In Want of a Wife by Shanae Johnson

Author:Shanae Johnson [Johnson, Shanae]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Those Johnson Girls

Chapter Twelve

The sun was low on the horizon when Collin pulled up to Rosings. He was still covered in horse membrane and placenta, but he felt a sense of accomplishment from bringing a new life into the world.

It was his favorite thing to see a new foal take its first steps on new terrain. The small horse had wobbled on its bony legs. Then it had stood tall to look out on its new domain.

The animal was perfect. A beautiful coat of midnight. Bright, intelligent eyes. A white starburst on its forehead, like it knew it was destined for greatness.

He would fetch a pretty penny when he came of age. His mother, on the other hand, was literally on her last legs. As Collin was prescribing a rest and rehabilitation regiment for the mother, who still hadn't gotten up to stand, the Coppins were asking how long before they could breed her again.

"How much?"

Collin had been trying to rein in his temper when the fierce words were spoken. Both Collin and Mr. Coppins turned to Charlotte. The anger Collin was trying to hold in was blaring loud and clear on her face.

"How much for the mare?" Charlotte clarified. She turned from Coppins to Collin. "I don't want a car. I want the horse."

Collin had never seen Charlotte Lee angry before. He'd seen her concentrating with a pinched expression on her face. He'd seen her happy and smiling, mostly true smiles, but a few fake ones now and again. Right now, she was even angrier than he was over the current condition and future plight of the old mare.

Collin didn't like Charlotte's anger. It was asymmetrical and looked… wrong. He preferred her features when they were arranged in the curved lines and angles of an easy smile. Her anger was a sharp and jagged thing that he needed to do away with.

Thankfully, it wasn't directed at him. Collin was even more grateful that he could do something about it. And that's how he wound up hitching a trailer to his truck and bringing the old mare back to Rosings.

The deed had taken all afternoon. By the time they'd returned home, the City Hall was closed. There would be no ceremony today. They'd brought a life into the world and saved another. It had been a good day.

Collin looked beside him at Charlotte. She slumped down in the passenger seat, asleep again. Her eyelids were soft curves as her lashes rested on her cheeks. Her lips were a smooth polygon of peeks and valleys, but the shape was clearly a smile.

He sat for a moment and stared at her lips. For all his study of facial expressions and the different types of smiles, he'd never kissed a woman. He'd never had the inclination to. Staring at the soft slopes of Charlotte's mouth, he suddenly had the desire to know what it felt like, what it would taste like.

His curiosity would've been satisfied had they made their appointment at City Hall today. It was a kiss that sealed the marriage ceremony.

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