《Love Her Softly》Chapter Eighteen
Advertisement
Emma didn't move from the bed much at all the rest of the day. She was miserable and heartbroken. She needed to speak with Liam but he was gone—he'd ridden out after storming from the cabin.
And now she was alone.
She had thought about going back into town and living there until Liam returned—but she couldn't make that trip until her ribs healed a bit. She would never stand the pain of walking or riding that long journey on the bumpy road.
And, she wasn't sure she should leave. If she left and Liam returned, what kind of message did that send him? Emma didn't want to cause him any more pain.
No, she was his wife. Her name was now Emma McIntyre. And she would do what a wife was expected to do. She would keep the house up and wait patiently for her husband to return.
Emma was imagining what might be said between, when suddenly the cabin door opened and Patrick stepped in. That familiar unease swept through her.
Liam was not around. Patrick had already attempted to get rid of her once. Would he do it again? Or would he attempt to hurt her?
"Don't be scared of me," Patrick insisted as he took off his gun belt and coat and hung both on a hook by the door. "You're my daughter-in-law now. That makes us family."
Emma hadn't thought of it like that. Patrick stoked up the fire and glanced toward the kitchen. "Are you hungry, Emma? I probably should have come in and made you something earlier. I'll admit I'm new to thinking about somebody else—that's something my son and I have in common."
Emma frowned. "Liam is a good man...."
"I know that," Patrick assured her as he pulled several potatoes from a bin beneath a cabinet. "But he isn't used to thinking about someone else before he makes decisions. Don't pretend you aren't bothered that he went on that job today."
Emma merely looked down at the blanket covering her legs. Patrick sighed. "Today was a bad day. You were both thrown into something that you weren't quite ready for and both of you handled it poorly. But you have a month to rest, heal and think about things. I'm sure when Liam comes back, you'll both be back to being the happy, smiling couple I saw at the dance."
Emma felt herself smiling despite her own doubts. She really truly wanted Patrick to be right.
Patrick smiled, his leathery cheeks wrinkling more deeply. "Now, allow me to whip you up some supper. I ain't much of a cook but I can fry a mean potato and I can heat up beans. I hope that'll suit you."
Emma nodded, feeling more comfortable with the man's presence than she had moments ago. Surely he was no danger to her—not any longer. "That sounds good to me. Thank you, Patrick."
Patrick shrugged off the gratitude. "Don't mention it. I owe you a hell of a lot more than one lousy supper."
The next morning found Emma even more sore than she'd been the day before. She knew she needed to get up and move around. Patrick had slept in the barn the night before and hadn't yet been in the house. Perhaps Emma could cook him breakfast as a thank you for cooking supper for her.
Advertisement
She wanted to ensure that their relationship wasn't stuck in the past and tainted by his mistake. He truly seemed sorry for what he'd done and she understood that in his own way, he honestly had thought he was helping his son by sending her back to her father.
Besides, the past was the past and nothing could be done to change it. She was Liam's wife now which meant Patrick was her father-in-law... Emma had never had a father who truly cared for her—maybe Patrick could one day be that for her.
She was just placing the eggs, potatoes, gravy and bread on the table when Patrick stepped inside. "Well, I'll be....." he muttered as he pulled off his hat and hung it by the door. "As thankful as my stomach is to see breakfast ready, I promised Liam you wouldn't overdo yourself while he was gone."
Emma's lips curved in a hint of a smile. "It's only breakfast. I didn't chop wood."
Patrick chuckled. "Please stay out of the woodshed."
Emma motioned at the table. "Are ya going to eat?"
"Of course I am! Join me?"
As Emma sat down across from Patrick at the table she couldn't help but feel slightly awkward and unsure.
She had nearly cleaned her plate when the sound of an approaching cart had Patrick rising. Fear blossomed in her chest when the man kept his hand on the revolver on his hip as he stepped toward the window and lifted the corner of the curtain.
He let out a sigh and smiled as he turned to face her. "It's only Sally and Clarence."
A visitor! Emma had never entertained visitors before. She should have made more breakfast... there wasn't enough for two more people to eat.
"You look scared as a mouse in a snake den," Patrick scolded gently. "Sally's your friend, isn't she? She probably just wants to check on you."
Emma nodded, scolding herself for being foolish. Her father had always had her mother do the entertaining for his loud, mean friends and Emma had heard her mother take more than one beating over not being a good hostess.
Emma wouldn't want to disappoint Liam that way.
"Come on in!" Patrick called when the knock sounded on the door.
Sally burst in, took one look at Emma and began to sob. She rushed forward and pulled Emma into a gentle hug. "I'm so sorry you got hurt, Emma!"
"It's not yer fault," Emma replied, patting her back and glancing helplessly at Patrick. Long hugs were uncomfortable and awkward for her.
