In The Assassin's Arms (Daggers 0f Desire Book 1) by Katherine Hastings

Author:Katherine Hastings [Hastings, Katherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Adventure Romance, Daggers 0f Desire Series, Ancient Civilizations, Historical Scottish-Irish Romance, Historical Romance, Women's Fiction, Regency & Victorian Era, 17th Century, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Medieval & Ancient World, Thrillers & Suspense, Mystery & Intrigue, Protection & Safety, Action & Adventure, Dangerous & Deadly, Romantic Suspense, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Highlander, Rough & Tumble, Fantasy, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Mysterious Scottish Highlands, Dark Ages, Beautiful & Feisty
Publisher: Flyte Publishing
Published: 2019-01-11T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

CHARLIE SAT IN THE meadow along the edge of the forest. She plucked another long blade of grass and twisted it between her fingers. John had been gone all night and the sun was peeking up over the horizon. Unable to sleep, she had spent the night watching the stars and trying to fight off the feeling that kept resurfacing. She was missing John.

Since the day her father died, she had been alone in the world. She had her aunts and uncles to help keep her fed and a modest roof over her head, but she had never been more than a farmhand to them. It had been more than a decade since she had felt love... real, unconditional, protective, and powerful love. With her father’s last breath, he had taken from her all the security and comfort she’d ever known.

Her father would have done anything for her. He would have slit his own throat without hesitation in order to protect her. She’d longed for that love for years, crying herself to sleep on the pile of straw that was swept into a corner each night for her bed. She’d silenced her sniffles when her aunt would scold her for keeping them up. Finally, she’d suppressed the need for tears at all. It was then that Charlie had accepted her lot in life. She was alone. She would always be alone.

These past few days with John had chipped away at her armor, a small pinhole letting in the tiniest bit of warmth and light. Fear was not an emotion Charlie was familiar with, but it had crept in as he whittled away at her defenses. She had been alone for so long, she didn’t know any other way. She didn’t think she could ever let him in all the way... let herself trust him. What surprised her more than the fear was the feeling that she wanted to... she wanted to let him in, let her guard down, and let herself feel love again. Yet every time she had the chance, she ran from it. It was an ingrained reaction created from years of practice.

She sighed and looked out across the meadow to where John’s family’s home sat off in the distance. It looked small from here. She remembered riding up to it with her father and being in awe of the size of it. In her youth, it was the largest building she had ever seen, big enough that an entire army could take up residence there. When she found out it was a family’s home, she had hesitated to even meet them. She couldn’t imagine having that much money.

John had approached at his father’s side and greeted them upon arrival. He had been so formal at their initial meeting, she expected him to be a spoiled brat. It hadn’t take but a minute after their fathers had gone off to talk, leaving them alone, that John had started chatting away like an old friend. His kindness and his warmth had surprised her.

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