Heaven in a Wildflower Read Online Free PDF Page B

her shoulder, Anjele quickly grabbed it to accept the lift up to safety. Emalee was right behind her.
    Anjele was about to thank her rescuer, but before she could speak, he coldly admonished Emalee, “You should have known better. Both times.”
    “ Both times?” Emalee echoed, sinking down to huddle in the bottom of the boat.
    “Yes. Both times. You knew it was dangerous to go out by yourself into the bayou at night, but you never should have brought her here to start with.”
    Nervously, Emalee attempted to defend herself. “But she our cousin, from Bayou Teche, and—”
    “Don’t lie to me. I know who she is.” His tone was thick with contempt. “Let her risk her own life if she gets bored with her little rich girls’ tea parties. Don’t bring her here and jeopardize the jobs of our people.”
    He stabbed the pole down into the murky waters with almost a vengeance to set his craft in motion.
    Though grateful for being rescued, Anjele felt indignation rising and protested, “Wait a minute. I don’t know who you are, but you’ve no right to accuse me of purposely endangering my friend’s life. And not that it’s any of your business, but I happen to have been invited here tonight.” She wished she could see his face, but besides the darkness, he stood at the bow with back turned. She could tell only that he was a large man but was puzzled by the absence of Cajun accent.
    Suddenly, Emalee surprised her by saying sharply, “He is right. You don’ belong. It is Simona’s fault. It was her idea.”
    Anjele was further astonished at the realization that Emalee sounded as though she were about to cry.
    “It doesn’t matter whose idea it was,” he said brusquely. “Learn your lesson or next time you can both feed the gators. I don’t have time to rescue stupid little girls.”
    “Stupid little girls?” Anjele screeched. “You’ve no right—”
    “No. Say nothing.” Emalee clutched her arm. “He tell about this, and I be in big trouble. Please. Forget it all.”
    Anjele bit down on her lip and clenched her fists and told herself to hold her temper. They went the rest of the way in silence, and the instant the craft touched the bank, she bolted to her feet. Bad enough to have to explain why she was soaking wet if her parents were waiting, without having to endure insults from a stranger. She was trembling with rage and wanted only to get away from both of them as fast as possible.
    A firm hand clamped down on her arm.
    She tried to yank free, but he held fast, and she furiously cried, “What do you think you’re doing? Let me go.”
    “I’m going to see you as far as the fields to make sure you get out of the woods safely.”
    She ground out the protest between clenched teeth, “I don’t need you.”
    He ignored her and ordered Emalee, “You stay here. I’ll be right back.” He stepped onto the bank, jerking Anjele along with him.
    He walked with swift, sure steps, and she realized he knew the way well. She was too mad to speak and figured it was just as well because he was obviously also angry over having been so inconvenienced.
    They reached the edge of the cotton field. “Go now,” he thundered, releasing her and giving her a gentle shove forward. “You can make it the rest of the way.”
    She whirled about to inform him frostily, “I could’ve made it all the way, with no help from you…” Her voice trailed off.
    The slivered moon suddenly peered out from behind a cloud to illumine the world around her, but he was already on his way back.
    An involuntary shudder rippled down her spine.
    In the silvery glow, she could see that his hair, so dark, was pulled back and tied at the nape of his neck.
    With shocking clarity, she realized just who had delivered her this night.

Chapter Three
    All seemed quiet, so Anjele climbed quickly back up the trellis to the veranda and into her room. She had just enough time to peel out of her wet clothes before hearing the sounds of a carriage. Fuming