Forever in Texas by Jodi Thomas

Author:Jodi Thomas [Thomas, Jodi]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781101645147
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 1995-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

FORD DIDN’T BOTHER with the lantern. As he walked the distance between the barn and the house, his mood was as black as the inky sky. He hardly noticed the sweet smell of burning piñon wood drifting from the house chimney, or the wind whispering through the canyon in one low, moaning hum.

All he could think about was that Hannah had stolen again, even after he’d asked her not to while she was in Saints Roost. She’d taken too much time in the coatroom before they’d left for Eagle Hill. He should have guessed what she was doing, but he was too nervous about going to the hill with her.

Stopping at the edge of the corral, he stared into the night, wishing he could make sense of the way he felt. Idly, he ripped away a scrap of bark along the fence, baring wood as he bared his thoughts. He’d known she was a thief from the beginning, so maybe he should stop acting like a wounded pup. She was just doing tonight what she did every time she needed money, for no telling how many years. Allison’s purse was simply too good to pass up.

The moment Ford heard about the loss, he knew who had taken the money. She’d said earlier that she was going to pay him back for what he’d spent on her new clothes. She probably thought she’d let the theft cool for a few days, then hand him part of the money.

When everyone at the social started looking for the church fund, Ford knew what he had to do. He couldn’t stand by until someone figured out that his wife was mostly likely the only one who’d spent several minutes in the coatroom alone. No one would want to, of course, but eventually someone would get around to asking one question too many.

He couldn’t let Hannah be caught. Ford told himself it would be too embarrassing for her, but honesty gnawed at his gut. A part of him had to tell the truth, if only to himself. Pride wouldn’t let them find out about Hannah’s past. Not her pride, but his own. He didn’t want people saying that now it made sense why a pretty woman would marry such a toad of a man. She had a shady past. If they caught her stealing, it wouldn’t be sunrise before everyone in town would also speculate on what else she’d done. They’d say things like, Of course, no decent man would have her, so she married Ford, or A woman like her is lucky to find even one man who’ll stay with her for more than a night.

The cold air froze the moisture around his eyes. He didn’t want to be thought of as the leftover man who’d marry her. Ford, at least, wanted the fantasy of believing that she could care for someone like him. He liked remembering how she’d suggested the idea that they go through with the marriage. He liked having people

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.