[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
around early, we can be married and get home by mid-
afternoon."
The girls, except for Alisha, let out whoops of delight.
Serenity paled. Her stunned expression told him more than
any heated protest. She was as thunderstruck by Rose's
meddling as he was.
"You can't be serious."
"Aye, lass, verra serious."
Her mouth dropped open, but no words came out. He felt
the urge to pull Serenity close and reassure her that
everything would be fine. He couldn't understand the power
this woman had over him. Collin wasn't sure he liked it one
damn bit.
49
Sweet Serenity
by Catherine Stang
His gaze met Gran's satisfied one. Damn her for being too
perceptive for her own good. How could she offer him
something he didn't even know he needed? He would have to
be very careful not to let Serenity get too close. His battered
heart could not stand another loss. He almost did not survive
the last time.
50
Sweet Serenity
by Catherine Stang
Chapter 3
"Damn," Collin swore softly at the disappointing sight he
beheld before closing the bedroom door. His girls had all
fallen asleep before he got back.
His quick errand had run longer than he had anticipated. It
took him well over an hour to track down Reverend
Henderson and almost that long to convince the reverend to
even consider marrying him and Serenity. He made more
assurances to the man than he made the first time around
with Katrina.
With Katrina, it had all been so simple because he loved
her. As he tried to explain to Jeff, he wasn't looking for love
this time around. To be truthful, he wasn't looking at all. But
somehow, once Gran placed the idea of marrying again in his
head, it had made him want that part of his life back.
Was Jeff right, though? Could he really be a good husband
to Serenity when he had buried his heart with Katrina? Was it
enough that he offer her a home and the protection of his
name?
Reverend Jeff Henderson, in his usual blunt fashion, had
warned him about taking advantage of a young lady in need.
Collin assured him that they both needed and wanted this
marriage, but did they?
Serenity was a young, vibrant woman. Did she deserve to
be saddled with a worn-out soul like him?
Collin sighed. Lord, he was tired. Of course, the walk back
to the hotel couldn't be uneventful. Wallis had needed help
with a couple of hotheaded gamblers at the Silver Spur. Now
51
Sweet Serenity
by Catherine Stang
he'd missed putting his lassies to bed. His throat tightened,
and he felt a burn of tears at the thought of all the days and
nights he had lost.
Shaking his head, Collin stalked into his room. Just
thinking about his wee lassies growing up without him was
painful enough, but missing them was unbearable. That was
the main reason he'd agreed to Rose's outrageous proposal.
He wanted his family back. Marrying Serenity would be a
small price to pay for not having to face his empty house
night after night. At least this way he could watch his girls
grow up.
Collin fumbled with his shirt buttons as he strolled into his
dark bedroom. Just that small movement hurt. The smell of a
recently blown-out candle lingered in the air. He was too
tired, though, to bother with lighting it, so he undressed in
the dark. All he wanted to do was stretch out on the bed and
put this rotten day behind him.
"No ... Myles ... help ... believe me!" came a shrill cry from
the moaning form thrashing around on the bed.
The shirt tumbled out of Collin's stiff fingers. Serenity was
sleeping on top of his made-up bed. Why didn't he notice that
she wasn't sleeping with Rose and his girls?
"No ... you can't make me..."
Collin stared at her. The way Serenity's skirt tangled
around her thighs gave him a hint of the soft curves of her
legs. Moonlight streaming in the window beside the bed gave
her an ethereal glow. Her golden hair was confined in one
long braid, with soft wisps stuck to her flushed face.
52
Sweet Serenity
by Catherine Stang
A sense of protectiveness surged through him. He knelt
across the bed, pulling her trembling body against his bare
chest. She let loose a sob that nearly tore his heart apart. He
wanted to go on holding her soft body in his arms forever.
"'Tis okay, Serenity. No one will hurt you, lass," he cooed,
pressing his cheek against the top of her head.
For a brief moment, she relaxed. Then, all of a sudden, her
body tensed. She began struggling against his soothing
embrace. Hitting him. Kicking him. Collin was perplexed. His
first thought was to hold her tighter so she wouldn't hurt
herself. But those efforts only made her struggle harder. He
winced when she hit his tender shoulder and let her drop
down onto the pillow.
He brushed a hand against her wet cheek. "Serenity ...
please..."
She stiffened and her eyes slowly opened. A tense silence
hung between them as Collin awkwardly removed his hand.
Shoving her hair out of her face, Serenity began to sit up.
"I don't like the dark." Her voice shook.
"I'll light the lamp." Collin rose, fumbling with the matches.
When he returned to the bed, she was propped up against
the headboard, with her arms wrapped around her knees like
a lost child. Her eyes were wide with fear. Never had he seen
such stark terror on a woman's face. On outlaws he hunted,
yes, but never a woman. Collin hoped to never see that look [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl wyciskamy.pev.pl
around early, we can be married and get home by mid-
afternoon."
