Stained Snow by Fallon Brown Read Free Book Online Page A

Wasn’t that enough?”
    “Obviously not. He’s twisted it all around so I’m the bad guy. That I took something from him.” He cut his gaze away to the table. Stabbed another potato. “He’s after me now. I can’t stay. I won’t bring that kind of trouble to you.”
    Tears gathered in her eyes, and she turned to him, taking his face in her hands. “You shouldn’t have to run because of something he did.” She brushed her lips across his. “We have some time at least, don’t we?”
    He set his fork down. “Of course we do.” He got up from the table and pulled her up beside him. “I needed to see you. I had to touch you again, Maggie. I don’t know if I’ll be back this time.”
    “Please try,” she whispered, her lips coming up to meet his again.
    He moved his hands up into her hair. "If he ever leaves me be, I'll come back for you."
    It felt wrong, like a lie. She couldn't tell why and didn't care right now. He was here and was leading her back to her bedroom, and that was all that mattered.
    Later, spent and yet unsatisfied, she lay under him, tracing the lines of his chest. Her fingers brushed over some scratches, and he tensed. "What happened?"
    She didn't think he would answer at first. "Got in a tangle with a tree," he finally said, but he was already pulling away.
    Cold washed over her suddenly, but she couldn't explain why. He pulled his pants back on, and she realized something was missing. "Where's your belt?"
    The color drained from his face, and his hands stilled on the top button of his trousers. He mumbled something she couldn't make out then reached for his boots.
    Tears already fell from her eyes. He turned back then stepped up to her wiping the wetness from her cheek. “Don’t cry, Anna.”
    She jerked and stepped back from him. “What did you call me?”
    His eyes narrowed, and she saw the hint of darkness again. It nearly made her shudder then her Thomas was back. “Maggie. That’s your name.”
    She shook her head. “That’s not the name you said. You said Anna. You called me Anna. Who is Anna?”
    He turned away from her. “You’re being ridiculous. You misheard me.”
    “No, I didn’t, Thomas. The two names sound nothing alike.”
    He turned back toward her, his hand coming up at the same time. Something heavy dropped into her stomach, and she took a step back. “Drop it, Maggie.” He grabbed his hat from the chair. “I have to go. I told you I couldn’t stay.”
    She shivered at the chill in his voice. He’d been warm moments ago. She hugged her arms around herself until he stepped up to her again. He brushed her hair away from her face as if nothing had happened. “I’ll see you again. I don’t know when, but I’ll see you again.”
    She nodded then let him go. He wouldn’t stay. He would never stay. She needed to get used to that. She watched as he caught his horse in the corral and mounted again. She should turn away. It only hurt more when she watched him ride away.
    She still stood there as he blurred through her tears then finally disappeared.
     
    #
    Thomas glanced back toward the house as he rode off. Maggie still stood in the doorway. He closed his eyes until he felt steady again. Then, he turned away. He hadn’t lied. He didn’t want to bring William down on her. He couldn’t care much less about her father or any of the hands working on the ranch. In the time he’d been here, none of them had shown him any respect. William could kill all of them as far as he cared. In fact, he wouldn’t mind at all to be rid of them. Maggie…Maggie was different.
    Had he really called her Anna?
    Ridiculous. Anna was dead. He hadn’t meant to kill her. She was supposed to go with him. If she hadn’t fought so much, he wouldn’t have reacted that way. He’d only wanted her to stop fighting.
    He skirted around the area where George rounded up cattle with his men. It would be better if he didn’t even know he’d been up here. Maggie might tell him, but by that