Read Online Brazos Bride by Caroline Clemmons - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Caroline Clemmons
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lamp burning low and climbed between the sheets.
Lying alone on her wedding night, she wondered how she would feel if this were a real marriage? Theresa had assured her the physical side of marriage was very pleasant, but Hope wondered. Mama had told her otherwise, that it was to be endured in order to have children and appease a husband’s animalistic nature. A wife’s unpleasant duty , she’d called it.
What would a real marriage to Micah be like? Was he passionate, she wondered? She knew he was fearsome when riled, and she hoped never to rouse his ire. His nearness created a strange need to lean on him. To snuggle against his hard, muscular body. His touch elicited tingles, which ended up as warmth pooling low inside her.
Did that mean she was a passionate woman? Would she enjoy joining with Micah, or find it a tiresome duty? Chiding herself, she tried to control her wandering thoughts. She forced herself to keep her goal in mind. Freedom to control her own life, allowing no man to crush her spirit.
Freedom!
Something about her proposal had seriously offended him, and she speculated about what she would have done if he had stood fast in his refusal. Hadn't she considered every unmarried man she knew? No other suitable prospect came to mind, unless one of his brothers would have agreed. Both his brothers were handsome, especially Zach, and appeared upstanding and powerful men. Why didn’t they arouse the same interest from her that Micah did?
Only Micah fit the bill as someone strong enough to offer her protection and honorable enough not to press his advantage on her. Wait. Was that actually true, or did she harbor a secret attraction to him?
She’d enjoyed dancing with him their first meeting. At his trial, she’d been afraid to speak to him for fear of further enraging Tio Jorge. Someone was guilty, but she knew Micah hadn’t killed her father.
What made her sure?
She touched the ring on her finger, hoping it wouldn't slip off her hand during the night. For some reason, wearing it pleased her and she refused to remove it even for sleep. How silly she acted, as if theirs were a romantic arrangement.
A soft rap alerted her he'd returned before he unlocked the door and came into the room. She scooted the pillows against her back and sat with the sheet tucked under her arms to shield her breasts from view through the thin fabric.
"Thought I gave you plenty of time," he said and turned the lock, then laid the key on the dresser.
"Wh—where did you go?" she asked, wondering if he'd think she had no right to question him.
He hung his hat on the peg, then tugged off his boots. "Said a few words to Zach before he headed back to the ranch. Late tomorrow he and Joel are coming to your place. My men will start moving cattle to the river. Along with the access to the water, that's good grazing along there. May save the rest of the herd."
He unbuttoned his shirt, but left it on. "We figure one of us will always be at the house with you, so you're never alone. I've started on a plan for what we can do about protecting the food so no one can slip in poison. Here’s what I have planned--"
“ Micah...I...I am not sure eating so much was a good idea.” She slapped her hand over her mouth.
He grabbed the chamber pot and held it for her while she retched. When she’d emptied her stomach, she fell back on the pillows exhausted and wet with clammy perspiration. Chills shook her.
“ Hope, I’m so sorry.” He put the lid on the chamber pot and slid it under the bed. “I should have realized you were too ill for heavy food. Damn, I practically force fed you that dessert.”
“ No, I should have known. The meal tasted so good and eating without worry overwhelmed my good sense. You must think me greedy to stuff myself.”
“ No, both of us focused on other things than the delicate state of your stomach.” He dipped a cloth into the water he’d used to splash his face. “Let me sponge your face.”
“ You had
Lying alone on her wedding night, she wondered how she would feel if this were a real marriage? Theresa had assured her the physical side of marriage was very pleasant, but Hope wondered. Mama had told her otherwise, that it was to be endured in order to have children and appease a husband’s animalistic nature. A wife’s unpleasant duty , she’d called it.
What would a real marriage to Micah be like? Was he passionate, she wondered? She knew he was fearsome when riled, and she hoped never to rouse his ire. His nearness created a strange need to lean on him. To snuggle against his hard, muscular body. His touch elicited tingles, which ended up as warmth pooling low inside her.
Did that mean she was a passionate woman? Would she enjoy joining with Micah, or find it a tiresome duty? Chiding herself, she tried to control her wandering thoughts. She forced herself to keep her goal in mind. Freedom to control her own life, allowing no man to crush her spirit.
Freedom!
Something about her proposal had seriously offended him, and she speculated about what she would have done if he had stood fast in his refusal. Hadn't she considered every unmarried man she knew? No other suitable prospect came to mind, unless one of his brothers would have agreed. Both his brothers were handsome, especially Zach, and appeared upstanding and powerful men. Why didn’t they arouse the same interest from her that Micah did?
Only Micah fit the bill as someone strong enough to offer her protection and honorable enough not to press his advantage on her. Wait. Was that actually true, or did she harbor a secret attraction to him?
She’d enjoyed dancing with him their first meeting. At his trial, she’d been afraid to speak to him for fear of further enraging Tio Jorge. Someone was guilty, but she knew Micah hadn’t killed her father.
What made her sure?
She touched the ring on her finger, hoping it wouldn't slip off her hand during the night. For some reason, wearing it pleased her and she refused to remove it even for sleep. How silly she acted, as if theirs were a romantic arrangement.
A soft rap alerted her he'd returned before he unlocked the door and came into the room. She scooted the pillows against her back and sat with the sheet tucked under her arms to shield her breasts from view through the thin fabric.
"Thought I gave you plenty of time," he said and turned the lock, then laid the key on the dresser.
"Wh—where did you go?" she asked, wondering if he'd think she had no right to question him.
He hung his hat on the peg, then tugged off his boots. "Said a few words to Zach before he headed back to the ranch. Late tomorrow he and Joel are coming to your place. My men will start moving cattle to the river. Along with the access to the water, that's good grazing along there. May save the rest of the herd."
He unbuttoned his shirt, but left it on. "We figure one of us will always be at the house with you, so you're never alone. I've started on a plan for what we can do about protecting the food so no one can slip in poison. Here’s what I have planned--"
“ Micah...I...I am not sure eating so much was a good idea.” She slapped her hand over her mouth.
He grabbed the chamber pot and held it for her while she retched. When she’d emptied her stomach, she fell back on the pillows exhausted and wet with clammy perspiration. Chills shook her.
“ Hope, I’m so sorry.” He put the lid on the chamber pot and slid it under the bed. “I should have realized you were too ill for heavy food. Damn, I practically force fed you that dessert.”
“ No, I should have known. The meal tasted so good and eating without worry overwhelmed my good sense. You must think me greedy to stuff myself.”
“ No, both of us focused on other things than the delicate state of your stomach.” He dipped a cloth into the water he’d used to splash his face. “Let me sponge your face.”
“ You had
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