Read Online Forget Me Not (The Heart's Spring) by Amber Stokes - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Amber Stokes
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she slumped farther into the cushions. Maybe she could find some rest from all of her emotions at Joe’s ranch. Well, his brother’s ranch.
The mere word “brother” upset her, so she dismissed that thought quickly.
“I think I’d like that.”
Joe gave her a bright smile, possibly even brighter than the chandeliers above them that had been lit while she was out. She couldn’t help but smile back.
Her smile quickly vanished when the door opened to reveal a man she had never met but recognized with some blossoming part of her heart.
***
This was not what a happy reunion between brother and sister should have looked like. Joe ached to witness the uncertainty on Jacob’s face, but what hurt him more was the thought that Jacob didn’t even deserve this—the opportunity to meet his sister and intrude on her respectable and untainted life. Swallowing hard, Joe didn’t even bother to try to relax his stiff shoulders or unclench his tight fists.
“Jacob.” Elizabeth’s word came out on a breath, only noticeable because of the complete silence in the room. Her hand shook as she brought it to her face, cradling her cheek as if she were comforting herself, shielding her gaze from her good-for-nothing brother. But Elizabeth couldn’t know who Jacob really was. And Joe hoped it would remain that way.
“Elizabeth.” Jacob smiled awkwardly, but his eyes lit with a hope Joe recognized as genuine.
Elizabeth finally closed the gap, shuffling slowly at first, and then rushing to Jacob as he stood still in the doorway. Her embrace seemed to shock him, and the wide smile on her face that appeared as she pulled back to look at him was beautiful. Beautiful…
Turning away, Joe studied the wall covered with a bright wallpaper that couldn’t completely hide the barrenness behind it, which showed up in the corners where the paper was peeling.
This is wrong. What good could Elizabeth gain by making the journey to this evil town? Joe suddenly wished he had told Elizabeth a lie. That her brother had left years ago. That no one would know where he now lived.
If only doing her that kindness wouldn’t send her away from him, too.
His fist slammed into the arm of the chair he was sitting in. A curse slithered from his mouth, and Joe was sure he himself was more surprised than Elizabeth or Jacob, who jerked toward him. The horrified expression on Elizabeth’s face drove him out of the chair.
“I apologize, ma’am,” Joe offered as he practically shoved Jacob aside to get to the door. “I best be goin’ now. I’ll be by in a few days to escort ya to the ranch.” There was nothing else to say.
“You don’t have to go.” Elizabeth’s voice was quiet, uncertain.
Joe paused at the door, then yanked it open. “Yes, I think I do.”
She wouldn’t understand, but he had no strength of will left to remain there. He rushed out of Jacob’s house, away from Elizabeth’s confusion, and out into the night air. The sounds of saloon music sickened him, and he headed down the street toward his boardinghouse, where he could sleep for a while. At least, he hoped he would sleep. But sleep would probably elude him, just as everything else he really wanted in life seemed to do.
Chapter 10
Black permeated the sky, but Elizabeth couldn’t find solace in the darkness behind her own closed eyes. Two days had passed since they’d arrived, and she had to see David, to tell him about meeting her brother and to make sure he had found a place to stay. Why hadn’t he come to see her yet? Worry churned inside her as she slipped from under the covers and donned her dress, the one David had bought for her in Cheyenne. If he wouldn’t come find her, she would go find him.
Quickly brushing her hair and braiding it, she slipped out the bedroom door and headed for the front of the house. Annabelle had gone to bed long ago, and Elizabeth had heard Jacob leave, so she wasn’t too afraid of being caught. Taking a deep, confident breath, she
The mere word “brother” upset her, so she dismissed that thought quickly.
“I think I’d like that.”
Joe gave her a bright smile, possibly even brighter than the chandeliers above them that had been lit while she was out. She couldn’t help but smile back.
Her smile quickly vanished when the door opened to reveal a man she had never met but recognized with some blossoming part of her heart.
***
This was not what a happy reunion between brother and sister should have looked like. Joe ached to witness the uncertainty on Jacob’s face, but what hurt him more was the thought that Jacob didn’t even deserve this—the opportunity to meet his sister and intrude on her respectable and untainted life. Swallowing hard, Joe didn’t even bother to try to relax his stiff shoulders or unclench his tight fists.
“Jacob.” Elizabeth’s word came out on a breath, only noticeable because of the complete silence in the room. Her hand shook as she brought it to her face, cradling her cheek as if she were comforting herself, shielding her gaze from her good-for-nothing brother. But Elizabeth couldn’t know who Jacob really was. And Joe hoped it would remain that way.
“Elizabeth.” Jacob smiled awkwardly, but his eyes lit with a hope Joe recognized as genuine.
Elizabeth finally closed the gap, shuffling slowly at first, and then rushing to Jacob as he stood still in the doorway. Her embrace seemed to shock him, and the wide smile on her face that appeared as she pulled back to look at him was beautiful. Beautiful…
Turning away, Joe studied the wall covered with a bright wallpaper that couldn’t completely hide the barrenness behind it, which showed up in the corners where the paper was peeling.
This is wrong. What good could Elizabeth gain by making the journey to this evil town? Joe suddenly wished he had told Elizabeth a lie. That her brother had left years ago. That no one would know where he now lived.
If only doing her that kindness wouldn’t send her away from him, too.
His fist slammed into the arm of the chair he was sitting in. A curse slithered from his mouth, and Joe was sure he himself was more surprised than Elizabeth or Jacob, who jerked toward him. The horrified expression on Elizabeth’s face drove him out of the chair.
“I apologize, ma’am,” Joe offered as he practically shoved Jacob aside to get to the door. “I best be goin’ now. I’ll be by in a few days to escort ya to the ranch.” There was nothing else to say.
“You don’t have to go.” Elizabeth’s voice was quiet, uncertain.
Joe paused at the door, then yanked it open. “Yes, I think I do.”
She wouldn’t understand, but he had no strength of will left to remain there. He rushed out of Jacob’s house, away from Elizabeth’s confusion, and out into the night air. The sounds of saloon music sickened him, and he headed down the street toward his boardinghouse, where he could sleep for a while. At least, he hoped he would sleep. But sleep would probably elude him, just as everything else he really wanted in life seemed to do.
Chapter 10
Black permeated the sky, but Elizabeth couldn’t find solace in the darkness behind her own closed eyes. Two days had passed since they’d arrived, and she had to see David, to tell him about meeting her brother and to make sure he had found a place to stay. Why hadn’t he come to see her yet? Worry churned inside her as she slipped from under the covers and donned her dress, the one David had bought for her in Cheyenne. If he wouldn’t come find her, she would go find him.
Quickly brushing her hair and braiding it, she slipped out the bedroom door and headed for the front of the house. Annabelle had gone to bed long ago, and Elizabeth had heard Jacob leave, so she wasn’t too afraid of being caught. Taking a deep, confident breath, she
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