Sweet Newlywed by Eliza Ester

Author:Eliza Ester [Ester, Eliza]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Majestic Owl Publishing LLC

Seven

Olivia

When Olivia had walked to the mine to deliver the pay book, she hadn’t known what to expect of the journey. It had been grueling and she’d felt like a fool when she’d finally arrived just after sundown. Ethan had taken her home on horseback and the journey had seemed ridiculously short in comparison.

This time, she wouldn’t make the same mistake. Olivia still couldn’t get herself to go near the horses, even if she wanted to. Her fear was developing into something that consumed her and she didn’t want to have a meltdown and count on Ethan to pull her back from the edge the way he did before.

What she could do, though, was plan the journey differently. She packed food and water for herself for on the way as well as a meal for Ethan she’d specially prepared. She left early and set out at a good pace from the start.

When she arrived at the mines she would spend the day there and she would come back with Ethan again. When he’d helped her onto the horse, made sure the animal was harmless, she could do it. She’d done it before and she would do it again.

The journey still took longer than she thought it would, but when she arrived she was in a good mood. She had drunk water and eaten halfway.

A few men were gathered beneath a tree and they looked terrible—covered in soot and bedraggled as if they’d never rested in their lives.

She searched the group for Ethan and couldn’t see him. Two more men stood at the entrance of the mines, peering in.

Something was wrong. Olivia didn’t know how she knew—maybe it was defeated looks on the men’s faces as they stared anxiously at the mine, or the chill that hung in the air despite the warmth of the summer day.

She hurried toward the men.

“I’m looking for Ethan,” she called out.

No one had a chance to answer. An explosion sounded, a bang so loud that Olivia covered her ears and ducked away from the mine entrance even though she wasn’t close to it. She felt a rumble beneath her feet as if the earth shuddered in response.

She looked at the mine entrance where the men were coughing. A cloud of dust hung in the air.

“He’s in there,” someone said and Olivia’s blood drained from her face.

Her husband was in there, the place where the explosion had just happened?

“No!” she cried.

Some of the men staggered toward the mine. Olivia wanted to go, too, but someone grabbed her arm and held her back.

“It’s not safe, ma’am.” His face was blackened with soot, the pink of his eyes looking almost obscene against it. “Wait here while I check it out.”

His expression was grim as he ran toward the mine and Olivia couldn’t help but expect the worst.

What if she lost Ethan? She loved him. They hadn’t been together for very long but she loved him more than she’d loved anyone and she wasn’t ready to live without him. A lump rose in her throat and she bit back tears.

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