Ever Bound Read Online Free PDF Page B

children and do all the wifely duties, but you want an education too?”
    “I want an education and a career, and then I may think of having a family after that.” Annabeth stared straight ahead and walked faster.
    “You have it all planned out. Some men might not like that, but I think that’s attractive in a woman.” Drew nudged her.
    Their contact sent heat to my face.
    Looking down, Annabeth smiled sweetly and held her speller flat against her.
    Drew poked his hands into his pockets. “I’d also planned to go school to be a doctor of medicine. We’d make quite a pair.”
    What a crock.
    “That’s to be seen, Mr. Cobb.” She turned down our drive.
    Drew stared after her. When I got to him, his gaze was on Annabeth’s backside, but he stopped me.
    “That’s a tough one to figure.” His grin was mischievous. “Boy, are you ever lucky.”
    “How do you suppose?”
    “You live right behind both of them. I bet you sneak a peek in their windows at night, and if you don’t, you’re crazy.” He chuckled.
    I balled my fist. “Actually, the thought has never crossed my mind. Do I need to tell the groundskeeper to watch for young men with less than respectable motives?”
    Drew bucked up. “You trying to get cross with me, boy?”
    I stepped up until we were nose to nose. “No, I’m warning you. Boy. Stay away from Annabeth.”
    Drew put his hand on my chest and backed me up. “You should probably let Annabeth decide who she wants to bed.”
    Every bit of bone and flesh in my body exploded into flames.
    “She’s not the kind of girl to take kindly to some slop boy making threats to a possible suitor. If I decide I want her, that’s my business.” A wicked grin twisted Drew’s lips.
    I held my breath.
    He turned, pulled a kerchief out of his black suit pants pocket, dabbed sweat from his brow, and walked down the lane.
    I couldn’t feel my fingers. I may not have known Annabeth very well, but I was sure she would appreciate me looking out for her.
    * * * *
    With a need to arrive home sooner than usual, I walked ahead of everyone the next day. Nothing was more important than how Drew acted around Annabeth, but I couldn’t get in trouble with Pop.
    He had asked me to get the rose pruning done early because Mr. Rollins needed to see me around four.
    I put my books down inside our cottage and went to the barn.
    Pop shoveled the stalls while I pruned around the backside of the maze.
    Not too long after I’d had the walls of the maze constructed, Mr. Rollins had shipped in some of the finest rose bushes I’d ever seen. It had become my job to see that the walls remained pristine. I put every ounce of my extra energy into it.
    On the other side of the hedge, leaves crinkled and twigs broke.
    I stood straighter and listened.
    Annabeth sang softly, happily.
    My heart pounded. “I saw you with the Cobb boy.”
    She gasped and spread the bushes apart. “Are you spying on me?”
    I raised the clippers and smiled. “Working.”
    “What the Cobb boy and I do is my business and my business alone.”
    “So, you’ve done something?” The beginning of a knot started in my stomach.
    “Ugh. I said none of your business. Were you watching us?”
    “Watching you kiss?”
    Her mouth formed an O. “You creep. Did Daddy put you up to this? Grace? If she—”
    “No, I wasn’t watching. And you aren’t very good at keeping secrets. If your father found out you were kissing a boy, he’d have you locked away in a tower somewhere.”
    “Well, he won’t unless you tattle. Besides, it wasn’t a serious kiss.” She let the bushes slap back together.
    “By not serious, you mean your tongues didn’t touch?”
    “Colby Kendall Kinsley. I will not be subject to this line of questioning from you. It is clearly improper and unacceptable.” Twigs and leaves snapped as she stomped in the other direction. “And he told me about your little argument with him yesterday. It’s not your place to approve my possible