A Dream to Call My Own Read Online Free PDF Page B

He could still feel her lips against his.
    Shaking his head, he walked to the window. He could only pray the storm would let up, and that God would help him to keep his longings in check. Lacy would surely think even worse of him now.
    He had done them both a disservice. He had come much too close to compromising everything he believed in.
    “But I love her so much,” he whispered. “I want her to be with me forever. I only wanted to convince her that my feelings for her are real.”
    He looked back at the closed and locked door of his bedroom. She was just on the other side. Maybe locked in her own room now. Maybe still standing by the fire. Either way, she was out there, and he wanted her more than he wanted his next breath.
    “Help me, Lord. I never meant to dishonor you or her. Forgive me.”
    It was very nearly a sunless morning that Beth awoke to. She found Nick already dressing for the day and hurried to match his efforts.
    “Is it still snowing?”
    “Yup. I figure I need to tend the horses, though. They were set well enough for yesterday, but I need to get over there and make sure they have water and feed.”
    “Can I help?”
    “No. I want you and Justin to stay inside. I’ll tie a line to the house so I can find my way from the barn if the snow blinds my way.” He looked at her and smiled. “I like your hair down like that.”
    Beth touched her hand to her long tresses. “It must look frightful right now.”
    He came to her and reached out to still her hand. “No, it’s beautiful.”
    She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You are such a flirt, Mr. Lassiter.” She kissed him lightly on the lips, then turned to get her hairbrush. “I shall have to prepare something special for your breakfast.”
    He chuckled and moved toward the door. “I’ll get Justin up.”
    Beth finished dressing her hair, then made her way downstairs. She was surprised to find Patience already busy in the kitchen. “You’re a guest in our house,” Beth declared. “I won’t have you working.”
    Patience laughed. “I feel like you gals are family. Besides, I would lose my mind without something to keep me busy. I checked on Gwen and the baby already, and they’re both doing fine—although I’m not entirely convinced that Hank will survive. I thought seeing the baby born safe and sound would reassure him, but he seems more nervous than ever.”
    “Nick told me he was fit to be tied last night. Poor brother-in-law of mine. I have half a mind to make him some special oatmeal.”
    “How kind,” Patience said, turning back to check the coffee.
    Beth grinned. It wasn’t a kindness she was thinking about but rather a prank. She’d made some nearly unpalatable oatmeal for Hank on another occasion, and even to this day, he always looked at anything Beth prepared with an eye to caution.
    “Do you suppose Dave and Lacy made it through the night without trouble?” Beth asked.
    “Where those two are concerned, there’s always trouble. I’ll be fortunate if the house is still standing when we return.”
    Beth gave an unladylike snort. “And if Dave’s still alive, it will only be because he managed to outwit my sister.”
    Patience began making hotcakes. “I don’t know why those two can’t see how perfect they are for each other.”
    “I was just thinking that last night,” Beth admitted. “Maybe we need to help them along. You know—help them see the attributes of the other. Put them in situations where they will see that they can do more than argue and bicker with each other.”
    “It’s a thought, though it will probably take a good knock on the head to get any sense into those two when it comes to matters of the heart. Neither one seems inclined to give the other even an inch of space.”
    Beth shook her head in agreement.
    “We’ll pray for them,” Patience declared. “In time, maybe the good Lord will help them see that they really care for each other.”
    “That’ll probably be the only way,”