Read Online Love Lasts Forever by Dominiqua Douglas - Free Book Online Page A

here.”
    “A free man of color,” Willow murmured. She tried to visualize it, but the only face that came to mind belonged to Thor. While amalgamation was known, it certainly was not encouraged. She released another deep sigh and frowned. The complications of life never ceased to diminish. Here it was the first time she ever envisioned marriage and a man of her own, and it was someone she wasn’t free to have. Even in love, freedom was elusive.
    “Yes, a nice handsome man,” Eva continued on, carried away by her thoughts. “Maybe he’ll be an educated man, having gone to that college in Ohio.”
    “At Oberlin.” Willow clarified for her.
    “Yes, Oberlin. Perhaps, he’d be a man of the cloth like the reverend. I know he’d give his blessing to a union such as that.” Eva tossed her sewing down onto her lap when Willow didn’t respond. “Willow! I know you think about it. Every woman does. A handsome man, big and strong like my Anders, who will love you and cherish you as long as you both shall live. Surely, you want that, too.”
    Willow swallowed hard and lowered her eyes to study her clenched hands. “I’ve never thought about it.”
    “I think you’ll have pretty babies, and our children can play together.”
    “That would be nice,” Willow said quietly.
    The possibilities Eva presented were too painful for Willow to consider. They awakened desires she tried hard to ignore. The nighttime discussion with Thor left her longing, and Eva’s words filled her with despair. She couldn’t listen to her friend’s wishes and predictions for a moment longer.
    Willow turned her back to Eva and grabbed the pail at the back door. “I think I hear the pigs calling. I’d best feed them before they jump out of the pigpen. I’ll return directly.”
    “Thank you. While you’re out there, could you ask Thor to come inside for a moment?”
    Willow dipped her head in a slight nod and with pail in hand, slipped out the back door. She made quick work of tossing the leftovers into the trough.
    Since the pounding stopped, she had no idea where Thor wandered off. The area around the cabin presented a number of hiding places, and although he seemed to know his way around, the idea of him going off alone bothered her. Leaving the empty bucket at the rear of the cabin, she went in search of him.
    “Thor!” she called out, subconsciously using his first name without hesitation. It simply rolled off her tongue as if it belonged there. She pushed through the brush on the west side of the house and called again, “Thor!”
    From out of nowhere, a hand shot out and clamped over her mouth, silencing her. Her mind floundered as icy, cold fear left her frozen in shock and alarm.
    * * *
    Thor’s hold on Willow was solid. She squirmed and gave him a good elbow to his ribs until he whispered against her ear, “It’s me!”
    The words obviously did little to reassure her. She wiggled again and landed another jab to his midsection. Afraid that she’d hurt herself, he pulled her behind a large oak and whipped her around to face him. He braced his hands against the tree trunk to box her in.
    It took a moment for recognition to set in. When it did, her black eyes brimmed with hurt and accusation. The display of emotions plagued his heart. Didn’t she know she could trust him?
    “I’m sorry I scared you,” he whispered, “but you don’t have to be afraid of me.”
    “Why did you grab me?” Her eyes watched him and suspicion radiated from her.
    “Ssh.” He pressed a finger to his mouth for emphasis. “I thought I heard something. With you calling for me, I thought I’d lose them.”
    The tension slowly evaporated, and she exhaled. Her tone matched his whisper. “What did you hear? Was it a wolf? Mr. Anders ran off a pack months ago. He’d be fit to be tied if he learns they came back.”
    Thor shook his head. He gestured with his hand for them to squat. Once the bushes hid them, he answered her. “Not wolves. I heard