greet Josie with a kiss, though she tried to duck away, or a touch of her hair, or hold her hand a little too long. Charlotte would look away, pretending not to notice. He'd stare at Josie at dinner and always try to hug her when she excused herself when dinner was through.
She was thankful for the escape of her room and her books. She had a heavy heart knowing that she wouldn't be able to bring all of them with her. She would have to choose a few of her favorites to pack. In her bedroom was a set of French doors that led out to a small balcony. On nice evenings, she loved to sit outside and escape. Just sitting, daydreaming or looking at all the stars and feeling so small in the vast universe. She knew that it was one thing she would miss terribly when she left for the ranch and wondered what the scenery in Texas, it was hard to picture just by Sam's descriptions; he had said there was wide open land where the cattle roamed free and the ranch was set in on a small hill. She knew that wide open spaces meant a wonderful view of the night sky and hoped there would be a porch with a swing and to sit with Sam and view of the stars.
It was on a beautiful evening only a couple of days from leaving that she decided to spend some time enjoying that balcony. She'd finished dinner and most of her packing was done, so there was time to relax. As she sat on the swing, thinking about Sam and what her life on the ranch would be like, she heard a noise coming from behind her, in her bedroom. She quickly turned around and through the doors she had a sudden fear sweep through her body as she saw that George had entered her room and was standing on the other side of the door. She was angry at herself for forgetting to lock her bedroom door.
Adrenaline kicked in and she jumped up, trying to close the door that separated them. But he was too fast, and stopped her. “I'm sorry to interrupt you,” he said in that fake polite voice that made her skin crawl. “I just know that you'll be leaving soon and thought it would be nice to spend some time with you before you go. Don't you agree?” He said it in a way that inferred it wasn't a question but a statement. It gave her goosebumps, though she tried to hide her fear.
“Yes, but this isn't a good time and you've startled me by coming into my quarters unexpectedly.”
“There have been no opportunities for us...”
She stared at him with eyes of steel. “I eat dinner with you in the dining room every night. Anything you need to say to me can be said there, in front of my mother.” Josie was amazed by the force in her voice and didn't know from whence it came. Inside, her stomach was in knots and she could feel her palms perspiring.
“I meant opportunities for us to have a chance to be alone. Haven't you wanted to be alone with me?”
He stared at her with the look that she despised. But then the look changed; it was pleading...desperate. Josie tried to get past him, but he stopped her, grabbing her arm.
“Let go of me!” Josie demanded.
“You're not mature enough yet, you know nothing of desire. The last thing I would ever do is hurt you, Josie.” With his hand still on her arm, the other one came up to gently brush against her cheek. His hot breath was in her face.
“If you wish not to hurt me, let me go! This is absurd!”
She wondered if she should scream, but suddenly she felt frozen. His grasp moved from her arm to around her waist and he was pulling her closer. She slapped him hard on his cheek.
Suddenly the door burst open, and Elsa came in. “Miss Josephine, your mother sent me to help you with your packing.”
Thank the good Lord , Josie silently prayed as George released his grasp and she stepped away from him.
“Thank you, Elsa, this is the perfect time for your help,” Josie said, noting a flash of sympathy in Elsa's eyes.
George said nothing more before bolting out of the room, holding one hand on his face. Josie let out a whimper and crumpled down on the
She was thankful for the escape of her room and her books. She had a heavy heart knowing that she wouldn't be able to bring all of them with her. She would have to choose a few of her favorites to pack. In her bedroom was a set of French doors that led out to a small balcony. On nice evenings, she loved to sit outside and escape. Just sitting, daydreaming or looking at all the stars and feeling so small in the vast universe. She knew that it was one thing she would miss terribly when she left for the ranch and wondered what the scenery in Texas, it was hard to picture just by Sam's descriptions; he had said there was wide open land where the cattle roamed free and the ranch was set in on a small hill. She knew that wide open spaces meant a wonderful view of the night sky and hoped there would be a porch with a swing and to sit with Sam and view of the stars.
It was on a beautiful evening only a couple of days from leaving that she decided to spend some time enjoying that balcony. She'd finished dinner and most of her packing was done, so there was time to relax. As she sat on the swing, thinking about Sam and what her life on the ranch would be like, she heard a noise coming from behind her, in her bedroom. She quickly turned around and through the doors she had a sudden fear sweep through her body as she saw that George had entered her room and was standing on the other side of the door. She was angry at herself for forgetting to lock her bedroom door.
Adrenaline kicked in and she jumped up, trying to close the door that separated them. But he was too fast, and stopped her. “I'm sorry to interrupt you,” he said in that fake polite voice that made her skin crawl. “I just know that you'll be leaving soon and thought it would be nice to spend some time with you before you go. Don't you agree?” He said it in a way that inferred it wasn't a question but a statement. It gave her goosebumps, though she tried to hide her fear.
“Yes, but this isn't a good time and you've startled me by coming into my quarters unexpectedly.”
“There have been no opportunities for us...”
She stared at him with eyes of steel. “I eat dinner with you in the dining room every night. Anything you need to say to me can be said there, in front of my mother.” Josie was amazed by the force in her voice and didn't know from whence it came. Inside, her stomach was in knots and she could feel her palms perspiring.
“I meant opportunities for us to have a chance to be alone. Haven't you wanted to be alone with me?”
He stared at her with the look that she despised. But then the look changed; it was pleading...desperate. Josie tried to get past him, but he stopped her, grabbing her arm.
“Let go of me!” Josie demanded.
“You're not mature enough yet, you know nothing of desire. The last thing I would ever do is hurt you, Josie.” With his hand still on her arm, the other one came up to gently brush against her cheek. His hot breath was in her face.
“If you wish not to hurt me, let me go! This is absurd!”
She wondered if she should scream, but suddenly she felt frozen. His grasp moved from her arm to around her waist and he was pulling her closer. She slapped him hard on his cheek.
Suddenly the door burst open, and Elsa came in. “Miss Josephine, your mother sent me to help you with your packing.”
Thank the good Lord , Josie silently prayed as George released his grasp and she stepped away from him.
“Thank you, Elsa, this is the perfect time for your help,” Josie said, noting a flash of sympathy in Elsa's eyes.
George said nothing more before bolting out of the room, holding one hand on his face. Josie let out a whimper and crumpled down on the
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