Pioneer Redemption: The O’Rourke Family Montana Saga, Book Eight by Flightner Ramona

Author:Flightner, Ramona
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781945609664
Publisher: Grizzly Damsel Publishing
Published: 2022-01-11T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

Shifting from foot to foot, Winnifred took a deep breath and forced herself to knock on the door. When it opened, she smiled, although she hated to see the curious welcome fade to disgust as her sister looked at her.

“What do you want, Winnie?” Phoebe asked, as she stood in the doorway.

“I hoped to speak with you. To have a little time with my niece.”

Shaking her head, Phoebe kept the door partially closed. “Orla has enough aunts. She doesn’t need another.”

Flinching, Winnifred nodded. “I see,” she whispered. Looking to the wooden porch boards, she bit her lip, as she fought tears. “Nothing I say will ever be enough, will it?”

Phoebe cast a glance over her shoulder, as though ensuring Orla were safe before she focused on her sister again. “That’s the problem, Winnie. You used everything in your arsenal to hurt me. Your words and your actions. All to make me feel smaller and unlovable. Nothing you say or do now will ever heal what you did in the past.”

“Phoebe,” Winnifred murmured, “I’m so sorry.”

Shaking her head, Phoebe made a scoffing noise. “That’s just it. I’ll never believe what you say. I’ll never hear your voice without hearing you mock me for my limp, as you taunted me that Eamon could never love a cripple. I’ll never look at you and not see the woman who attempted to kill Lorena.” Her green eyes glowed with loathing. “No matter what you try to do now to ingratiate yourself with us, it will never be enough.”

“Of course. How foolish of me,” Winnifred gasped. “Forgive me for bothering you on this beautiful day.” She spun on her heel and walked away in a daze. Rather than return to the café, where she knew she should be helping Deirdre, she walked to the levee.

Wandering a short distance from town, she stood, staring into the Missouri River. Although many times she had wished she could escape town, she no longer had that desire. Everything she wanted was here, although so much remained out of reach. How had she bungled her relationship with her sisters so abominably? Although she continued to hope that she and Lorena could patch up their relationship, she knew she would have to accept that she had done irreparable harm to hers with Phoebe.

“You thought you could outsmart me,” Bell said, as he sidled up beside her.

She froze at his voice. Rather than turning to face him, she continued to look out at the river. “I’m a respectable married woman now, Mr. Bell.”

He grabbed her arm and spun her to face him. “You ain’t ignorin’ me, missy,” he snapped, his eyes flashing with anger and warning. “You owe me, and you will pay.”

She tried to wrench her arm away, gasping in pain as he continued his fierce hold of her. “Let me go.” When he shook his head, she yelled, “Let me go!”

“Yell all you like. No one will come to your aid. They know you’re no better than a Siren and that you played the Temptress a few years ago.

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