The Bastard Son (Winds of Change Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

cause for the raid against the Kilmers.”
    Looking up, Sumner saw Jane in the window, a haunted look in her eyes. He turned back to Warren. “What of the girl? What do you know about her?”
    “Not much. She kept to herself mostly, caring for her grandfather. In the last few years, he had become an invalid. After the raid, she was found in the smoldering ashes with what was left of her family. Horrid scene. Hacked up bodies. Blood everywhere.”
    “And they just left her there…”
    At that point, Warren stopped in his tracks. “Why all the questions? It happened months ago. Does it have to do with our mission?”
    Sumner nodded toward the window. “Last night, I discovered I have a houseguest. The question now lies upon what to do with her.”
    * * * *
    Jane watched the exchange. She had prepared to travel, taken the time to dress appropriately, put back on her white shift which had dulled under wear and washes, over which she wore her faded blue gown. She pulled back her hair the best she could under a white cap and put on her leather tie-up shoes.
    At the least, she thought herself prepared until she had seen the visitors. Her hands still trembled from the sight of the men. Now, she wondered what Sumner was doing talking to Warren Parker. From the looks of things, trying to get rid of me.
    She knew who Warren Parker was. Most did in these parts with him owning the only general store for miles. She knew his wife Melissa more as an acquaintance. Not a friend. Jane hadn’t any close friends growing up. Her life had been her family, consumed by her grandfather, brother and cousins’ needs.
    Jane was painfully shy and lacking in confidence and social skills needed to make friends. The last few years, her grandfather rarely got out of bed, and Jane had taken on the responsibilities of running the household.
    More than once, Troy had prodded her to become more social. “You need to create a life for yourself, Jane. Shelia says she knows you would have beaus a-plenty if you made an effort and didn’t hide every time a suitor came to visit.”
    What Troy hadn’t realized—she had long dreamed of love and having a family of her own. She fantasized that her love would ride up to the farm, stare into her eyes with a dashing smile that would set her heart aflutter. He would love her at first sight without saying a word…but that was all it was—a fantasy.
    Instead of her dream man riding up to sweep her off her feet, a nightmare descended of which she had yet to wake. Seeing those men had brought back her fear all so clearly…too clearly. The screams and cries echoed around her; she could feel the warm, life blood oozing out of those she loved while she cradled their bodies to her bosom. The soulless creatures had so cruelly destroyed life as she had known it.
    She often wondered why they had left her alive. She had pleaded for mercy, but for her grandfather, Troy, and her cousins. Why? What had they done to deserve such a fate?
    Her grandfather cared for any who had need. Only weeks before, had she not cared for one of the Williamson brothers who had been injured and left to die alongside of the road?
    Her grandfather taught her to have mercy to all living things. “God created us all. It is not within our rights to take from the Almighty, but to preserve life.”
    Now, she questioned all she once believed. She had no desire for human contact again until he had come. She had never met one like him before…so confident, so alive…so handsome. She didn’t know what was wrong with her, but she kept remembering his lips on hers.
    From the walkway, Sumner caught her eye. She was under no illusion about the way he felt about her. Troy had warned her not to be alone with a man, but he wasn’t here now to protect her.
    The realization that she was alone, so totally alone in the world, swept through her with such sadness. She didn’t know what she was going to do, where she was going to go. Her heart sank…Sumner gestured