"I know but I encouraged you to go to the dance...I worked hard to help talk Liam into taking you. If I hadn't done that...."
Patrick stepped forward. "The only one to blame here for what happened is me," he insisted, his voice tightening.
Sally glared at him. "You are right about that." She pulled away from Emma and smiled. "Lauren wanted to come but once she found out Patrick was here, Anita wouldn't let her."
Emma folded her hands in front of her. "Why not?"
"Because Lauren was sharpening her knife, that's why not."
Patrick swallowed hard and grabbed his hat from the hook. "I'll step outside and see if Clarence is nicer company," he grumbled, before plopping his hat on his head and leaving the cabin.
Advertisement
Emma bit her lip. "He truly does seem like a decent man."
Sally snorted. "He has a lot to prove before I'll believe that. And you really aren't the most reliable judge of a good man, Emma—considering the only man you grew up with to judge them all by is a raging alcoholic with bad hygiene and heavy fists."
Emma sighed. Sally was certainly blunt, but she was a good friend. "So what brings ya out here?" Emma asked, as she led Sally to the small sofa and the two ladies sat down.
"I just wanted to visit my friend," Sally replied, her gaze dropping momentarily. "How are you, Emma? You look.... Tired."
Emma flushed. She knew she looked terrible. She'd avoided the one tiny mirror attached to the wash basin. She could tell by the swelling and soreness in her face that her father had done quite a bit of damage. She didn't want to know just how ugly she was.
"It hurts," she replied honestly. "But Liam saved my life. He got there just in time."
"Oh yes." Sally smiled. "The marriage heard 'round the world."
Emma's gaze dropped to her folded hands. "Does everyone know about that?"
Sally nodded. "Yes. Town might be growing every day but word still travels fast—especially word about Liam. He's well known in town for being a mysterious loner. Of course people are shocked that he took a wife so quickly after meeting you."
Emma felt her heart break. "Yes.. well... I'm sure he is wishing he hadn't."
Sally gasped. "Why on earth would you say that? If there was ever a man in love, it's Liam McIntyre. The whole world can see it when he looks at you!"
Emma stood slowly, whimpering in pain as she went to the window and glanced out at the flowing grassy valley behind the cabin. "I was a monster to him yesterday, Sally. I didn't take learning I was a wife well and I said things—accused him of things..." She chewed her lip. "Liam hates me now."
"No he doesn't."
"Yes, he does!" Emma insisted. "Ya weren't here. Ya didn't hear me... And he's gone now, isn't he? He couldn't get out of here fast enough."
Sally joined Emma at the window and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Emma, this job has been lined up for quite a while. Liam had been determined to go, then wasn't going to because you were unconscious, but he must have changed his mind when you woke up...."
"Because I was mean..."
"Oh hush! Liam is a strong, independent, grown man. He isn't going to pout and run away because someone says something mean and hurts his feelings. This job is paying him very very well and I'm sure he's thinking about the future. He has a wife to support now. He needs money to do that."
Emma felt a tear slip down her cheek as she turned to face her friend. "Do ya truly think he'll forgive me?"
Sally laughed lightly as she swiped the tear away. "I'm sure he already has. You were tired and in pain and confused and tempers can flare when that happens. By the time he comes home, Liam will be so happy to see your face again, he won't even remember what happened when he left."
Emma's lips curved in a hopeful smile. Sally took her hand and tugged her gently back toward the sofa. "Now, come on. Let's sit down because I have to talk with you about something."
Emma didn't like the uneasiness that had suddenly entered Sally's voice. "Is something wrong?"
"No... not exactly." Sally sat down and began to pluck at her skirt. "Clarence is moving east... he has some family that way and he wants to work on his music there." Sally met her gaze. "I'm going with him. We were wed this morning and we're heading out of town now. We wanted to stop here on the way—I wanted to stop here on the way."
Emma's heart dropped into her feet and her throat clogged with emotion. "But.... I..."
Emma wanted so badly to tell Sally that she couldn't go. That Emma needed her to stay. But she couldn't do that. Sally had lived a hard life before coming to Anita's and she'd been at Anita's longer than any other girl before just waiting for a life of her own to find her.
And it had.
Just as life had found Emma.
So she plastered a shaky smile on her face and took Sally's hand. "I'm happy for ya."
Sally's face lit up. "Are you really? I was nervous to tell you. I thought you'd be angry or feel like I was abandoning you.... Clarence asked me to marry him this morning because he couldn't stand the thought leaving without me."
Emma chewed on her lip and fought back her tears. "I'm going to miss ya... I can't lie about that. But I am happy for ya. Ya deserve to be happy."
Sally leaned forward and hugged Emma once again. "I'll message you whenever I can while we're traveling, Emma. And once we're settled down we'll write constantly."
