Daniel's Desire by Callie Hutton Read Free Book Online

and dry when the sun peeked over the horizon and flooded the bedroom she’d shared with her husband for nine years. A man she really hadn’t known.
    Now another large man had entered her life. One as unwanted and unwelcomed as Hans had been. Only this large man had gentle hands when he wiped her down with the cool water. He carried Amelia in his arms and made her scrambled eggs because she didn’t like oatmeal. He took Chandler hunting, not pushing the boy aside, telling him he was too young.
    She winced as she moved again, trying to ease her sore bottom. Despite what the Reb said, she would be up today, and back to her work in a day or so. The children were already too attached to him. A man who smiled at them, rather than frowned. But he was also a Confederate escaped prisoner.
    Truth be told, it scared her at how her heart sped up when he looked at her with those piercing hazel eyes. And the twitch of his lips when he began to smile. Just her luck to be attracted to a southern Rebel wanted by the Union Army. Thank God he’d be gone soon.
    Her stomach tightened. What would she do if the army showed up here? Turn him in, of course. She was no strong Unionist, but that would be the lawful thing to do. And she always obeyed the law.
    “Careful you don’t drop it.” The Reb’s deep voice rolled over her as he and Amelia entered the bedroom. Jace toddled behind them, then raced for her bed when he spotted her. McCoy scooped him up before he landed on her leg, and tossed him over his shoulder, causing the child to giggle and shriek.
    Amelia carried a tray with a cup of tea and a bowl of oatmeal. She never looked up as she approached the bed, keeping her eyes on the tray. “Mama, I brought you breakfast.”
    “I see that, Amelia. How nice of you.” Rosemarie’s heart melted at the sight of her little girl carefully walking across the room.
    The child’s face broke into a smile as she reached her destination. “Whew,” she sighed as she placed the tray on the table next to Rosemarie’s bed.
    “Good job, Amelia. You remembered to not place the tray on your mama’s bed.”
    Amelia puffed her chest out. “I ’membered.” Then she slid her fingers into her mouth.
    Jace reached his arms out. “Mama.”
    “Let me eat my breakfast, and then you can sit on my lap.” Rosemarie reached for the cup of tea and sipped as the Reb juggled a red-faced Jace. The baby was having none of it, and let out a wail.
    Rosemarie returned the teacup to the table and stretched her arms out. “I can eat while he sits on my lap.”
    Daniel handed over Jace, who cuddled up to her, rubbing his nose along his mama’s generous breasts. She glanced up at Daniel, her face heated.
    • • •
    Lucky kid.
    Daniel smiled to himself as he watched Jace nuzzling Rosemarie. The clarity in her eyes denied the flush on her face came from fever. The little guy had embarrassed her. He bit his lip to keep from smiling. Somehow he didn’t think she would appreciate knowing his thoughts. “When you’re finished with your breakfast, ma’am, I’ll want to take a look at your injury, be sure it’s still healing.”
    She nodded and reached for the bowl of oatmeal.
    He turned to leave when she called him. “Reb?”
    “The name’s Daniel, ma’am.”
    “If you want to change, there are clean clothes you can use, hanging on the nails in the mudroom. They were my husband’s and might fit you.”
    Daniel nodded. “Thank you, I appreciate it. Is there a creek nearby where I can wash up?”
    “About half a mile east of the house, but it’ll be mighty cold this time of year.”
    “No matter. I’ll take those clothes you offered and head to the creek.” He nodded and left the room.
    Daniel plucked a soft flannel shirt and worn wool pants from the nail, grabbed a linen cloth from a small pile on the table underneath, and headed to the kitchen. There he took a small brown jug containing lye soap and left the house.
    Although vastly different from his