In a Stranger's Arms by Deborah Hale Read Free Book Online

It seemed pitifully grateful to have found a home.
    Manning envied that scruffy old mutt with all his heart.
    “That was very thoughtful of you, Mr. Forbes.” Mrs. Marsh nodded after Tem and Varina. “Templeton’s always wanted a dog of his own, and I’d feel a good deal safer with a watchdog around the place. But I’m going to have trouble keeping the children and myself fed. That poor creature needs a master who can afford to take proper care of him.”
    “I’ll furnish whatever he needs, Mrs. Marsh. With the Sergeant on guard duty, I can get some sleep at nights.”

    The carpetbagger’s words rocked Caddie back on her heels. “You stayed awake all last night keeping watch on this house?”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Manning Forbes turned his hat round and round by the brim, looking for all the world like a petty criminal confessing his misdeed to the justice.
    “That makes two of us.” Caddie yawned just thinking about it.
    Though he struggled to suppress it, a yawn overtook the Yankee, too.
    Perhaps that exhaustion had sapped her will, making her too tired to resist. Too tired to hate.
    By herself, she’d barely be able to scratch out a living at Sabbath Hollow for her children. Manning Forbes had the wherewithal to make it something again. Tem and Varina needed a man in their lives—a soft-spoken, generous man to make them forget the Yankee officers in Richmond.
    The kind of marriage he offered was one she might succeed at. One uncomplicated by double-sided emotions like love and passion. As she grew more familiar with Manning Forbes, surely his bewildering likeness to Del would fade and her unsettling fascination for him would dim.
    Manning Forbes admitted another good deed. “I took the liberty of bringing a few things from town that I thought you might need, ma’am. You’re welcome to them whether you say yes or no to my proposal.”
    He appeared bent on putting her in his debt. For pride’s sake and for Tem and Varina’s future, she must repay him with the only currency left to her.
    “Yes,” gasped Caddie before she lost her nerve.
    He didn’t seem to understand what she was telling him. “I’ll just shift these supplies into your kitchen, then, shall I, ma’am?”
    “Yes!”
    He turned to his horse and began unloading his saddlebags.
    “Yes, Mr. Forbes. Yes, I’ll marry you. If you’re stubborn enough to keep asking until I agree, I’m smart enough not to delay the inevitable.”
    He froze with his back to her. When he turned again, his face had paled to the gray-white of ash. A barb of disappointment snagged Caddie’s heart. Despite his protestations that their marriage would be for the sake of business and propriety only, she’d expected him to greet her answer a bit more eagerly. If only so he wouldn’t have to spend another night sleeping out-of-doors.
    “That’s fine then.” His voice sounded hollow. Haunted. “If you want to break the news to your children, I’ll harness the mare so we can all ride into town and hunt up a preacher.”
    An hour later, Caddie found herself standing before the Methodist parson in Mercer’s Corner making promises she’d sworn never to make again. She tried to steel herself for the stares she’d get when her neighbors discovered she’d wed a Yankee carpetbagger.
    By contrast, she could hardly wait to see the look on her brother-in-law’s face when he heard about her marriage.

Chapter Four
    “ C ADDIE ’ S GONE AND done what?” As Alonzo Marsh glared at Manning, the muscles of his aristocratic jaw stretched so tight they looked ready to twitch.
    On the way home from their hasty wedding, Manning and his new family had stopped by Hemlock Grove to drop off the rest of Lon and Lydene’s belongings.
    Manning resisted a nagging urge to grin over the drawling Virginian’s obvious agitation. “I’ll say it again, louder, if your hearing’s poor, Mr. Marsh.”
    He raised his voice, exaggerating each word. “Your sister-in-law and I got married