Teton Splendor by Peggy L Henderson Read Free Book Online

effort, he hauled Andrew to his feet. A split second later, his fist connected with Andrew’s jaw, sending him to the ground again. Blood spewed from her fiancé’s nose, and he scrambled to back away from Joseph, who advanced on him again.
    “Stop it!” Sophia called frantically. She rushed away from the side of the buggy. “You’re killing him.” There was so much blood!
    Joseph’s head turned toward her, his long hair whipping around his neck. The fierce, murderous look on his face stopped her in her tracks. She clutched her opened bodice tighter to her chest.
    Joseph’s attention returned to the man on the ground, and he hauled him to his feet again. Blood ran freely from Andrew’s nose and the split in his lip. Grabbing the front of his shirt in his fists, Joseph almost lifted him completely off the ground.
    “Didn’t your pa ever teach you how to treat a lady properly?” he snarled, his face inches from Andrew’s. Then he pushed him away, and Andrew nearly lost his balance. “If you ever lay a hand on her again, I will kill you.”
    Joseph advanced on him, and Andrew bolted for the buggy. He scrambled onto the seat and slapped the reins against the horse’s back. The rig lurched forward.
    “Andrew, wait,” Sophia called, and tried to run after him. He didn’t even look her way, and snapped the buggy whip over the horse’s head. “Andrew!”
    Sophia stopped running when she reached the gravel road. He wasn’t going to wait for her. He was fleeing for his life. That savage man would have killed him. Slowly, she turned. Her pulse quickened. She was all alone, miles from town. What would Joseph Walker do to her? She had to get away from him, but she knew she’d never outrun him.
    He stood by his horse, watching her. Sophia’s lips trembled, and she held her clammy palms to her pounding chest. Her heart skipped a beat when he moved toward her. The urge to run overtook her mind, but she stood rooted to the spot. Her legs wouldn’t move.
    “Are you all right?” he asked, stopping just in front of her. Wide-eyed, Sophia stared up at him. He no longer looked vicious. His utterly handsome features had softened considerably, and a concerned look passed over his eyes. His gaze rested on her face, his brows wrinkled slightly. “Sophie?” His hand reached out, his fingers grazing her arm.
    Sophia sucked in a deep breath. He’d barely touched her, yet the jolt in her arm, making her skin tingle, was immediate. She stepped back, out of his reach, and tore her eyes away from him.
    “Don’t touch me,” she produced between trembling lips.
    “Did he hurt you?” Joseph asked, his voice deeper than she remembered. Sophia’s head snapped up, and sudden anger welled up inside her.
    “You nearly killed Andrew,” she screeched.
    Joseph’s eyes narrowed. “I gave that bastard what he deserved.”
    “He didn’t deserve to be beaten,” Sophia argued, her voice rising.
    Joseph took a step toward her, and her eyes widened. “I suppose you’re going to tell me you enjoyed being manhandled like some common saloon whore.  Do you have any idea what he would have done to you?”
    Sophia gasped at his outrageous words. “How dare you,” she stammered. “Andrew is my fiancé. He would never—”
    “Let me tell you something, Princess.” Joseph cut her off, and took another step closer. Sophia inhaled the scent of leather and horse, and her pulse quickened. “Where I come from, a decent man doesn’t do things to a woman if she objects to it. And from what I saw, you were objecting.”
    Sophia’s mind raced for something to say. Andrew had gotten carried away, no doubt. But he wouldn’t have forced himself on her like Joseph was insinuating. Andrew had always been a gentleman. It only meant that he loved her, and couldn’t wait to be married. A fleeting thought nagged at her. She hadn’t enjoyed Andrew’s advances. She hadn’t enjoyed his kiss from the night before. Would she be able to endure what