyond your reach. You should admit to yourself that you made a bad choice and now you’re going to have to learn to make new and better choices. How long were the two of you together?”
    “About eight months.”
    “You should always wait a year to be sure about any one you would consider spending your life with. You should see each other through all four seasons to really learn who you are choosing to love. If there are problems, they will show up within a year.” Linnae smiled, “In your case, it took eight months to rear its ugly head. I suspect there was evidence she was the wrong one before you caught them.”
    Andy looked at the floor and slowly shook his head, “There was; I just refused to see it. I though Brad’s comments to her were just in jest and her smiles was only her attempt at being polite. I suspect they were seeing each other months before I caught them together.”
    “So what did you learn?”
    Andy looked in Linnae’s eyes and said, “I