said. “Well, I promised to meet Scotty at the corral. I’ll see you later.”
“Why didn’t you wake us when you got up?” Clay asked, as he sat down.
“I wasn’t aware waking you was my responsibility. I’m quite willing to cook your and Garth’s meals, but that’s where it begins and ends.”
“Your generosity is overwhelming, madam.”
She also needed to lay down one very important ground rule before the journey began.
“Although it’s necessary to keep up an appearance of being newlyweds, that does not extend to sharing a bed together.”
Clay simply looked amused.
Oh, the man was exasperating, but she had looked forward to this day too long to let him ruin it for her. She smiled sweetly at him. “Just so you understand, Clayton.”
He returned her false smile. “I think you’re the one who doesn’t understand, Rebecca. There are several obligations that go along with that marriage license you were so eager to… procure, one of which is conjugal rights. I intend to honor that obligation as well as my pledge to protect you.”
She stiffened. “I don’t require your protection any more than I need you in my bed.”
“You should have considered that before you took an oath to become my lawful wife.”
“Are you going back on your word, Clayton? We agreed to an annulment. If we become intimate that would be an impossibility, and you know it.”
“The annulment was all your idea, Rebecca. I never agreed to any such arrangement. Through no desire on my part, we are lawfully husband and wife, and I honor any vow I make. So I intend to try and become a good husband to you, Rebecca, and I expect you to take your vow just as seriously. If you see that as a problem, I’d advise you to think twice before we start this journey— because you will have to honor all a wife’s obligations.”
He stood up to leave. “I thought about this for a long time last night, Rebecca. I was damn angry over this trick you pulled, but after further thought, I came to the conclusion that this marriage might not be such a bad idea after all. A good-looking woman to cook my meals, wash my clothes, and warm my bed at night. Yep, it could make a long journey considerably more comfortable than I’d anticipated.”
“You southerners just can’t envision your lives without a slave, can you?” Rebecca was seething with anger, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing how much his words disturbed her.
“You have about an hour to make up your mind, Mrs. Fraser.”
Oh, what a blackguard! How could Garth claim his brother was a fair and compassionate man? Clayton Fraser was a smug, arrogant despot!
Well, he didn’t intimidate her. His honor. His oaths. His obligations! The man’s inflated opinion of himself was enough to turn her stomach. Well, he may have struck the first blow in this war between them, but the day hadn’t dawned when any Rebel secessionist could outmaneuver a born-and-bred Yankee like her!
Rebecca had the team hitched to the wagon by the time Clay and Garth rode up.
“Drive carefully, Becky,” Garth called out. He waved and rode by.
Clay dismounted and tied his horse to the rear, then climbed up on the wagon box and took the reins. “You have any problem with the mules?”
“Are you referring to the four-legged ones, or you and your brother?”
He cast an exasperated look at her. “Lady, you are such a shrew.”
“You’re right. My apologies to Garth; he doesn’t deserve it.”
Clay flicked the reins and began to move cautiously through the area, crowded with wagons piled high with supplies and people who were as eager as she to start the journey. Many had a horse or cow tethered to the rear of the wagon, and huge, lumbering oxen hitched to the front.
A white square painted with the number designating their position in line was pinned to the canvas side of each wagon. They were number fifteen.
The crowd stood hushed as the Reverend Kirkland called upon the
“Why didn’t you wake us when you got up?” Clay asked, as he sat down.
“I wasn’t aware waking you was my responsibility. I’m quite willing to cook your and Garth’s meals, but that’s where it begins and ends.”
“Your generosity is overwhelming, madam.”
She also needed to lay down one very important ground rule before the journey began.
“Although it’s necessary to keep up an appearance of being newlyweds, that does not extend to sharing a bed together.”
Clay simply looked amused.
Oh, the man was exasperating, but she had looked forward to this day too long to let him ruin it for her. She smiled sweetly at him. “Just so you understand, Clayton.”
He returned her false smile. “I think you’re the one who doesn’t understand, Rebecca. There are several obligations that go along with that marriage license you were so eager to… procure, one of which is conjugal rights. I intend to honor that obligation as well as my pledge to protect you.”
She stiffened. “I don’t require your protection any more than I need you in my bed.”
“You should have considered that before you took an oath to become my lawful wife.”
“Are you going back on your word, Clayton? We agreed to an annulment. If we become intimate that would be an impossibility, and you know it.”
“The annulment was all your idea, Rebecca. I never agreed to any such arrangement. Through no desire on my part, we are lawfully husband and wife, and I honor any vow I make. So I intend to try and become a good husband to you, Rebecca, and I expect you to take your vow just as seriously. If you see that as a problem, I’d advise you to think twice before we start this journey— because you will have to honor all a wife’s obligations.”
He stood up to leave. “I thought about this for a long time last night, Rebecca. I was damn angry over this trick you pulled, but after further thought, I came to the conclusion that this marriage might not be such a bad idea after all. A good-looking woman to cook my meals, wash my clothes, and warm my bed at night. Yep, it could make a long journey considerably more comfortable than I’d anticipated.”
“You southerners just can’t envision your lives without a slave, can you?” Rebecca was seething with anger, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing how much his words disturbed her.
“You have about an hour to make up your mind, Mrs. Fraser.”
Oh, what a blackguard! How could Garth claim his brother was a fair and compassionate man? Clayton Fraser was a smug, arrogant despot!
Well, he didn’t intimidate her. His honor. His oaths. His obligations! The man’s inflated opinion of himself was enough to turn her stomach. Well, he may have struck the first blow in this war between them, but the day hadn’t dawned when any Rebel secessionist could outmaneuver a born-and-bred Yankee like her!
Rebecca had the team hitched to the wagon by the time Clay and Garth rode up.
“Drive carefully, Becky,” Garth called out. He waved and rode by.
Clay dismounted and tied his horse to the rear, then climbed up on the wagon box and took the reins. “You have any problem with the mules?”
“Are you referring to the four-legged ones, or you and your brother?”
He cast an exasperated look at her. “Lady, you are such a shrew.”
“You’re right. My apologies to Garth; he doesn’t deserve it.”
Clay flicked the reins and began to move cautiously through the area, crowded with wagons piled high with supplies and people who were as eager as she to start the journey. Many had a horse or cow tethered to the rear of the wagon, and huge, lumbering oxen hitched to the front.
A white square painted with the number designating their position in line was pinned to the canvas side of each wagon. They were number fifteen.
The crowd stood hushed as the Reverend Kirkland called upon the
Similar Books
