Read Online His Brother's Bride by Denise Hunter - Free Book Online Page B

mean to upset you.”
    Suddenly, the deep longing and disappointment welled up within her until she felt she would explode if she didn’t give the feelings release. She tried to push back the feelings, and a knot formed in her throat.
    Mara’s hand settled on her arm. “What is it, Emily?”
    Her throat worked, trying dislodge the lump, but it was going nowhere. And neither were these stubborn longings of hers. “I—” She tested Mara’s expression with a glance then plunged ahead. “Cade and I won’t be having children. We–we’re husband and wife in name only.” Her flesh grew warm at the confession. She remembered their wedding night and the way he’d rejected her.
    â€œOh, Emily, I didn’t know.”
    She gave a dry laugh. “Neither did I.” Next thing she knew, she was spilling the whole story starting with Cade’s proposal on the stage and ending with his continued distance from her. Part of her wanted to tell Mara about the gold and her uncle’s threat on her grandmother, but she was too ashamed. Besides, it was hard enough just sharing her humiliation about Cade.
    â€œDo you have feelings for him?” Mara asked.
    Emily fidgeted with her skirts, wondering if she could admit the fullness of her feelings for her husband. One glance at Mara’s face convinced her she could. “I think I’m falling in love with him.”
    Mara squeezed her arm. “That’s wonderful.”
    â€œNo it’s not.” Her throat constricted. “He doesn’t return my feelings, and I’m so weary of hiding mine from him.”
    â€œHow do you know he doesn’t feel the same?”
    â€œHe–he’s distant with me, as if he doesn’t want there to be anything between us. It’s like he holds a shield in front of himself every time he’s near me. I think he’s still in love with Ingrid.”
    Mara looked away, her gaze moving off to some distant place.
    â€œDid you know her? Ingrid?”
    Mara nodded. “I got to know her a bit while she was carrying Adam. Just before she passed on. He did love her, Emily, but it’s been five years now. That’s a long time to be without love, especially when he’s had a son to raise alone.”
    Her heart twisted as she thought of Cade loving Ingrid. She longed for him to feel that way about her. “Well, he’s not raising Adam alone anymore.” She watched the boy shoot a marble through the dirt. Beth squealed and patted him on the shoulder.
    â€œThat’s not right,” Mara said. “You’re taking care of Adam and the house for Cade, yet you’ve sacrificed your heart’s desire.”
    Emily was starting to wonder exactly what her biggest heart’s desire was: a child of her own or her husband’s love. She wondered if she’d ever have either.
    â§
    Emily wiped her face with the back of her hand and knew she’d only smudged the dirt that coated her skin. She sat back on her haunches.
    The lantern light flickered against the cave walls, casting eerie shadows on the dirt floor. Behind her, Adam dug for his own treasure in the dirt. She looked at the hole she’d spent the last hour digging and felt a surge of hopelessness. It was as empty as the last dozen holes she’d dug in this endless cavern of tunnels and halls. Who would have guessed that the little opening in the cliff wall would have so many corridors and rooms? Her back ached from stooping under low ceilings, her arms ached from digging in the packed earth.
    She rubbed her neck and decided to call it a day. They would both need to get cleaned up, and she needed to get supper on before Cade got home.
    After helping Adam find the remainder of his marbles, she grabbed the lantern from the stone ledge and began walking. Behind her, Adam’s marbles clattered together in his pockets.
    â€œI’m thirsty, Ma.”
    Even through her