Sold Into Marriage Read Online Free PDF Page B

priest approached him and gave a slight bow. “I received a message from one of your soldiers that you required my services for a wedding in the encampment, commander.”
    Varron swallowed hard and looked sharply at the priest, who shrank visibly under his intense glare. “Aye, I need you to perform a ceremony between Meadow, a girl from the village, and myself.”
    The priest smiled. “Ah, what a joyous day it is, my son. When a man and woman come together under a blessing from God…”
    “Stay here. I’ll be back soon,” Varron cut the elderly man off.
    “As you wish, commander.”
    Varron stormed to the edge of the camp where Norm was approaching with four other young soldiers.
    “Any sign of her?”
    “No, commander. We’ve searched the village and even checked Mr. Lansing’s house. She’s nowhere to be found, sir.”
    Worry overcame Varron’s initial anger. What if some kind of trouble had befallen his intended? His hands curled into tight fists at his sides. If anyone had dared harm a hair on Meadow’s head, he would strangle the life of them himself.
    He stared down at the nervous and regretful looking soldiers-in-training. “Well, don’t just stand there. Keep searching for her!”
    They all nodded and mumbled, “Aye, commander,” before scurrying off into the village once more.
    He searched the camp again, peering into each tent and checking his tent for the hundredth time, in case she had returned while he’d been searching on the other side of the encampment.
    A feminine figure moving through the grasses over the side of the hill caught his attention, and he broke into a run when he recognized Meadow by her flowing dark hair. They met at the edge of the grasses and the camp, and he grasped her forearms and held her out, his gaze sweeping up and down her body as he checked her for injuries.
    “Meadow, are you hurt?”
    Her brows drew together in confusion and she shook her head. “Of course not. I’m fine. Why would I be hurt?”
    Some of the tension left him, and he loosened his hold on her, but didn’t release her entirely. He peered into her startling blue eyes, thinking the vividness of her gaze rivaled that of the clear blue lakes in Geshema Providence, where he’d grown up.
    “I’ve been looking for you for at least a half an hour. I ordered you to stay put in the tent, lass. Where did you go?” Now that he’d confirmed her well-being, his anger over her disobedience returned, his blood heating and his muscles tensing as if preparing for battle. He’d never had a disagreement with a woman like this before, had never had a woman under his guardianship to begin with. His palm once again twitched with the urge to smack her bottom and punish her for her naughtiness, but he took several deep breaths as he awaited her answer. If he was to be a fair husband to her and earn her respect, he needed to be patient and hear her out before deciding on her fate.
    “Varron, I simply went into the forest for a while.”
    He released her and stepped back. “The forest? I’ve been running around the camp and had my soldiers-in-training looking all over the village for you, and you’ve been in the forest this whole time?” He almost grabbed her again to give her a harsh shake, but he forced his hands to remain at his side. He didn’t want to remind her of her stepfather.
    “Aye, the forest. There’s a stream just through the trees. I go there often. It’s my favorite spot, and I only wished to see it one last time,” she said in a defiant, annoyed tone. She lifted her chin and crossed her arms.
    He lowered his face to hers, staring directly into her eyes. “I told you to remain in the tent until I returned.”
    Her thin, dark brows narrowed further, this time as a look of anger crossed her face. “Well, sir, I am not yet your wife. I don’t have to listen to you yet. I have a few more hours of freedom, don’t I?”
    Varron opened his mouth to retort, but the priest’s bellowing voice