Read Online The Frontiersman’s Daughter by Laura Frantz - Free Book Online Page A

coffee brown, seemed almost to caress her. Though he fascinated her, he also frightened. She’d never before been alone with him, and she knew Pa wouldn’t approve.
    He replaced his hat. “I could have taken care of those Cane boys iffen you’d just asked me. Better me than you—and without all the tongue waggin’ either.”
    She sighed. “So the news is all over the settlement.”
    His nod was curt. “You Clicks create all manner of tattle.”
    Pride snorted and took a skittish step back. Lael ached to leave. “I’d best get. I’ve yet to tell Pa.”
    The thought of the coming confrontation made her squirm. That she’d dallied a full day wandering hither and yon, only postponing their meeting, made it worse. What if Ma had heard the news already?
    “I suppose now is a terrible time to propose,” he told her, suddenly rueful.
    She looked at him in wonder. Truly, he had no shame, wooing her as he did when he could see she was in a dither. It took all her nerve to return his flirtatious banter and say, “Your timin’ needs work, Simon. But elopin’ might sit better than my quittin’. ”
    He grimaced. “I doubt it. I’d hate to stare down your pa’s gun barrel once we jumped the broom. Besides, I can’t marry someone I ain’t never courted or even kissed.”
    She flushed and looked to the shadows. They’d both be benighted in the woods if they weren’t careful, thereby heaping scandal upon scandal. She’d never before been kissed, and his talk of it turned her to mush.
    “Reckon I’d best see you home,” he said at last. “It wouldn’t do to leave you out here alone. Some Indian’ll steal that fine horse out from under you, or you atop it.”
    She shivered as a cool wind whipped up and he turned his horse around. Even in the shadows, Simon’s hair was the russet of an autumn leaf. ’Twould make a fine scalp dangling from a painted scalp hoop and sold to the British for bounty , she thought.
    Their eyes darted to and fro as they rode single file. ’Twas a dangerous time to be about. At the edge of the cabin clearing they dismounted and he tried to kiss her. Butterfly-like, she eluded him, drawn to the lights of home.
    “You’d best stay for supper,” she called, her voice soft, tremulous.
    But the shake of his head was adamant. “I’d sooner face a Shawnee war party than your pa tonight.”
    Behind them, Pa had come out onto the porch. Lael turned, feeling like she’d just set foot in a snare. Surely he could see the possessive way Simon held her arm . . . the late hour . . . Pride’s lathered state.
    A single command brought Ransom running. Without a word he reached for the reins and led Pride into the barn. Without so much as a backward glance, Simon rode away and left Lael to face her father alone.

    Ma’s heaviness of soul was reflected in her face. “You mean to tell me you up and quit teachin’ here yesterday without so much as a word to me? And I’ve gone and spent your stipend from Virginia!”
    Lael stood in the door frame, wilted by her mother’s words. “I’ll pay back the money, Ma, I promise.”
    “Your pa paid a small fortune for that fine horse you have. What about that? You fancy you’ll pay that back too? And what of the gossip goin’ round? I’ll likely hear of my own daughter from that tittle-tattle Mercy Cane. And who on earth will take your place as teacher? Miss Mayella—”
    “Enough, Sara,” Pa said.
    Worse than her ma’s scolding was her pa’s silence. As Ma spun away behind the hanging quilt wall that marked their bedroom, he stood by the cold hearth, arms crossed, face set like flint. He seemed to stare a hole right through her and her legs felt weak as wax.
    “No doubt the Cane boys had it comin’, ” he finally said. “I never figured you for a teacher. My quarrel with you is your wanderin’ in the woods. Don’t think Captain Jack has forsaken his suit where you’re concerned, Daughter. I’ve heard otherwise.”
    The warning sent a