Promise Me Read Online Free PDF Page A

guess at the horror of my wedding night.  I wondered if they would help me if they did know.
    “Promise,” Winston said sternly. 
    I snapped back to attention. 
    He frowned at me and took a bite of his roast beef sandwich, chewing slowly before swallowing and continuing to speak.  “I hope I did not make a mistake in bringing you along.  You will be expected to behave appropriately.”
    “Of course,” I murmured, staring at the thin gold ring on my left hand. 
    Winston patted my arm lightly.  “Good.  Then let’s have no more of the unpleasantness which was required last night.”
    I took a drink of water, feeling disconcerted again.  I saw the way his eyes glinted when he obliquely referred to the things he’d already done to me. It wasn’t ‘unpleasantness’ to him. 
    But I was obliged to play along with the act.  I covered his hand with my own.  “I really want us to begin our life together well.”
    He nodded and took another bite of his roast beef. 
    I pursed my lips together.  The night before as I lay in painful darkness I had rehearsed what I would say when the time came. 
    “Winston.” My husband looked at me.  “I believe I am such a happy bride today because I had those years at the college.  There was plenty of time to consider whether this life was what I truly wanted.  It’s how I am able to be sure that this the righteous path.” 
    His eyes narrowed.  “I believe you wavered yesterday morning, Promise.”
    I lowered my head.  “Sometimes the devil finds us no matter how prepared we believe we are.” 
    Winston nodded.  “That he does.” 
    I gave him a smile which was every inch the lie.  “I am grateful that you will be at my side to guide me.”  He seemed satisfied so I pressed further.  “It would serve Jenny’s future husband well if she was given the same opportunity to find her way.” 
    “Jenny,” Winston frowned. 
    “Yes,” I clutched his fat hand.  “Please think about it.  You have treme ndous influence in the church.”
    His eyes seemed to dim.  He pulled his hand away and his tone became icy.  “No female needs to tell me what I should and should not consider.” 
    I bit my lip.  I was not artful in the way of most women and I’d been wrong about Winston Allred. He was not reasonable in the way of most men.  Or maybe he was exactly as most men were.
    When I stepped out of the car in Phoenix the heat seemed impossible.  It was July, the thick of summer everywhere, but there in the desert, summer meant a special kind of misery. I felt faint as I followed Winston to a room in the lavish hotel where he had evidently stayed before on other mysterious business trips. 
    Once the door to the room was open I went immediately to the bed and sat down weakly.  There were more agonized locations in my body than I cared to dwell on but it was my ribs which troubled me most. 
    I gingerly touched the place to the left of my spine where the sharpest pain emanated.  Trying to sit upright for all those miles of driving had been pure hell.  I thought if I could only get some rest it might make a world of difference.  I hoped Winston’s elusive meetings could occur without me. 
    “Well now,” he said softly, swaying over to me with his hand on his belt buckle.  “You’re an eager one.” 
    I knew if I cried, if I fought, it would only drive him to hurt me further.  With grim resignation I lay back on the bed as he lifted my dress.  The intrusion of his thick body was as sharp and painful as ever.  I stared at the wall, toward a picture of the Grand Canyon, and silently prayed to a god I no longer believed in for it to be over quickly.
    It wasn’t. 
    ***
    Winston made it clear he was not in favor of allowing me to remain in the room alone. I wanted to tell him he didn’t need to worry about the possibility that I would take off.  Not if there was a chance that by enduring I could help my sister. 
    I sat in a chair in the corner of