Bound (Bound Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF Page B

on,” I said. “It was lovely to see you. I suppose we should talk more some time when you’re not so busy.” I urged Jigger on, down the road and away from Dorset Langley, but Callum kept pace beside us.
    “Did you receive my letter?”
    “I did. I passed it on to my mother to look at. I hope that’s all right.” At least it wasn’t a complete lie.
    “Oh, of course. I’m glad you’re… yes, very good.” He smiled, obviously pleased with the acceptance he anticipated. “Would you like an escort?
    I stretched my smile until I thought my cheeks would crack. “Oh, I’d like that, but I think your father is waiting for you. The turn-off is just ahead, I’ll be fine.” I wasn’t sure what else to say. “Will you be in Lowdell any time soon? I should be home next week, if you’d like to come by.”
    “I don’t know. Things are busy for us right now. But thank you. I’d like to talk to you about—”
    “Callum!” his father called.
    Callum sighed. “I should get back to it. Yell if you run into trouble. We won’t be far.”
    I thanked him again, and my stomach clenched as I watched him ride away. Such a gentleman, so kind and so strong. But my chest still tightened when I thought of talking to him about his letter.
    When I looked back one last time, Dorset Langley was pointing toward the broken branches overhead. I urged Jigger to move faster and get us away before Callum or his father could change their minds about letting me go.

Chapter Five
    Rowan
     
    T he sun disappeared as we journeyed on, leaving the sky pink and purple overhead. The cart rocked and bumped over the uneven surface of the narrow road until the slate roof of Stone Ridge came into view over a low hill, followed by a crumbling rock wall and the heavy iron gates that had stood open for as long as I could remember. Jigger lifted his head. His ears pricked up and he threw his weight forward, perhaps recalling that the hospitality here was better than at home. I hoped that there would be supper waiting for me, too.
    As we started down the other side of the slope, a slowly spreading warmth flowed through my muscles, erasing the tension that my meeting with Dorset Langley brought on. Though I’d been living with my parents for years, it was only when I returned to Stone Ridge that I felt like I was home. Stone Ridge meant love, family, and above all, freedom that I could never enjoy in the city.
    I laughed when a scrawny, long-haired black mutt jumped into the road and gave a half-hearted snarl.
    “Good evening, Micah,” I said. The dog waved his curved tail and trotted alongside the cart as we passed between the gates and into the huge yard. Grass grew between the stones beneath us and weeds sprouted beside the roadway, but it was easy to imagine how beautiful the grounds must have been when the big house was new and filled with family and servants.
    “Micah!” yelled a gruff voice from inside the carriage house. “Some guard dog you are!” My uncle’s hired man Matthew came out and leaned against the doorway. The dog ran to him and lay on its belly, grinning. Matthew shook his head and ran his fingers through his thick, silver hair as he walked toward me, dog at his heel. He swung himself up into the still-moving cart and settled onto the seat beside me. The long hairs of his unkempt mustache twitched as he sighed. “I swear if anyone ever decided to rob the house, that mongrel would lead them straight to the good silver.”
    “At least he tried. You can’t blame him, really. He knows he can count on me for a belly rub.”
    Matthew chuckled, then turned to me and scowled. “You should have told us you were coming. I’d have met you half way.”
    “I’m fine, Matthew. You worry too much.”
    “I don’t worry. Just good to know what’s what, that’s all.” He covered his smile with a work-roughened hand. He’d never admit to worrying, but Matthew had always cared for me like I was his own daughter. He and his wife Della