The Word Prompt this Week is RANDOM
Welcome to Tuesday Tales
This is a continuation of my Mountain Man Historical Novel
Both of his guests were sleeping he couldn’t help
but watch them. What to make of the whole situation he had no idea. Samantha,
so positive of her story and Brian very convincible about his. The boy had the
same coloring as Samantha. Blood would always tell. It was a saying he’d heard repeatedly.
It was the very reason he lived away from the rest of the world. He’d lived in so-called
polite society most of his life but as soon as his da died, he took off. There
wasn’t anything or anyone in town for him. People liked his da well enough but
their good will didn’t extend to his half-breed son.
No sense bemoaning his past. He like Brian was just
an innocent lad. No one would lay another hand on the boy. No one helped him,
but he’ll do the right thing and help someone who couldn’t defend himself.
Grabbing his bedroll from the corner, behind his
pile of furs, he lay it out in front of the fireplace and lay on it. Sleep came
easier than anticipated.
The sounds of whispers woke him with a start and
quick as lightening he was on his feet. His face heated at the startled
expressions on Samantha and Brian’s faces. “Sorry, I forgot you were here. It’s
good to be fast on your feet out here.”
Samantha nodded but Brian’s brows furrowed. Poor kid
probably had to be fast on his feet to try to avoid random beatings. Though it
didn’t appear, he’d been successful. His eyes narrowed and he shook his head.
How could his ma allow it to happen? Many women were afraid of their husbands
and were beaten too but Samantha wasn’t full of marks on her body.
She hadn’t asked about him undressing her when he
rescued her and put her to bed and it was just as well. It would have made for
some awkward conversation. It was an image he couldn’t forget.
She was beautiful, the type of woman who would never allow him to touch her.
She was beautiful, the type of woman who would never allow him to touch her.
“Good Morning! If you’ll move you things from the
fireplace I’ll make us some tea and breakfast.”
He closed his eyes—a morning person he wasn’t but
apparently Samantha was extra cheery in the morning. After he folded up his
bedroll and put it back in the corner, he pulled on his boots and grabbed his
coat. “I need to… I’m going to get more wood and water.”
“You’re leaving?” Brian’s eyes widened and he wrapped
his arms around his middle.
“Really, I’ll be as quick as
I can.”
Brian nodded and Samantha leaned down, putting her
arms around his small frame. “You can help me cook.”
He nodded again but he didn’t take his gaze off
Patrick.
“Go on.” She moved her hand as if waving him out the
door.
Once outside, he paused and looked back at the
cabin. So much for solitude. It was a shame the poor boy didn’t trust anyone.
It was one of those life lessons learned the hard way. He hoped Solomon was out
there frozen to death. No, death was too easy; he hoped the bastard was
suffering in the blizzard without food or shelter. He made his way to the barn
and Ahearn snorted in greeting.
“Guess we’re going to have a few extra mouths to
feed for a bit. Samantha is too bright and happy. I mean she brightens the
place up but I’m used to gloomy silence. And the boy, if someone doesn’t teach
him to trust soon, he may never trust anyone.”
Ahern butted his shoulder with his nose. “I know,
old boy, just like me. Looks like it’s going to be snowshoes for a while. The
snow is getting too deep for me to take you with me. Wish I was alone, I’d hunt
down that thieving Solomon and get my furs back, but I promised I’d stay
around. Glad a have you to talk to.” He patted Ahern’s muscled flank and walked
toward the cabin. He’d stick around for the day but starting tomorrow, he had
traps to check.
To Read More Amazing Tales:
When 26-year-old cowboy Holden O'Leary uprooted his brothers
from Texas to Montana, the new vet advertised for a nanny. No woman alive would
deny the Doc was as handsome a specimen as the sleek, hard-bodies horses he
rescued. And that included Summer Fitzgerald, the voluptuous, honey-haired
young woman who applied for the job, and was stunned to find her three charges
ranged from 12 to 18 - charming,
immature, irresponsible, and capable of winning a piece of her shattered heart.
With his stubble, his six-pack and his tousled hair, she
thought Holden was sexy as hell. But she'd sworn off men after being implicated
by her former boyfriend in a hideous murder that had badly wounded her - and her
reputation. He had sworn off women
because his lousy judgment had endangered his family. The fact was: he found Summer
totally irresistible, and more vulnerable than vicious -- despite the warnings:
"She's real good with that innocent act, but don't let her fool you.... She'll
end up behind bars soon enough. "....
Would the past catch up with both of them? Who killed the bar
owner - and why? What was the real reason Holden had moved? How would the Doc
and the nanny deal with their passionate attraction, crippling rumors of savage
scandals, and shocking, long buried secrets? Will brother be pitted against
brother? When does true love exact a
price too great to pay? And - when is a life-threatening risk worth taking? Saddle up for one of today's most tempestuous
romances - laced with a dazzling double
mystery, and surrounded by more hunky cowboys than you can wave a lasso at....
Another great week. I'm glad he's getting attached to the boy and wants to protect him and teach him to trust. *sighs in bliss at heroic behavior*.
ReplyDeleteLovely post. and great to get a bit of background - I like him! :-)
ReplyDeleteNice to be in his pov and see what he thinks about things. I like that he's attracted to her. Love this story!
ReplyDeleteThis story is so intriguing. Can't wait for next week.
ReplyDelete