Read Online Dorothy Garlock - [Wyoming Frontier] by Nightrose - Free Book Online Page B

feel that he had totally conquered her, before he was able to reach completion, but she always kept a secret part of herself from him. It was the only way that she could keep her sanity.
    Thank goodness their son was down by the river with his nurse, for Justin was working himself into a rage, and she knew what was to come. Helga had learned that her cries excited him to further violence; and unless it was a terribly bad beating, she was able to take it in silence.
    “Your lover is in Montana Territory,” Justin continued with a sneer. It was a sure sign of his rage when he repeated himself. He went to the window and stood with his back to her. “Would you like to see him?”
    “Garrick is not and never has been my lover.” If only that were not true, Helga thought. If only he would welcome me if I went to him! But he had showed her nothing but respect At times she had seen pity in his dark eyes.
    “No?” He turned to look at her. “You still claim that little black-haired bastard you had last year was mine?”
    “Yes, she was your daughter,” she answered calmly. “Many new-born infants have dark hair. The second growth of hair would have been light. Even the doctors told you that.”
    “We’ll never know, will we? Had it lived, it would not have been raised in this house!” His voice had risen to a roar.
    It won’t be long now, Helga thought. Justin’s obsession with his Nordic heritage and with besting his half brother ruled his life. She had seen Garrick Rowe only a few times. A few months after she and Justin were married he came home for a few weeks to visit his mother. He came back when his father died. After the funeral and the reading of the will, he and his mother left for Paris where Justin’s father had met her. As long as Preston Rowe had lived, Justin had kept his hatred for his stepmother and her son bottled up inside. The moment Justin learned that his father had included Whitecliff in his inheritance, he made it clear that Garrick and his mother were no longer welcome.
    “How would you like to take a trip out West?” To Helga’s surprise, Justin sat down on the arm of a chair and folded his arms across his chest.
    “Out West? I don’t know if it would be a good idea to take Ian away at this time.”
    “We won’t take Ian.”
    “Not take him? But, I can’t go and leave him.”
    “I think you can . . . and will if I say so. It will only be for a few months.”
    “Months! No, Justin. I don’t want to leave my child for a week, much less for months.” Helga began to wring her hands and plead. “Please, Justin—”
    “No?” he said softly. “You know better than to say no to me. You’ll do as I tell you, won’t you, Helga? I’m the head of this family. Say it.”
    ‘You’re the head of the family. But I’m Ian’s mother, and I don’t want to leave him. Justin. For once, please be reasonable.”
    “For once? So I’m unreasonable other times? Look at me when I’m talking to you.” He was on his feet in an instant. His hand flashed out and he slapped her so hard she stumbled and almost fell. “You’re trying my patience, Helga. I’ve taken all the sass I’ll take from you.” He sank his fingers in the carefully arranged hair at the top of her head and pulled her head back so he could look into her face. “I’ve fed you, clothed you, taken you away from that piss-poor family of yours, and made you into someone whom people look up to. You haven’t appreciated any of it.” He shoved her from him. “Tell the servants to find something to do down at the summer house. Then get upstairs and take off your clothes.”
    Helga stumbled from the room.
God help me to endure this,
she prayed. If only there were someplace she and Ian could go where he couldn’t find them. If only there were someone who would help her get Ian away from Justin and that nurse who was accountable only to him. She could leave, but he would find her and bring her back. Not that he wanted her, but