Pioneer Love: Damaged Hearts Head West: Mail Order Bride 5 Bundle by Indiana Wake Read Free Book Online

knew I would find you here,” he said. “I need to talk to you, need to apologize for yesterday.” His eyes searched hers and she nodded her acceptance.
    “I was completely out of line,” he continued, “and I never meant a word of it. Please forgive me."
    Anna looked at the remorse in his deep, green eyes and felt her heart melting. She smiled at him and said, "Of course I forgive you. We both over reacted and it has already been forgotten. I just didn't understand why you got so angry and acted that way."
    Ian looked at her his eyes widened in disbelief. "Really?” he said. “How could you not know why I acted out?" His voice grew louder as he continued, "I have fallen in love with you, Anna! I am completely in love with you and you are here to marry my brother! My blood boils when I think of you being his instead of mine and I just about pulled a muscle trying to stop myself from pulling out his arm when he put that bracelet on you yesterday. I can't stand the thought of you being my sister-in-law instead of my wife and it kills me to stay quiet because I don't want to hurt my brother either. You are the never ending sunshine, in this cold, wintery place. I love you, Anna, and I can't hide it from you for one-moment longer."
    Anna felt shock course through her veins like ice water. It froze her to the spot and she did not know what to say. She wanted to run to him, to say I love you and to pull him into her arms but she could not. Even though she had felt herself developing feelings for him she had never believed that he in turn had fallen for her. She thought of her fear of being the reason for the two brother’s differences. She thought of Ryan and how she couldn't face him and tell him that instead of him, she had fallen for his brother. Guilt and blame piled onto her shoulders as she imagined the brothers falling out, selling the business and never speaking again. It was her problem and she was responsible for the whole awful mess. But what could she do? She couldn't lie to him and say she didn't love him. Nor could she come out and just confess her feelings, so she did the only thing that made sense to her; she ran.
     

Chapter 11

     
    She fled from the barn and into the snow. The wind was behind her and pushed her onwards as if it wanted her away from there. Run it said in her ears as it whipped around her face and covered her in the snow. She did not feel the cold as she limped away from the house, sinking up to her ankles and even deeper.
    A great gust swirled around her picking up the snow covering her footprints as she raced on blindly into the storm. She ran for hours, often up to her knees as the cold soaked into her dress and weighed down the material. Great big white flakes fell from the sky and her newer footprints were covered. She limped onward, ignoring the pain from her leg and with no thought of where she was going or how she would find her way back. She ran on and on until she couldn't run any further. Then she fell in a heap and began to sob. The hot tears were the only warmth in this cold, frozen landscape. Yet she poured out her heart and when she was all done, she sank down too exhausted to take even another step. Her bad leg ached and throbbed and her muscles felt as if she had been running all night. The cold of her wet dress seemed to chill her very bones and she started to shiver. But it did not matter. She had done wrong. She had fallen for a man when promised to another. The problem felt like an anvil on her back as she tried to decide what to do. She couldn't find a simple solution to her predicament and no matter what choice she made; she knew someone would get hurt.
    Finally, she closed her eyes and with the wind and snow whipping at her face she prayed. As she let the words flow she got an answer. She must listen to her heart. It was the only chance that everyone had for happiness. She felt a touch of relief and let her heart soar out despite the freezing cold. It called out for