Rocky Mountain Bride (Rocky Mountain Bride Series Book 2) by Lee Savino Read Free Book Online Page A

something.”
    He turned back and she cleared her throat, nervous at his solemn expression.
    “I’m sorry,” she said. “I know I did wrong by going into the river. I should have listened to you the first time, and obeyed. I’ll do better next time.”
    “I hope so. I don’t like to see you in danger.”
    “Yes. I also must ask for forgiveness for the way I behaved. When you…disciplined me…I said some things.”
    “I remember.”
    “Yes, well, I spoke wrong.” She felt her cheeks heat under his intense gaze. “You’re not a liar, or a scoundrel. You were right to punish me. I acted like a child and I’m sorry.”
    “I forgive you.”
    “You do?”
    “Yes, Carrie. You did wrong and I punished you. It’s over now. You’re forgiven.”
    She felt a weight lift off her.
    “Will that always be the way of it?”
    “Yes. Sometimes the discipline will be of a different nature, but always, when it’s over, you’re forgiven. It’s done.”
    She sighed, and something settled into Miles’ expression—a lightness, but not quite a smile.
    Her freshly dried hair wafted across her face and she pushed it back. “You’re not going to punish me then, for what I said?”
    “Would it ease your guilt?”
    She started to feel relief that she wouldn’t be punished again, then realized she felt better because of the spanking. She’d done wrong and been punished, apologized, and now it was over.
    He read all this on her face. “Perhaps next time. Shout insults at me or anyone again, and I’ll wash your mouth out with soap.”
    Carrie thought of the large cake of lye in the larder, and shuddered.
    “I think you’ve had enough punishment for a few days.” His hand came up, hesitated, then stroked back the hair from her face, rough fingers catching on the fine curls. His palm felt warm and rough and Carrie leaned into it, smelling his scent of woodsmoke and hay. Then his fingers came around and lifted her chin, at the same time he angled his head down. For a moment she felt he would kiss her.
    Instead, he feathered his thumb across her lips, and then dropped his hand and headed for his sleeping place on the porch, leaving her feeling oddly bereft.
     
    *****
     
    The next morning, she woke before dawn, cold and cramped. The soreness in her bottom had faded, but her foot was mostly black and blue. She swung her feet around and started to stretch for the floor, when she heard someone clear his throat.
    Miles stood frowning at her in the doorway. “What did I tell you about standing on that foot?”
    She jerked her legs back as if the floor was made of hot coals. “I was just going test it.”
    He knelt in front of her and checked her leg again, his warm hands heavenly on her cold skin. “I don’t want you walking far on this today. I’ll do your chores.”
    “You want me to stay here all day?” Her annoyance died under his stern look. “Yes, sir.”
    Her meek response earned her a nod, and somehow she knew he was pleased with her.
    As Miles went to build up the fire, Carrie sighed and thought of her long list of chores. One hand went to pick at the mattress ticking, and a bug scuttled over her hand. At the sound of her shriek, Miles had whirled from the hearth with the iron poker in hand. He watched in disbelief as she limped away from the bed, running her hands over her body as if invisible bugs were covering her.
    “What are you doing?”
    “I’m sorry.” She collapsed into a stool. “There was a bug. I was going to restuff it, but the mattress is too old. It needs to be burned.”
    She sat, twitching and miserable, as Miles dragged the horrid bundle outside and threw it off the porch. “Now, will you mind me and stay off that foot all day?”
    “What if I have to stoke up the fire, or refill the water?” She glanced in the corner at the chamber pot, but didn’t mention it.
    Miles took her meaning. “You may see to your needs—but walk only for that reason.”
    “What if there’s a problem, or a