Love's Sweet Surrender by Sandy Sullivan Read Free Book Online Page B

hand, nailing a loose board on the stair.
    “Wouldn’t you like to be able to do better with your reading and sums?”
    “I’ve never thought about it, why?”
    “I just thought you might want to get better at them.”
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    Love’s Sweet Surrender
    39
    “I guess so.” He shrugged and began hammering again until Madge interrupted.
    “Well, with the pretty new teacher here, you might be able to get her to help you if you wanted to.”
    “I suppose I could.” That’s the last thing I need. Getting anywhere near the schoolteacher was the worst idea I’ve ever heard. The more I’m around her; the more likely she is to figure out who I am.
    “I think you should ask the new schoolteacher to help you with your reading and numbers, Daniel. She’s a very sweet girl, and I’m sure she could help you tremendously. I want you to be able to do better for yourself than just helping me here, but to do that, you need an education.”
    “I’m too old to learn those things, Aunt Madge.” He began to pace while he tried to think of some way out of this, now that he was sure his aunt was serious. He needed to figure out how to convince her it would be a bad idea to have the pretty new teacher anywhere near him.
    “You are not, Daniel. You seem to have a knack for building things, like furniture and such, but she could help you so maybe someday you could sell them and make some real money.”
    “All right. I’ll think about it, but no promises, and don’t try to convince me every day for the next month or two.”
    “That’s all I ask, Daniel. That’s all I ask.”
    She retreated back into the kitchen, leaving him alone to contemplate her words. This just won’t do. There is no way I can be that close to the woman. Sooner or later, she would figure out who I am, and then there would be trouble, big trouble. I'll have to think of some way to get out of this hair-brained idea Aunt Madge has to get me educated.
    “Educated, hell!” He knew all he needed to know to make a decent living robbing trains, but that damned Seth Sanford would have to be taken care of. So far, he didn’t think Seth had been able to recognize him behind the mask he wore while robbing the train, but Seth had ridden after him on that big black gelding of his and had almost caught him. Daniel had only been able to avoid him by mere minutes the other day, and it had scared the hell out of him. He would definitely have to be more careful.

    * * * *

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    40
    Sandy Sullivan
    The next day dawned bright and cold. Lily had to bundle up before she headed off to the schoolhouse. She sure hoped it would warm up a bit in the coming month. Thinking that it would be much warmer in Texas, she hadn’t packed much of her heavier clothing from Boston. When the crisp morning air hit her face, she was glad she had at least brought one of her heavier cloaks.
    As she made her way along the street toward the school, a horse and rider came galloping full speed up the street to her right. Her foot connected with the edge of the boardwalk in front of the general store as the horse came skidding to a halt on its rear haunches when Carl pulled back on the reins. Startled, she lost her footing and nearly fell into its path. The next thing she knew, she was scooped up in a pair of strong arms and pressed tight to a muscular, broad chest while the dust and dirt flew around them.
    “Damn it, Carl! You just about ran down the new schoolteacher.” The anger in the voice took her by surprise before she realized it was Seth Sanford holding her tight. The pleasant smell of musk and man met her nose and filled her senses.
    After a moment he gently set her back onto her feet. Lily stood there for just a second longer with her head buried against his chest. She finally stepped back and