So Many Roads to Choose by Kathleen Ball

Author:Kathleen Ball [Ball, Kathleen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lasso Springs Publications
Published: 2018-01-12T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Lynn felt so comfortably warm with Smitty lying with her. Her eyes opened wide. Goodness! What had he been thinking sleeping with her? She lay still and out of the corner of her eye, she saw the privacy curtain. She also heard Eli and Jed talking with the children. Everyone would know what a terrible failure of a mother she was.

The door opened, bringing in the cold, and she heard Mike’s voice. Mortified, she decided to get up and face the men, but Smitty whispered in her ear to go back to sleep. The brothers could take care of the children.

“Brian?”

“I’m sure they’ll bring him by in a bit. Let me hold you, Lynn. I almost lost you. Go back to sleep, my love.”

Her heart warmed at his words my love. She moved slowly until her head was on his chest, and with a yawn she fell back to sleep.

The next thing she knew, Brian too was on Smitty’s chest staring at her. She closed her eyes, and Brian tried to pry them open. She couldn’t help but smile. A rumble started in Smitty’s chest and then his hearty laugh erupted, making Brian giggle.

In a mere second, she saw they were surrounded by all the family. Every single one of them. She couldn’t turn her head all the way to see their expressions, but she was sure they disapproved. Children lived in this house. Pushing up on Smitty’s clothed chest she heard him grunt as she cried out.

Mike easily lifted her to her feet and held on to her as she swayed.

Her face burned. “I can only imagine what you all must be thinking of me, and I’m as embarrassed and sorry as can be. Someone like me is not what you want on your ranch. I don’t know how it all happened. I thank you, Smitty, for rescuing me, but I know you don’t want to be tied down.” Pulling away from Mike, she spotted her cape draped over a chair, picked it up, and fought through the pain as she wrapped herself in it and went outside. She stepped away to the side of the house, and while holding on, she bent and was sick.

Her body shook as if telling her to go back and lie down, but she had to ignore it. She could relax now. The kids were safe and she didn’t have to fear that Edgar would whip them. She had memorized Smitty’s letter to her, and her heart sank as she silently recited it. He wanted to be free. She’d just caused him a whole lot of trouble having to come get her. But he did come and he acted loving toward her. Her heart and head had no idea what was going on anymore.

She bent over again and emptied her stomach. She really didn’t need a man. She had a small amount of money. She could build a house. She should be able to get a land grant. Maybe one close but not too close to Smitty.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.