Surrender to the Fury by Connie Mason Read Free Book Online Page B

pools of rage as she opened the door and hurried outside.
    “Where you goin’, honey?”
    “To get my son,” Aimee replied over her shoulder as she slammed the door behind her.
    Savannah clucked her tongue and wagged her head from side to side as she headed back toward the kitchen. “Dat chile sure is stubborn,” she said to herself. She’d seen Aimee through many moods throughout the years, both good and bad, but never had she seen her so obsessed with a man was she was with Captain Nick Drummond.
    Nick tightened his grip on Brand. The little imp was a joy to be around; someday he hoped to have a son just like him. It had only been since the war that he had even considered marriage and children. Seeing men die had instilled in him the need to leave a little bit of himself behind when he left this earth. Perhaps he would have children when he married Regina Blakewell, the daughter of General Andrew Blakewell. He had been more or less forced to propose to Regina since her father had caught them in a compromising position. In order to protect his career, which could be ruined by one word from the general, he had done the “gentlemanly” thing.
    No date had been set for the wedding, since times were precarious at best, but Nick supposed they would marry after the war. No great love had emerged in his life, and since he despaired of ever finding Aimee Fortune, he had agreed to marriage out of hopeless remorse. Had he been able to find Aimee five years ago … But that was another story, another time, and nothing could change the course of fate.
    Nick’s thoughts skidded to an abrupt halt when he saw Aimee heading straight for him. Her teeth were clenched, her stubborn jaw raised defiantly, and her eyes were dark with fury. He reined in his horse.
    “Mama, look at me,” crowed Brand, waving his chubby arms in the air. “Captain Drummond said I could ride Scout by myself when I get a little bigger.”
    “Would you please put my son down, Captain Drummond,” Aimee demanded.
    Nick obliged despite Brand’s keen disappointment.
    “Run into the house, Brand. Savannah has breakfast prepared.”
    “I already had breakfast, Mama. I ate with Captain Drummond.”
    Aimee ground her teeth in frustration. “Don’t argue, Brand, just go inside. I want to talk to Captain Drummond in private.” The little fellow looked hurt and puzzled but nevertheless obeyed his mother. She rarely spoke to him in that tone of voice, and when she did, he scrambled to do her bidding.
    The moment he was out of earshot, Aimee rounded on Nick. “How dare you try to turn my son against me! I want you to keep away from him.”
    Nick’s face grew stony. “He’s a child, for God’s sake. Why would I possibly want to turn him against you? Has it ever occurred to you that I genuinely like the boy? I’d never harm him.”
    “I don’t trust Yankees. And cheating rogues are even more despicable.”
    Nick gnashed his teeth in vexation. “I didn’t cheat you, Aimee, I won fair and square. You agreed to draw against me, knowing full well what I wanted from you if I won.”
    Aimee flushed, glancing around to see if anyone was listening. Except for Lieutenant Dill, who waseyeing them curiously, no one seemed to be giving them a passing glance. Just to be safe, she lowered her voice. “Don’t remind me of my folly. That part of my life is over and done with. It ended the night you took … took everything from me. I had nothing left to give when you finished with me.”
    “Evidently Beau Trevor didn’t find you lacking.” Nick’s lips curved into a wry curl. Aimee had sorely hurt him with her ridiculous accusation, and he wanted to lash out at her. But all he did was stoke the fires of her temper.
    “Don’t you dare say anything bad about Beau,” she hissed. “The man was an angel compared to you.”
    Nick winced. Did she love her husband so much? “You don’t even know me.”
    “I know all I want to know about you, and I don’t like any