Compromised Hearts by Hannah Howell Read Free Book Online Page B

known she would. James then turned his hand to aiding Cloud in the care of the animals and cart. Cloud kept him well entertained with the full tale of how Emily had looked when he first saw her.
    “Just can’t see you dragging a city-bred girl and a little boy along with you.”
    “It has its compensations,” Cloud said as they entered the store to find Emily bent over a box of ribbons and he patted her backside.
    “Do that again and I shall do you a serious injury.”
    “Got a sharp tongue, doesn’t she,” James observed as they took a seat at a table in the half of the building that served as a tavern. “She certainly doesn’t cling like your others.”
    “Nope, Emily’s no clinger. Three beers and something for the boy, Justine.” He smiled crookedly when Justine left the table withinvitation in her every sway. “She’s in a tiff just now.”
    “Leaving another behind, are you?”
    “Oh, no. I’m taking her and the boy to the valley. That’s where she was headed when I found her. No, Em’s just miffed because I kissed Justine when I arrived—or rather, Justine kissed me and I allowed it.” He took a sip of the beer Justine set down before him. “Very good, Justine. Could you ask Emily and Thornton to come over here?”
    “Is she a friend of yours or something?”
    Cloud thought over the last few days of traveling with Emily. He was a little surprised to find that he could not think of one moment when he had been bored or had wished to be rid of her. Despite the fact that she was still learning many of the simple basics needed to stay alive in a still untamed territory, she was a very good companion.
    “Yeh, Justine, she’s a friend of mine.”
    “A friend, huh?” marveled James after Justine had flounced away. “Maybe that’s not such a good thing if she’s the jealous sort.”
    “Don’t know if it was jealousy, but she was definitely angry. Said it made her look a fool and she’s got a good dose of stiff-necked Yankee pride. Thinking it over, she’s right and Emily doesn’t deserve to be made a fool of. She doesn’t know a damn thing about surviving out here and admits it, but she was doggedly pushing on anyway when I spotted her. Many another lady would’ve sat downand wept. For all her tart remarks, she doesn’t bitch either.”
    “A high accolade indeed,” murmured James as Emily and Thornton arrived.
    Emily sat down between the two men and Thornton scrambled up onto the chair opposite her. She was trying very hard not to be angry, but Justine’s behavior was not helping. The woman did not know about the deal between her and Cloud, yet she was acting as if she would be taking Emily’s place while they were at the fort. For all her remarks about being unwilling, Emily knew that that arrangement would sorely hurt and infuriate her. If nothing else, it would make her look the expedient bedwarmer she was trying hard to deny she was.
    “What’s this?” she asked, studying the drink before her.
    “Beer. Don’t tell me you’ve never had beer?”
    “All right, Cloud. I won’t.” She took a sip. “It’s rather nice.”
    “Just what’d you drink back in Boston?”
    “Tea, lemonade, an occasional glass of sherry. Beer or ale was a drink for a working gentleman.”
    Cloud rolled his eyes in disgust. “Didn’t your sister’s husband work?”
    “As little as possible,” Emily replied, her eyes alight with deviltry. “Work is so
common,
you know.”
    “Never did understand the rich. Wholedifferent species. Justine,” Cloud called, “still serve meals?”
    “Yup.” She sidled over to press against his shoulder. “I have a fine stew on the menu today.”
    He shifted so that the contact was broken. “Sounds fine. Can we have four bowls, please?”
    Over the meal, which even Emily had to admit was good, James kept her talking about Boston. He had never been that far east and was honestly interested in a life that seemed to be lived in another world. He thought, too,