Undercover Husband by Cindi Myers

Author:Cindi Myers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue
Published: 2017-07-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

“Where is Kiram taking Walt?” Hannah tried to pull away from Phoenix when she saw Kiram lead Walt away.

“Your husband will be all right.” Phoenix was stronger than she looked and almost yanked Hannah off her feet. “You’ll see him tonight, after the council. In the meantime, you can help me with the children. That’s our job for the day.”

“This isn’t right,” Hannah said, reluctantly falling into step beside Phoenix. “We shouldn’t be separated like this.”

“It’s for your own good,” Phoenix said. “After all, you have to think for yourself, even though you’re married. And remember—whatever punishment the Prophet decides for you, it will make you a better person in the end.”

“Have you ever been punished by the Prophet?” Hannah asked.

“When I first came here, yes. But I needed to learn an important lesson, and I was grateful for it later.”

“What did you do that you needed to be punished for?” Hannah asked. The older woman looked so serene and devoted to Metwater. Hannah couldn’t imagine she had ever done anything to displease him.

“That is all in the past and we don’t talk about the past,” she said. “Come, let’s get the children. You’ll feel better when you’re with them.”

Sophie was waiting with the other children, and a duffel bag filled with balls and stuffed animals and other toys. While Sophie and her mother organized the children into play groups, Hannah took charge of Vicki. She was an easygoing baby, seldom fussy, happy to be held and admired.

“You’re so good with her,” Phoenix said, coming to sit at the picnic table beside Hannah. “Do you have children?”

Hannah couldn’t hold back the gasp that escaped her. “Wh-why would you ask that?” she stammered. “If I had children, they’d be here with me.”

“Not necessarily. They might be with their father, or a grandparent. Not every child lives with her mother. Sometimes that isn’t even the best thing.”

Hannah clutched the baby more tightly. “No, I don’t have any children.” It wasn’t a lie. Not really.

“Sophie lived with my parents for a while,” she said, her expression calm as she watched her daughter. “I wasn’t able to take care of her, so I signed over custody to them. One of the best things about coming here is that she’s able to be with me again.”

Were Phoenix’s parents really happy that she was living in a trailer in the middle of nowhere, following a self-proclaimed prophet? Hannah wondered. Then again, maybe Phoenix’s folks were in poor health, or simply tired of taking care of the child. It wasn’t Hannah’s place to judge. “She seems very happy here,” she said.

“She doesn’t like the Prophet, but I hope in time she’ll understand his wisdom.”

“Do you really think he’s wise?” Hannah asked.

She smiled serenely. Or was her serenity merely a kind of naïveté? “The Prophet saved my life. I owe him everything. Apollo, what is that in your mouth? We don’t eat bugs.” She jumped up and hurried to persuade the little boy to spit out his find.

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