Surrendered on the Frontier by Jane Henry Read Free Book Online Page B

onto his lap.
    I’d never sat on a man’s lap before. The only men I’d ever known well were my pa and my husband, and neither had ever cared for me. I feared I would feel like a child sitting upon Samuel’s knee. But I was wrong. It felt quite nice, and for once I was grateful for my diminutive stature. I liked being held in his strong arms, or sitting upon his lap. His arms encircled me, and my head fell to his chest.
    “You need to get home,” I murmured, not that I had any desire to let him go, but because it felt the right thing to do.
    “You let me worry about that,” he said. His voice was thick and husky, and it was then I noted his arousal. I could feel him harden beneath me. I closed my eyes. It pleased me, knowing I could do that to him, to be wanted and not simply taken.
    He stood, carrying me into my bedroom, laying me gently on the bed. His mouth came to mine and he kissed me, hard and with purpose. As his lips met mine, I felt my body yearning for his. I wanted him to possess me, own every inch of my skin. I wanted to be closer to him, in every possible way. I needed him. But he pulled away from me, leaning up on one elbow.
    “I do need to get going home now, honey,” he said softly.
    I sighed. I knew he did. Night was falling, and he had chores to do at his own place, too. “Will you come back to me?” I whispered.
    “I’ll be here first thing in the mornin’,” he promised. He stood, giving my fingers one final goodnight kiss.
    I knew then that I wanted the day to come that he did not have to go home.
     
    * * *
     
    I woke up the next day as ornery as a hungry she-bear. I’d had bad dreams, plagued with Hannah’s screams, her falling, and my inability to help her. Not being able to protect her fully had been a reality for a good long while.
    When I sat up in bed, I had to remind myself that this wasn’t what it once was. Yesterday was only a minor setback. Things were different now. Now, I didn’t have an abusive husband who would barge into the room in the middle of the night and foist himself upon me. I didn’t have to worry about him attacking us when he’d return home from his days of drinking. Now, it was just the two of us.
    It was a bit cool outside, so I took my shawl and wrapped it around my shoulders, heading out for a brisk walk. I wanted to pull up weeds by their roots and tear them with my bare hands, or take the axe and swing it hard, splintering the wood in our yard into tiny pieces. I wanted to pound my fists on bread dough, or churn butter until perspiration dripped down my face. The anger inside me needed release.
    I tried to focus on the twitter of the sparrows and the sound of little rabbit feet in the woods, to listen to the distant murmur of the creek, and to allow the quiet of the morning soothe me. When I finally reached the water’s edge, I plunged my hands into the cool depths. I felt the chill straight through to my bones, and it was welcome. Cupping water into my hands, I lifted it to my mouth, drinking deeply, and when I was done, I ran my cooled hands along my face and neck. I closed my eyes and sighed. It felt nice, being alone here, the brisk water soothing my troubled mind and heart.
    I heard the snapping of twigs before I saw him, his tall profile beneath the shadows of the birches overhead causing my heart to flutter. He was so handsome. And I loved him.
    The sudden realization terrified me. My fear made me even angrier.
    “Little Ruth, I thought you agreed not to come here alone?” he chided.
    “I did,” I said, getting to my feet. “ Yesterday . Today is a new day.”
    He stood still and blinked, his arms slowly crossing over his chest. He leaned his form against a tall oak, and placed one foot up against the bark. He frowned. I could barely see his eyes beneath the brim of his hat, but I could see his mouth. His lips thinned as he frowned.
    “I’ve not managed to convince you to stay safe then, have I?”
    Ignoring the question, feeling the