[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
series of bad investments, and, rather than face the shame of
prosecution in the law courts, he’d chosen to put a gun to his head,
thinking he’d take the gentleman’s way out. Except, of course, he’d
been no gentleman. He’d abandoned his wife and family to face the
uproar that followed, alone.
Left penniless, Hannah’s mother had to resort to taking in
boarders, while Hannah and her four younger sisters sought work as
seamstresses. Their only brother, William, had headed out West to
escape the scandal and to start over, perhaps make his fortune looking
for gold out in California. He promised that, when he succeeded, he
would return home, and his mother and sisters would no longer have
to work. They would all return to their rightful place in society, and
he would take care of them all. But in the meantime, the women were
left with no man to support them.
William took off several months before Hannah left. In the
beginning, they received some letters, telling his family of his travels.
Hannah, ever the imaginative one, dreamed of joining him and
travelling the rest of the way out West with him. Sewing with a group
of whining sisters didn’t appeal to her tomboyish nature. She felt sure
she could help her brother pan for gold. Paddling barefoot in flowing
waters, her skirt tucked above her knees, created a tempting venture in
her mind. She didn’t even think about what it would be like when the
Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.
Report ebook piracy to legal@sirenbookstrand.com.
52
Cindy Crane
rains came, or that there might be days spent finding nothing at all.
All she could see was a fairytale ending to her family’s plight.
Even better, it would get her away from Matthew’s perpetual
fawning and her mother’s insistent coaxing to marry him. When
William’s letters dried up, she decided she would go to find him.
She came here first. It was the last place from which he’d written.
But by the time she arrived, he’d already moved on. However, Jacob
and his father were waiting for her. William had worked for them for
a while, and, before he left, he’d told them that if his little sister
showed up, they should keep her with them until he returned. They
kept their word and, in return for food and lodging, Hannah became
their housekeeper, concentrating on the household chores.
She cooked, washed, and grew vegetables while the men tended
the cattle and horses. However, having ridden back home, Hannah
had a way with the horses, too, always preferring more physical
activities than her sisters, who liked to play the piano and flirt with
young men. So, more and more, she found herself helping out in the
corral with Jacob and the ranch hands.
It wasn’t that she hadn’t done her share of flirting. Hannah had
always had her share of admirers. But with her strong-minded,
impetuous ways, she was always too quick with a put-down.
“Not lady-like at all,” her mother had once complained as more
and more young men fell by the wayside.
In the end, only Matthew persevered with her. Even after the
scandal that rocked both their families, he remained a constant visitor,
much to the consternation of his mother. Rumors ran rife that they
would soon marry. However, Hannah didn’t love him and she wasn’t
prepared to produce a brood of children for a man she didn’t care
enough about, even if it would have meant financial security for her
mother and sisters, as well as herself.
So, having finally made her escape, she found she loved the life
here more.
Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.
Report ebook piracy to legal@sirenbookstrand.com.
Hannah’s Gold
53
Certainly, life was hard, but the men soon appreciated her quick
tongue and practical skills. She proved very quickly that she wasn’t a
wet-behind-the-ears greenhorn from back East, afraid of hard work
and getting her hands dirty. For that, they admired her.
However, before she left to catch the train, her mother, finally
resigned to her daughter’s departure, at least, tried to give her the
benefit of her womanly experience. She told her of ways that women
could try to reduce the number of babies they had, if they couldn’t
persuade their husbands to “treat them with respect.”
Hannah hadn’t really been sure what she’d meant by that until
Jacob made love to her. Determined not to put a child in her belly, he
withdrew from her just before he came. He’d fallen upon her, panting
and crying out her name in pain and anguish, as he spurted his warm
seed over her belly. For a moment, Hannah was frightened that he’d
hurt himself in some way. After a few minutes, he’d smiled tenderly [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl wyciskamy.pev.pl
series of bad investments, and, rather than face the shame of
prosecution in the law courts, he’d chosen to put a gun to his head,
thinking he’d take the gentleman’s way out. Except, of course, he’d
been no gentleman. He’d abandoned his wife and family to face the
uproar that followed, alone.
Left penniless, Hannah’s mother had to resort to taking in
boarders, while Hannah and her four younger sisters sought work as
seamstresses. Their only brother, William, had headed out West to
escape the scandal and to start over, perhaps make his fortune looking
for gold out in California. He promised that, when he succeeded, he
would return home, and his mother and sisters would no longer have
to work. They would all return to their rightful place in society, and
he would take care of them all. But in the meantime, the women were
left with no man to support them.
William took off several months before Hannah left. In the
beginning, they received some letters, telling his family of his travels.
Hannah, ever the imaginative one, dreamed of joining him and
travelling the rest of the way out West with him. Sewing with a group
of whining sisters didn’t appeal to her tomboyish nature. She felt sure
she could help her brother pan for gold. Paddling barefoot in flowing
waters, her skirt tucked above her knees, created a tempting venture in
her mind. She didn’t even think about what it would be like when the
Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.
Report ebook piracy to legal@sirenbookstrand.com.
52
Cindy Crane
rains came, or that there might be days spent finding nothing at all.
All she could see was a fairytale ending to her family’s plight.
Even better, it would get her away from Matthew’s perpetual
fawning and her mother’s insistent coaxing to marry him. When
William’s letters dried up, she decided she would go to find him.
She came here first. It was the last place from which he’d written.
But by the time she arrived, he’d already moved on. However, Jacob
and his father were waiting for her. William had worked for them for
a while, and, before he left, he’d told them that if his little sister
showed up, they should keep her with them until he returned. They
kept their word and, in return for food and lodging, Hannah became
their housekeeper, concentrating on the household chores.
She cooked, washed, and grew vegetables while the men tended
the cattle and horses. However, having ridden back home, Hannah
had a way with the horses, too, always preferring more physical
activities than her sisters, who liked to play the piano and flirt with
young men. So, more and more, she found herself helping out in the
corral with Jacob and the ranch hands.
It wasn’t that she hadn’t done her share of flirting. Hannah had
always had her share of admirers. But with her strong-minded,
impetuous ways, she was always too quick with a put-down.
“Not lady-like at all,” her mother had once complained as more
and more young men fell by the wayside.
In the end, only Matthew persevered with her. Even after the
scandal that rocked both their families, he remained a constant visitor,
much to the consternation of his mother. Rumors ran rife that they
would soon marry. However, Hannah didn’t love him and she wasn’t
prepared to produce a brood of children for a man she didn’t care
enough about, even if it would have meant financial security for her
mother and sisters, as well as herself.
So, having finally made her escape, she found she loved the life
here more.
Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.
Report ebook piracy to legal@sirenbookstrand.com.
Hannah’s Gold
53
Certainly, life was hard, but the men soon appreciated her quick
tongue and practical skills. She proved very quickly that she wasn’t a
wet-behind-the-ears greenhorn from back East, afraid of hard work
and getting her hands dirty. For that, they admired her.
However, before she left to catch the train, her mother, finally
resigned to her daughter’s departure, at least, tried to give her the
benefit of her womanly experience. She told her of ways that women
could try to reduce the number of babies they had, if they couldn’t
persuade their husbands to “treat them with respect.”
Hannah hadn’t really been sure what she’d meant by that until
Jacob made love to her. Determined not to put a child in her belly, he
withdrew from her just before he came. He’d fallen upon her, panting
and crying out her name in pain and anguish, as he spurted his warm
seed over her belly. For a moment, Hannah was frightened that he’d
hurt himself in some way. After a few minutes, he’d smiled tenderly [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]