Read Online Anna's Heart (Wilderness Brides Book 2) by Peggy L Henderson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Peggy L Henderson
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the wilderness.
When Harley had found him and his brothers, he’d gladly made the decision to go with him into uncharted mountains. Here it was easier to forget everything he’d ever loved. He’d learned how to survive on his own and, aside from his brothers and Harley, would never have to face the kind of loss he’d experienced before.
Ethan raked the fingers of his good hand through his hair. Sweat bathed his face again, like it had most of the night. The voices of his past hadn’t tormented him this much in a long time, but they’d been a constant presence during the long hours of the night while his body battled to rid itself of the puke weed he’d ingested.
The mint Aimee Osborne had given him had soothed his stomach a little, but then the pain in his hand had taken over. Any water he’d drunk to quench his raging thirst had come up again moments later. Anger at Anna Porter for giving him the vile drink in the first place had teetered with guilt over his behavior where she was concerned. Truthfully, none of what she’d done to him yesterday had been on purpose, yet he’d made her feel as if she’d caused the injury to his hand, as well as acting like she’d deliberately switched the herbs for the tea Aimee had wanted him to drink.
The cabin door creaked open, followed by loud voices. Aimee Osborne laughed along with Harley.
“You’ll have to come visit soon, Harley. Sarah and Chase would be happy to see you.”
“I bet them young’uns they got are growin’ up mighty fast.” Harley chuckled. “Chase done good, raisin’ four girls. Bet he’s glad he’s got hisself a son, though.” He cleared his throat, then asked, “Gotta be hard for Sam, raisin’ his little boy without a ma.”
There was a slight pause before Aimee answered. “He takes Josh to spend a lot of time with his Shoshone relatives. Sam is raising him to know both his white and Indian heritage.”
“Good thing, too,” Harley said. “I ain’t shore if I done the right thing by takin’ my boys away from all they knowd an’ raisin’ ‘em here in the mountains after their folks died. Mebe I oughta have took ‘em back ta where they come from. Trevor’s real smart. He coulda done good with some book learnin’.” He coughed. “They all growd up ta respect the mountains, but that’s all they know now.”
Chairs scraped across the floor, and someone poured liquid into a cup. Harley’s voice lowered when he spoke again. “Ethan’s growin’ more surly every year, blamin’ hisself for what happened to his folks an’ not lettin’ go. He needs a family of his own ta move on, but he don’t listen ta what I say. ”
“We all do the best we can for our kids, Harley.” Aimee’s voice had lowered, too. “You raised them well. They’re grown men, and have to make their own choices. Nathaniel has a nice family. Cora’s a real delight, and so are her sisters and brother.”
Harley chuckled again. “They shore do brighten up the valley. Jes wish Anna warn’t leavin’. She’s lonely an’ somethin’s eatin’ at her that she don’t wanna talk about. She needs a man, an’ Ethan needs a woman, but neither one of ‘em see it.”
Being privy to the conversation between Aimee and Harley bristled the hair at the back of Ethan’s neck. The old man had made it no secret for years that he wanted Ethan to find a wife. Now he was trying to match him up with Anna Porter? The thought was almost laughable.
Harley had it all wrong. Ethan didn’t want, or need, a family. Even if getting hitched was ever something on his mind, which it wasn’t, Anna Porter was the last woman he’d ever consider. He’d sealed off his heart a long time ago, and that’s how it would remain.
Good thing Anna had plans to leave the valley. At least the woman had some sense. She didn’t belong here. She was too fragile and soft to live in this environment. For that very reason, he hadn’t even responded to Harley the night before when the old
When Harley had found him and his brothers, he’d gladly made the decision to go with him into uncharted mountains. Here it was easier to forget everything he’d ever loved. He’d learned how to survive on his own and, aside from his brothers and Harley, would never have to face the kind of loss he’d experienced before.
Ethan raked the fingers of his good hand through his hair. Sweat bathed his face again, like it had most of the night. The voices of his past hadn’t tormented him this much in a long time, but they’d been a constant presence during the long hours of the night while his body battled to rid itself of the puke weed he’d ingested.
The mint Aimee Osborne had given him had soothed his stomach a little, but then the pain in his hand had taken over. Any water he’d drunk to quench his raging thirst had come up again moments later. Anger at Anna Porter for giving him the vile drink in the first place had teetered with guilt over his behavior where she was concerned. Truthfully, none of what she’d done to him yesterday had been on purpose, yet he’d made her feel as if she’d caused the injury to his hand, as well as acting like she’d deliberately switched the herbs for the tea Aimee had wanted him to drink.
The cabin door creaked open, followed by loud voices. Aimee Osborne laughed along with Harley.
“You’ll have to come visit soon, Harley. Sarah and Chase would be happy to see you.”
“I bet them young’uns they got are growin’ up mighty fast.” Harley chuckled. “Chase done good, raisin’ four girls. Bet he’s glad he’s got hisself a son, though.” He cleared his throat, then asked, “Gotta be hard for Sam, raisin’ his little boy without a ma.”
There was a slight pause before Aimee answered. “He takes Josh to spend a lot of time with his Shoshone relatives. Sam is raising him to know both his white and Indian heritage.”
“Good thing, too,” Harley said. “I ain’t shore if I done the right thing by takin’ my boys away from all they knowd an’ raisin’ ‘em here in the mountains after their folks died. Mebe I oughta have took ‘em back ta where they come from. Trevor’s real smart. He coulda done good with some book learnin’.” He coughed. “They all growd up ta respect the mountains, but that’s all they know now.”
Chairs scraped across the floor, and someone poured liquid into a cup. Harley’s voice lowered when he spoke again. “Ethan’s growin’ more surly every year, blamin’ hisself for what happened to his folks an’ not lettin’ go. He needs a family of his own ta move on, but he don’t listen ta what I say. ”
“We all do the best we can for our kids, Harley.” Aimee’s voice had lowered, too. “You raised them well. They’re grown men, and have to make their own choices. Nathaniel has a nice family. Cora’s a real delight, and so are her sisters and brother.”
Harley chuckled again. “They shore do brighten up the valley. Jes wish Anna warn’t leavin’. She’s lonely an’ somethin’s eatin’ at her that she don’t wanna talk about. She needs a man, an’ Ethan needs a woman, but neither one of ‘em see it.”
Being privy to the conversation between Aimee and Harley bristled the hair at the back of Ethan’s neck. The old man had made it no secret for years that he wanted Ethan to find a wife. Now he was trying to match him up with Anna Porter? The thought was almost laughable.
Harley had it all wrong. Ethan didn’t want, or need, a family. Even if getting hitched was ever something on his mind, which it wasn’t, Anna Porter was the last woman he’d ever consider. He’d sealed off his heart a long time ago, and that’s how it would remain.
Good thing Anna had plans to leave the valley. At least the woman had some sense. She didn’t belong here. She was too fragile and soft to live in this environment. For that very reason, he hadn’t even responded to Harley the night before when the old
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