Guardian Bride by Lauri Robinson Read Free Book Online

last night. The house had
    one of the finest kitchens Summer had ever seen, a root
    cellar full of provisions and cupboard full of other supplies,
    but after tasting two meals Stephanie Quinter had prepared,
    Summer had started to do the cooking. The morning
    Stephanie had fed them oatmeal with lumps the size of
    biscuits, Summer determined if Snake had been destined to
    die at an early age, it would have been due to his mother's
    cooking.
    Summer frowned, and silently chided herself for thinking
    so rudely about someone who'd been so kind and considerate.
    Stephanie had welcomed September and August into her
    home as if they were her long last grandchildren, and
    Summer would forever be grateful to the woman for that.
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    Guardian Bride
    by Lauri Robinson
    While the soup heated, she pumped water into a pitcher
    from the spigot at the sink, filled a glass, and set it along with
    bread and other necessities onto a tray. She also took a
    moment to wash her face and smooth her flyaway hair. When
    everything was ready, she carried the laden tray into his
    room. He still sat in the same position, legs dangling over the
    edge. She set the tray on the small table he'd knocked over
    earlier and moved it in front of him.
    "Try to eat something. I haven't got much down you the
    last week."
    He lifted the spoon, watching the soup flow off it. "Where'd
    this come from?"
    "I made it," she said.
    "Ma help you?"
    "No." She almost smiled, understanding his apprehension.
    He nodded and lifted the spoon to his mouth. After several
    spoonfuls he laid the spoon down to take a bite of the bread.
    "This is good," he said after swallowing. "Ma's not much of a
    cook. We knew it before, but since Hog moved to Dodge, Bug
    and I have been wondering if we'd starve to death." He took
    another bite. "We were afraid Kid was going to chase us off
    his porch with a stick if we kept begging the way we were."
    She couldn't help but laugh. He looked at her in such a
    way that Summer wished she could read his mind. He didn't
    smile—not really anyway, but she kind of felt it.
    His gaze went back to the food and after a few more bites,
    he sat back. "That was good, thanks."
    "You should finish it," she said.
    "No." He shook his head.
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    Guardian Bride
    by Lauri Robinson
    Maybe her food was as bad as his mother's. Summer had
    never cooked for anyone outside her family, who never
    complained about having something to eat.
    "Really," he said. "It was good. I just can't eat any more.
    I'm full."
    She lifted the tray and turned to carry it back to the
    kitchen.
    "Will you come back, after you've put that away? So we
    can talk."
    Summer didn't turn around. "Yes," she said, walking out of
    the room. He wanted to know if they were really married. Her
    stomach pitched. She'd told Stephanie he didn't know what
    he was doing. Couldn't possibly know he was agreeing with
    the ceremony by simply nodding his head.
    After cleaning the kitchen and putting everything back in
    its rightful place, she closed her eyes to prepare herself for
    what was about to come. Now that July was dead and Sam
    Wainwright was a wanted man, there really wasn't any reason
    to stay married. Yet, for some reason the thought tugged at
    her heart. She'd only been at the Quinter farm a week, but
    from the moment she'd seen it, she'd felt as if she'd finally
    come home.
    Summer walked back into the bedroom and wiping her
    hands, which had begun to perspire, on her apron, she sat
    down on the chair in the corner.
    He stared at her for several silent moments, until she
    wondered if she had something on her face, or maybe stuck
    in her hair. She brushed the long strands aside, wishing she'd
    taken a moment to brush it, or at least peer in the mirror.
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    Guardian Bride
    by Lauri Robinson
    "How'd the marriage happen?" he asked.
    She glanced up. "What?"
    He waved a hand. "Our marriage. How'd it happen?" A
    scowl formed. "Did Bug go get the preacher?"
    "Bug? No."
    "Kid did?" He looked shocked.
    "No," she