Newton (Prairie Grooms Book 9) by Kit Morgan Read Free Book Online

have as much a right to be with your people as she does with hers.”
    “From our point of view, yes. From theirs, not necessarily.”
    “She’s going to be upset when you tell her. No … she’s going to be angry. I know I would be.”
    “It’s hard to explain,” he said. “In her world she’s like a … a princess. In mine, I’m nothing of importance – and her people know it.”
    “What are you saying?” she asked.
    Newton ran a hand through his hair and began to pace the hallway in front of her. “I’m not sure – I’m still trying to make sense of it all. As is Amon.”
    “Is that why you’ve been spending so much time with him and Nettie?”
    “Yes. We’re trying to figure this out. Why Arya’s people insisted I marry her. They said it was because I was the only one ‘compatible,’ that she could marry no one else. But how could that be?”
    “Her people do have strange ways, I’m told.”
    “Yes. Strange enough that if we rejoined them, I might not see my family again.”
    “And if you don’t, Arya might not see hers. So what now?”
    “I don’t know.” He shook his head in despair. “With Seth or Ryder’s help I suppose we could track them down. But after that, who knows? They’re good people, but very close-knit, and they don’t like outsiders.”
    “Don’t you think they would respect your side of things? Perhaps you could … spend part of the year with them and part of the year here. I’m sure something could be worked out.” She shrugged. “It’s really not much different from our ways.”
    “How so?” he asked.
    “If her family lived in the next town over, you’d spend Christmas with them one year, then Christmas here the next. That’s what happens when you marry.”
    She had a good point. “Yes,” he mused and rubbed his chin with one hand. “I suppose you’re right. I’ll speak with Arya and try to make her understand.”
    “Understand?”
    “Yes,” he said with a chuckle. “She needs to understand that she married an idiot. But considering the last couple of months, I’m not sure another man would do any better.”
    “Men and women are both often afraid of things they don’t understand, Newton. We fear them because we have no control over them. It becomes a trust issue.”
    “So the question is, am I willing to trust Arya’s people?”
    “And Arya,” Susara added.
    Newton nodded. “Well, I guess it’s time to find out.”

Chapter 5
    A rya watched the sun setting on the western horizon. She liked to stand in the middle of the road that ran between the church and the rest of the town. She could look out over the prairie from there and see the sunsets and sunrises. In the weeks she’d been in Clear Creek, it had become one of her favorite things to do. Oftentimes Nu-tan – correction, Newton – watched with her, but at the moment he was speaking with Preacher Jo and his wife Annie at the church.
    She liked Annie King. She was kind, gentle and possessed an inner strength Arya couldn’t help but admire. In fact, she liked all the women she’d met so far in the tiny town and wondered what a large city would be like. Newton and Eloise (not Elo-eez) had told her stories of England, the country they originally came from, and its grand city of London. What an adventure it would be to sail across the big water and see for herself all its wonders! But such a trip sounded impossible.
    With what little light remained, Arya made her way to the church to see if Newton was finished with his business. When she reached the house ( parsonage – she remembered the word), she knocked on the door and waited as he’d taught her.
    Annie answered. “There you are,” she said pleasantly. “I was wondering when you’d show up. Come inside – it must be getting cold out.”
    Arya entered and spied Newton sitting next to Preacher Jo on the … what was it? … the settee . Though that was just one word for it – it was also called a sofa , or a loveseat , or a