Redemption by Carolyn Davidson

Author:Carolyn Davidson [Carolyn Davidson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance, American Historical Romance, Civil War, Love Story, Romance
ISBN: 9780373771493
Google: YOeIBAAAQBAJ
Amazon: 0263849619
Barnesnoble: 0263849619
Goodreads: 1126336
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2014-11-15T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

IT HAD BEEN MORE THAN a month since school let out. Alicia had been living the life of a full-time housewife for four weeks, the last day of classes freeing her from teaching with the prospect of a permanent vacation from the schoolhouse. Though she loved her students, it was a relief to set aside that part of her life for the days and years she would spend in Jake’s company.

Other summers had found her seeking out employment at various places. This year was different, with her contract to teach null and void. Her skin was turning golden from the time she spent outdoors. A garden was flourishing behind the house, Rachel pronouncing her thumb to be green as grass. The garden had been late going in, but the growing season was long, and the vegetable seeds she’d chosen to sow were rapidly turning into recognizable plants.

Jake sat in the shade and watched as she weeded, offering comments that amused her. He’d sent her to the store for a hat in the midst of her initial planting spree. “You don’t need to get sunstroke,” he’d said sternly. “Who will fix my dinner if you get sick?”

“I never get sick,” she’d told him arrogantly. “You obviously wouldn’t know a healthy woman if you saw one.” And then at the stricken look on his face, she touched his hand. “I’m sorry. I speak before I think sometimes. I didn’t mean to make you…”

“It’s all right,” he said. “I’m too easily reminded sometimes, but I’m getting better.”

“Yes, you are,” she’d said, agreeing without hesitation, bending to press her lips against his cheek, a deed he seemed to enjoy, if his smile was any indication.

Now she watched him from beneath her hat brim. He held a book on his lap, and she knew for a fact he’d turned nary a page in the hour he’d sat there. “Enjoying your novel?” she asked brightly, catching his attention.

He looked up at her, as if pulled from some deep contemplation. “Yes. It’s a good story.”

She denied herself the pleasure of teasing him, of asking him about the plot line, and instead rose and carried her basket of weeds to the compost pile at the back of the yard. “We need a goat to keep the grass down,” she said. “Poor Jason is tired of whacking away at it.”

“You wanted him to have chores,” Jake reminded her mildly. “I’ve been trying to cooperate with your list.”

“Well, at least he doesn’t have to do arithmetic problems until school starts again. He was thoroughly sick of that ordeal.” She paused halfway across the yard and looked around her at the work yet to be done.

“But you let him go fishing,” Jake said. “Did he work on his bedroom?”

She sighed and reflected for a moment on the perpetual degree of disorder in Jason’s room. “He tried this morning. The dirty clothes are gathered up and he made his bed. I thought about going in there and dusting, and then letting him sweep the floor.

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