Adam, Devils on Horseback: Generations, Book 1 by Beth Williamson Read Free Book Online Page A

tongue for scaring Adam off like that. After that lovely kiss that made her toes curl, she’d blurted something about being married . Stupid, stupid, stupid. Thinking would have been a better choice. Instead, she let her mouth take flight and ruined what had been a perfect day.
    Her secrets danced behind her tongue, and she kept them constrained, with effort. She’d done too many things in her life to be ashamed of. She’d tried to become a better person over the last few years, but it didn’t erase her past. Adam confused her, jumbled her thoughts until she said stupid things about being married. Eve didn’t want to lose who she was when she was with Adam. She became a woman he liked enough to kiss. Perhaps to even marry.
    “We’ve got two weeks to think on that.” He retreated a distance away from her, his hand clutching the toolbox handle with white-knuckled force.
    “Of course.” She put her shoulders back and held her head high, when all she wanted to do was find the nearest hole to hide in.
    They returned to the mill in awkward silence. Eve watched as he went around the back to store his tools and wash up. She entered the house with a timid knock, even though Mrs. Sheridan had already told her she was a guest and to come and go as she pleased.
    The late day sun streamed through the windows in the parlor, giving everything a golden glow. The crystals on the lamp threw rainbows on the walls and floor. Eve was enchanted. She reached over to cup one in her hand.
    “You’re not planning on taking that, are you?” The youngest sister, Rose, appeared in the doorway.
    “No, of course not.” Eve wiped her hand on her skirt. “I wanted to see how it made rainbows.”
    “Oh, that. Yeah, I had to go find out for myself. Nobody knew until I talked to Tabitha. She’s kind of a cousin, on account of our pas are good friends, like brothers. She reads a lot and she told me it’s called a prism. The sunlight hits all the angles in the glass and bends the light.” Rose talked faster than any other person on the earth. The girl had endless words and syllables tumbling from her mouth. “I don’t know much science, but it sounded right to me. Did you spend the day with Adam? He’s back at the pump talking to himself. Sorta arguing actually. And I think he’s losing.”
    Eve couldn’t stop the laugh that jumped out. She slapped her hand across her mouth, but Rose was too busy laughing at her own joke to notice. The Sheridans were an interesting family.
    “Rose, you need to set the table. I’ve told you twice now,” Mrs. Sheridan called from the kitchen, her husky voice patient.
    “Yes, Mama.” Rose made a face, but she got up and left the room, presumably to do her chore.
    Eve stared at the lamp, the angles throwing different patterns of light, even rainbows. She wanted to be as beautiful as that. Her past was a murky mash of unknowns and lies. None of which made her anything but a shadow. She would never be a prism, which drew her to them even more.
    “Supper is just about ready.” Mrs. Sheridan walked into the parlor with a smile. Her polite inclusion of Eve was unexpected and it made her throat tighten with emotion. It was never that hard to start over before. Why now? What made Adam and his family so special?
    “Thank you. I’ll go wash up.” Eve got up to escape, but Mrs. Sheridan blocked her path.
    “What is it, Eve? Are you feeling poorly?” Concern spread across the older woman’s face as she frowned. “Are you missing your family?”
    Eve shook her head. The Roma had let her live with them, but in truth, Eve had never had family. She’d been on her own her entire life. A family was as foreign as being a miller like Mrs. Sheridan. Unknown and confusing.
    “I’m fine. Probably just worn out from the day.” She managed a weak smile. “I’m sure I’ll be better after I eat.”
    “Then we’d better get you fed.” Mrs. Sheridan moved out of Eve’s way but didn’t leave.
    Eve glanced up at