Read Online Blood of the Rainbow by Shelia Chapman - Free Book Online Page A

on some of my ‘ unreasonable’ designs, as they put it. But I stood my ground.”
    “You should have. It was your house; you were the one paying their salaries. I’m sorry… I’ve interrupted you again. Please, go on.”
    Jared smiled and touched the tip of her nose with his index finger. “Are you sure I’m not boring you?”
    “No, you’re not boring me. I want to know. I’m fascinated actually. Was it really that bad?”
    “Oh yes, it was, believe me. The pond was full of garbage. The old woman must have been using it for a garbage dump. The rose garden – man – it was so full of briars and thistles and bull nettles you couldn’t tell it had been a rose garden – or any kind of garden, for that fact.”
    “How long have you been in Shreveport?”
    “Almost seven years now. When I saw you across the street at Lucy’s, I realized then that I was reliving my dreams. Seeing you brought it all back. Everything that has happened in my life has been leading me in one direction, here – and to you.”
    Sara smiled. “Then I’m glad I came. My mother tried everything to talk me out of moving. I just couldn’t stand being in that little hick town. I wanted more out of life; I wanted to work on my music - barring the fact of my terminal stage fright. I wanted to be somebody, you know, make a difference in somebody’s life.”
    Jared studied her eyes. “Then you’ve already accomplished your goals.”
    Sara frowned in confusion. “How so?”
    “You said you wanted to make a difference in somebody’s life. You’ve done that. Just being with me, you’ve changed my life. Two days ago, I was lost and lonely, searching for something, I didn’t know what, and I didn’t know where to find it – until now.”
    Jared smiled and made Sara’s heart flutter. He stood, and took her hand. “There’s one more thing I want you to see, but we’ll have to go on foot from here.” He started leading her further up the side of the hill.
    “Oh, please, no more climbing! I hate climbing. I have a horrible fear of falling.”
    Jared smiled. “Don’t worry – I won’t let you fall. It’s not far, just a little ways up the hillside, and I can’t get the bike up there. I really want you to see this.” He waited for Sara’s reaction.
    He’s not being fair. He knows all the right buttons to push. All the right smiles to smile. All the right places to touch and kiss me. He knows my strengths and weaknesses too.This seems important to him. How can I possibly say no? “Ok, but you’ll have to lead me. I’m going to keep my eyes shut.”
    “No!” he commanded. “Don’t do that, you might lose your footing, and my life would end if anything happened to you.”
    Sara sighed and groaned. “You’re the most persistent person I’ve ever come across. Let’s go.”
    Jared smiled, pulling her up the hillside, over a craggy path. “Now stand still. I’m going to put my hands over your eyes, and don’t look until I tell you. Step up just a little - there. Now,” he continued. “I want you to imagine the most beautiful sight you’ve ever seen, and tell me, if what you’re about to see, compares.” He moved his hands off.
    Sara looked across the immense country scene that lay before her eyes. They were far above the treetops. A stream, so far below them, snaked like a glossy blue ribbon. It looked nothing like the river they’d crossed earlier. The sun was just beginning to set. Misty white clouds were sprayed across the hazy cerulean sky, as though they’d been airbrushed in place.
    Jared put his hands tightly on her waist. “Now… I’m going to hold on to you, and I want you to lean out, over the rock, and then look directly below you.”
    Sara was frantic. “What? No Jared! I can’t do that, please don’t ask me to do that!”
    Jared cooed in her ear. “Please? Trust me, I won’t let go of you. You’re not going to fall. Just close your eyes and trust me. Don’t open your eyes until I tell