Read Online Brazos Bride by Caroline Clemmons - Free Book Online
Authors: Caroline Clemmons
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worked and Eduardo thought better of using force against Micah.
She took comfort from Micah’s presence next to her. "Eduardo, is that all I am to you, just a parcel of Montoya land?"
He reacted as if she'd slapped him. "Hope? Of course not. You know you are more like my sister than a cousin. But I hate like the devil to see this worthless killer take advantage of you. Already he has murdered Tio Alfredo and yet he is free. You need rest and protection, and my folks, they can give you that."
“ Micah was found innocent.”
“ He is as guilty as sin. Everyone knows it, no matter what some rigged jury said. Lousy lying Yankee.” Out of nowhere, Eduardo swung at Micah.
Micah stumbled backward but remained on his feet. He lunged forward and punched Eduardo with two fast fists.
Chapter Eight
Her cousin dropped to the floor, a stunned look on his face. He shook his head then touched his jaw. He rose slowly, his gaze never leaving Micah.
Micah appeared ready to land another punch if Eduardo gave him cause.
She moved to her cousin and laid her hand on his shoulder. "Eduardo, your parents were exceedingly kind to move in and look after me, but now I have a husband to take over. I am sure Aunt Sofia and Tio Jorge will wish me happiness. You know they will be relieved to return to their own home."
Eduardo still looked angry enough to bite a dog. "Why did you trick me like that? Saying you had to come in to pick out your burial clothes and then had to rest at the Hendersons's place? Had me worrying this might be your last few days."
She patted her cousin's arm. "Truly I am sorry if I alarmed you, but you would never have brought me to town had you known why I wanted to come, verdad ?"
" Sí , that is true, but I do not like that you have married this man," Eduardo barked, but some of the steam left him. He still frowned but he looked down at her upturned face. "Well, since it is done and all and...and you look happy enough. Aw, Hope, I guess there is nothing I can do if you want him ." He spat the last word like a curse.
“ Thank you, Eduardo.” She tiptoed and kissed his cheek, aching with guilt for her duplicity. But she knew no other way to save herself. Some day surely everyone would understand. “You know I hold you and your parents in high regard. I think of you as a brother more than a cousin.”
Why couldn’t she say the word love ? What was wrong with her? It would help if she knew whether or not her aunt and uncle were the ones poisoning her.
“ If this is what you want, so be it.” Eduardo glared at Micah and pointed a finger at his chest. "But, Stone, you had better watch your step. If I hear you have been mean to her, I will come after you." With that, he turned on his heel and stalked out.
"Well, that was pleasant." She resumed her seat and smoothed her napkin across her lap. Suddenly the day's events caught up with her and she wished she were already in bed so she could curl up and sleep for hours and hours.
Examining his fist, Micah sat down beside her. "His parents aren't going to be any happier than he was. Reckon they'll challenge us on this?"
"There is nothing they can do now." But the thought dulled her appetite and she declined dessert.
She hated to hurt her aunt and uncle if they were innocent, but no one else had as much opportunity to poison her. Aunt Sofia appeared genuinely concerned for her welfare, convinced Hope had the same affliction as her late mother. Tio Jorge had always doted on her, almost as if she truly was his daughter, but money’s lure did terrible things to people. Eduardo was in and out of her home daily. Even he could have slipped something into her tonic or in food waiting on a tray. How horrid to suspect her only family, but she had no choice.
Preserving her life was too important to take chances. She knew no other way to insure her safety—or theirs if they weren't a part of the plot against her. If the guilty person turned out to be
She took comfort from Micah’s presence next to her. "Eduardo, is that all I am to you, just a parcel of Montoya land?"
He reacted as if she'd slapped him. "Hope? Of course not. You know you are more like my sister than a cousin. But I hate like the devil to see this worthless killer take advantage of you. Already he has murdered Tio Alfredo and yet he is free. You need rest and protection, and my folks, they can give you that."
“ Micah was found innocent.”
“ He is as guilty as sin. Everyone knows it, no matter what some rigged jury said. Lousy lying Yankee.” Out of nowhere, Eduardo swung at Micah.
Micah stumbled backward but remained on his feet. He lunged forward and punched Eduardo with two fast fists.
Chapter Eight
Her cousin dropped to the floor, a stunned look on his face. He shook his head then touched his jaw. He rose slowly, his gaze never leaving Micah.
Micah appeared ready to land another punch if Eduardo gave him cause.
She moved to her cousin and laid her hand on his shoulder. "Eduardo, your parents were exceedingly kind to move in and look after me, but now I have a husband to take over. I am sure Aunt Sofia and Tio Jorge will wish me happiness. You know they will be relieved to return to their own home."
Eduardo still looked angry enough to bite a dog. "Why did you trick me like that? Saying you had to come in to pick out your burial clothes and then had to rest at the Hendersons's place? Had me worrying this might be your last few days."
She patted her cousin's arm. "Truly I am sorry if I alarmed you, but you would never have brought me to town had you known why I wanted to come, verdad ?"
" Sí , that is true, but I do not like that you have married this man," Eduardo barked, but some of the steam left him. He still frowned but he looked down at her upturned face. "Well, since it is done and all and...and you look happy enough. Aw, Hope, I guess there is nothing I can do if you want him ." He spat the last word like a curse.
“ Thank you, Eduardo.” She tiptoed and kissed his cheek, aching with guilt for her duplicity. But she knew no other way to save herself. Some day surely everyone would understand. “You know I hold you and your parents in high regard. I think of you as a brother more than a cousin.”
Why couldn’t she say the word love ? What was wrong with her? It would help if she knew whether or not her aunt and uncle were the ones poisoning her.
“ If this is what you want, so be it.” Eduardo glared at Micah and pointed a finger at his chest. "But, Stone, you had better watch your step. If I hear you have been mean to her, I will come after you." With that, he turned on his heel and stalked out.
"Well, that was pleasant." She resumed her seat and smoothed her napkin across her lap. Suddenly the day's events caught up with her and she wished she were already in bed so she could curl up and sleep for hours and hours.
Examining his fist, Micah sat down beside her. "His parents aren't going to be any happier than he was. Reckon they'll challenge us on this?"
"There is nothing they can do now." But the thought dulled her appetite and she declined dessert.
She hated to hurt her aunt and uncle if they were innocent, but no one else had as much opportunity to poison her. Aunt Sofia appeared genuinely concerned for her welfare, convinced Hope had the same affliction as her late mother. Tio Jorge had always doted on her, almost as if she truly was his daughter, but money’s lure did terrible things to people. Eduardo was in and out of her home daily. Even he could have slipped something into her tonic or in food waiting on a tray. How horrid to suspect her only family, but she had no choice.
Preserving her life was too important to take chances. She knew no other way to insure her safety—or theirs if they weren't a part of the plot against her. If the guilty person turned out to be
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