Charlotte Boyett-Compo- WayWard Wind by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page B

bed, lying across it on his belly with his face turned to one side, hands to either side of his head.
    “He’s hurting worse than he’s letting on if he does that,” Snake said in a low voice. She was finished with her food and was careful this time as she scraped her chair back and got up. “You cooked, I’ll clean.”
    “I’ll help you ...,” Peyton began.
    “Won’t do nothing of the sort, missy,” Snake growled at her. “Go sit and leave a body do her work!”
    Peyton held her hands up. “I’m going,” she said and started for the rocker, but stopped and walked over to the bed. “Would it help if I rubbed your neck and shoulders?”
    Harper’s eyes were closed. “Couldn’t hurt worse than it already does,” he responded.
    Without thinking about what she was doing, Peyton crawled up on the bed and knelt beside him, putting her hands to his taut shoulders.
    “My Lord, but you’re tighter than a drumhead,” she said. She began kneading the bunched muscles and heard him sigh with pleasure.
    “This is certainly no way to treat a man who did to you what I did,” he told her.
    “I’m adaptable if nothing else, Sloan,” she replied. “As I see it, you did me a favor by relieving me of something I’d wanted to lose for quite some time.”
    “You’ll be sleeping beside me tonight,” he stated and she saw him open his eyes to stare at the wall.
    “I would prefer that to sleeping with Miss Coronella,” she said.
    “I intend to take you again.”
    Peyton’s brows drew together, her hands stilling on his shoulders. “Certainly not with your grandmother in the next bed,” she stated.
    “She’ll be dead to the world in less than five minutes from the time her head hits the pillow. Besides, she’ll expect it.”
    “Nevertheless,” she said as she withdrew her hands. “I have no intention of allowing you to ....”
    He lifted his head and looked around at her. “Allowing me?” he queried. “Wench, it’s not like you have any options in this. I will take you whether you want it or not, whether you fight me or not.” He narrowed his eyes. “As a matter of fact, the struggling might add more to it.”
    “But why?” she asked, tears gathering in her eyes as humiliation set in. “Why would you shame me in that way?”
    “I intend you be carrying my child when I send you back to Texas,” he said, a muscle grinding in his jaw. “The more times I take you, the better the chance of that happening.”
    “And have you once--even once!--considered that I might be incapable of bearing a child?” she threw at him. “I am forty-eight years old and ....”
    “I will get your pregnant,” he said. “Never doubt it, wench. To contemplate anything other than that is unacceptable to me.”
    “All that talk ain’t even necessary,” Snake said and it was obvious the old woman had been eavesdropping. “I’m gonna be bunking outside while you’re here, girl. I’ve heard enough grunting and groaning, mewling and moaning to last me a lifetime.”
    “You most certainly will not give up your bed!” Peyton declared. “You ....”
    “Ain’t no discussing it,” Snake told her. “Done made my mind up I don’t want to be where the boy is making noises like his old man did so that’s that.”
    Peyton stared down at Harper but he had already laid his cheek on the hobnail spread and had closed his eyes. “This isn’t right,” she said.
    “She’ll do what she wants so you might as well accept it,” he said, his brogue thick as the laudanum began to take effect.
    Realizing he would soon fall asleep from the result of the medicine, Peyton scooted off the bed and went to sit in one of the rockers, her clenched fist jammed under her chin as she glared across the room at her captor.
    “Don’t do no good to send him them fiery looks,” Snake said as she strolled by on her way out, pillow and blanket in hand. “He’s dead to the world right about now.”
    “How long will that last?”
    “Most