The girls, except for Alisha, let out whoops of delight.
Serenity paled. Her stunned expression told him more than
any heated protest. She was as thunderstruck by Rose's
meddling as he was.
"You can't be serious."
"Aye, lass, verra serious."
Her mouth dropped open, but no words came out. He felt
the urge to pull Serenity close and reassure her that
everything would be fine. He couldn't understand the power
this woman had over him. Collin wasn't sure he liked it one
damn bit.
49
Sweet Serenity
by Catherine Stang
His gaze met Gran's satisfied one. Damn her for being too
perceptive for her own good. How could she offer him
something he didn't even know he needed? He would have to
be very careful not to let Serenity get too close. His battered
heart could not stand another loss. He almost did not survive
the last time.
50
Sweet Serenity
by Catherine Stang
Chapter 3
"Damn," Collin swore softly at the disappointing sight he
beheld before closing the bedroom door. His girls had all
fallen asleep before he got back.
His quick errand had run longer than he had anticipated. It
took him well over an hour to track down Reverend
Henderson and almost that long to convince the reverend to
even consider marrying him and Serenity. He made more
assurances to the man than he made the first time around
with Katrina.
With Katrina, it had all been so simple because he loved
her. As he tried to explain to Jeff, he wasn't looking for love
this time around. To be truthful, he wasn't looking at all. But
somehow, once Gran placed the idea of marrying again in his
head, it had made him want that part of his life back.
Was Jeff right, though? Could he really be a good husband
to Serenity when he had buried his heart with Katrina? Was it
enough that he offer her a home and the protection of his
name?
Reverend Jeff Henderson, in his usual blunt fashion, had
warned him about taking advantage of a young lady in need.
Collin assured him that they both needed and wanted this
marriage, but did they?
Serenity was a young, vibrant woman. Did she deserve to
be saddled with a worn-out soul like him?
Collin sighed. Lord, he was tired. Of course, the walk back
to the hotel couldn't be uneventful. Wallis had needed help
with a couple of hotheaded gamblers at the Silver Spur. Now
51
Sweet Serenity
by Catherine Stang
he'd missed putting his lassies to bed. His throat tightened,
and he felt a burn of tears at the thought of all the days and
nights he had lost.
Shaking his head, Collin stalked into his room. Just
thinking about his wee lassies growing up without him was
painful enough, but missing them was unbearable. That was
the main reason he'd agreed to Rose's outrageous proposal.
He wanted his family back. Marrying Serenity would be a
small price to pay for not having to face his empty house
night after night. At least this way he could watch his girls
grow up.
Collin fumbled with his shirt buttons as he strolled into his
dark bedroom. Just that small movement hurt. The smell of a
recently blown-out candle lingered in the air. He was too
tired, though, to bother with lighting it, so he undressed in
the dark. All he wanted to do was stretch out on the bed and
put this rotten day behind him.
"No ... Myles ... help ... believe me!" came a shrill cry from
the moaning form thrashing around on the bed.
The shirt tumbled out of Collin's stiff fingers. Serenity was
sleeping on top of his made-up bed. Why didn't he notice that
she wasn't sleeping with Rose and his girls?
"No ... you can't make me..."
Collin stared at her. The way Serenity's skirt tangled
around her thighs gave him a hint of the soft curves of her
legs. Moonlight streaming in the window beside the bed gave
her an ethereal glow. Her golden hair was confined in one
long braid, with soft wisps stuck to her flushed face.
52
Sweet Serenity
by Catherine Stang
A sense of protectiveness surged through him. He knelt
across the bed, pulling her trembling body against his bare
chest. She let loose a sob that nearly tore his heart apart. He
wanted to go on holding her soft body in his arms forever.
"'Tis okay, Serenity. No one will hurt you, lass," he cooed,
pressing his cheek against the top of her head.
For a brief moment, she relaxed. Then, all of a sudden, her
body tensed. She began struggling against his soothing
embrace. Hitting him. Kicking him. Collin was perplexed. His
first thought was to hold her tighter so she wouldn't hurt
herself. But those efforts only made her struggle harder. He
winced when she hit his tender shoulder and let her drop
down onto the pillow.
He brushed a hand against her wet cheek. "Serenity ...
please..."
She stiffened and her eyes slowly opened. A tense silence
hung between them as Collin awkwardly removed his hand.
Shoving her hair out of her face, Serenity began to sit up.
"I don't like the dark." Her voice shook.
"I'll light the lamp." Collin rose, fumbling with the matches.
When he returned to the bed, she was propped up against
the headboard, with her arms wrapped around her knees like
a lost child. Her eyes were wide with fear. Never had he seen
such stark terror on a woman's face. On outlaws he hunted,
yes, but never a woman. Collin hoped to never see that look [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]