Lonesome Bride Read Online Free PDF Page A

blush for admittance of her indiscretions. That explained everything, then. “So you have done this before!"
    "No, I..."
    "Oh, don't deny it, Miss Prissy, I'm-Too-Good-to-Sleep-On-the-Ground, Pennsylvania O'Neal! How many others have you played this with, that's what I want to know!"
    Caite's blush grew deeper until her entire face and neck were crimson with emotion. “I swear to you, Jed, I never—"
    Jed did not wait for her to finish. “I reckon I can see why you decided to sell yourself into marriage with a stranger."
    Caite crumpled against the wagon, breath catching in her throat. She raised unsteady fingers to her still kiss-swollen mouth. Tears welled in her luminous green eyes and began to wend their way down her flushed, perfect cheeks.
    "But you kissed me,” she whispered.
    "You should've stopped me,” Jed snapped.
    Caite's wet eyes met his, and this time she did not look away. She didn't point out to him that he was much stronger than she, and she could have done very little to stop him should he have decided to keep kissing her.
    Jed saw that knowledge in her eyes, however, and cursed himself. He knew he was wrong for berating her, even if the knowledge she was no innocent had strangely upset him. Why should he care if she had given herself to one or a dozen other men? That was not his concern. He was angry with himself for allowing her beauty to tempt him into almost betraying his father. That she had done nothing to overtly encourage his kiss only made him feel worse.
    Pride would not allow him to admit his mistake, however. Also, by shoving her away with words, he could guarantee she wouldn't end up in his arms again. He would have to keep her angry with him for the rest of the trip. She might end up hating him, but he didn't need her affection anyway. She was coming to Heatherfield to marry his father, not him.
    "It's time to get set up,” Jed declared gruffly.
    Caite nodded, tiny shining tears slipping down her cheeks and catching the late afternoon sun like diamonds.
    "I'll get started with the heavy stuff. Why don't you get supper ready?” He turned on his heel and walked away from her.
    * * * *
    Caitleen nodded numbly at Jed's suggestion. Bending slowly, for she felt she might just slump to the ground and stay there, she reached for her hat and placed it back on her head. Jed's words had cut her deeply. How could he accuse her of being a fallen woman? Yes, she had given in to his kiss, and had thoroughly enjoyed it. But they were going to be married. It was not as if she has allowed a complete stranger to place his hands on her.
    She allowed herself, for one brief moment, to recall the sensations Jed's kiss had awakened in her. He tasted like wood smoke and sunlight, and his probing tongue had caused shivers of delight to run up and down her spine like dancing fairies. The few pecks she had shared with Billy Worthe behind the carriage house had not prepared her for a real man's touch.
    Shaking off her recall of Jed's kiss, Caite forced herself to put one foot in front of the other until she was walking to where he had thrown the food basket. As she bent to begin unpacking it, however, her knees gave way and she sank to the ground. Ashamed, but unable to help herself, Caite buried her face in her hands and sobbed. Pressing her knuckles against her teeth so hard they nearly bled, she attempted to keep her moans as silent as possible. She did not want Jed to know she was crying.
    He doesn't deserve to see my tears, she told herself fiercely. Even if he had caused them.
    Slowly, by sheer force of will, Caite managed to control herself. Scrubbing her face with the hem of her skirt, she concentrated on taking deep breaths until she could breathe normally. Jed's accusations raced through her mind, but she forced herself to disregard them.
    Obviously, he expected his bride to behave in a certain manner. Maybe he was testing her. I might hate his methods, Caite thought grimly, but I have little choice. It