Emma nodded as Sally pulled away. "Of course. You were my first true friend, Sally, and I'll never forget that."
The two women sat and talked a while longer before Sally finally stood and said she had to be going. Emma walked her onto the porch and wrapped her arms tight around herself as she watched Clarence help Sally into the cart and her friend disappeared from view.
"You okay there, Emma?" Patrick asked, rubbing at his neck and shifting his feet. Clearly he was uncomfortable and the movement reminded Emma so much of Liam that she could no longer hold back her tears.
She raced back inside, curled up upon the bed and sobbed into the pillow. She wouldn't see Liam again for at least a month and there was a good chance she would never see Sally again.
Patrick stepped into the cabin, shuffled his feet as if wanting to say something and then walked back out, closing the door gently behind him.
Emma cried a good long while before picking herself back up off the bed and drying her face. She was determined to be strong. Emma would focus on getting better and allowing her body to heal and soon Liam would be back and everything would be okay again—she had to believe that.
@���*��*$��
Advertisement
- In Serial52 Chapters
The Rise
Despite being the son of two of the most powerful politicians in the country, Leon never cared greatly for politics. Until his father is suddenly arrested midway through his campaign. Leon, acting out with revenge and worry, finds himself in the middle of one of the greatest political rivalries in history.
8 89 - In Serial6 Chapters
Demon King Reincarnated as the Hero's Child
What is the point of life if you're going to die in the next minute? I don't know either, but I'd sure like to curse the Hero, the one who's going to kill me, in a way that would last him an eternity. "Any last words?" "I'll curse your child! Your harem member no. 1's child! He will forever be weak, ugly, and stupid!" * Good, I reincarnated. It's time to get my revenge. ...Wait, isn't this the arms of the really cute harem member no. 1?
8 81 - In Serial38 Chapters
My Blessed Mistake(Completed✔)
"I am pregnant," I blurted. "What???" Harish and Kavya shouted in unison. "Hey kiddo, you gotta lose your virginity to be pregnant," Kavya said. I looked down in embarassment. "Don't tell me you are not a virgin anymore," She said again and I was silent. "ANANYA, if you think you are kidding, please stop. This is not funny at all," Harish warned me. "Guyssss I am not kidding. I AM pregnant!!!" I shouted.What will happen when Siddharth finds out his mistake that night caused Ananya to be pregnant?How will they turn into a married couple from strangers? What will happen when Ananya's family members gets to know about this. What about of her two lovely brothers? How will they react to this?Join Ananya Varma and Siddharth Malhotra in their journey of love, from strangers to a lovely married couple!!!This is my second book. Do read my first book 'His Last Breath'.
8 144 - In Serial53 Chapters
My reincarnation as the deposed Queen
I was reborn as a minor character, the mother of the main character, and the deposed ruler of the kingdom of Azeroth, Leriana Ashfordt. My husband's younger brother will stage a rebellion against him, and only my young children will be able to escape. The unfortunate Queen Leriana is waiting for a joyless end. According to the plot, my heroine will sacrifice her life during the uprising to save her children. In the future, when her daughter Brisney grows up and reunites with her brother, she will lead a rebellion against the traitor king, and become the new ruler. That's just not like that! To die at twenty-seven is too early for me, and I'm going to change the tragic plot of this novel. I was lucky, and I was reborn ten years before the events of the novel began. At the time when the future King Philip and his brother Razor just fell in love with me at the royal Academy, and their fight for me led to enmity. In order to survive, I decided not to become a queen, and to live a quiet life with my father, the duke. And in order to save myself and the whole kingdom from future tragedy, I had to take extreme measures. — Your Highness, I'm sorry, but I can't be with you. My heart has been busy for a long time. — What...?! — Prince Philip was furious, — Who is this?! Tell me his name, and I'll fight him in a fair fight! You'll see that I'm much better than him! — Your Highness, you see, it's not really a man... — What are you talking about? — I'm afraid that the daughter of the cursed duke stole my heart at first sight.
8 332 - In Serial34 Chapters
Can't Stand You
I closed my eyes tightly until I heard laughing. No, I could feel the laughing. My eyes sprang open to find Miles on top of me. I was laying flat on my back in the dirt with my glove with the ball inside pressed against his chest. Miles was not at all fat, but he was 6'2 compared to my barely 5'3.I could feel his chest rumbling and shaking with laughter as I lay humiliated on the ground."I didn't know you liked being on the bottom," Miles said loudly.The whole field cracked up with that. I struggled under him and shoved him off of me. All of the guys were howling with laughter as I got up and swiped all the dirt off me. "Pervert," I muttered, before tossing the ball out of my glove to hit him in the thigh. I stalked across the field without another word. The whole team was in hysterics as I shoved all my things in my bag and practically ran off to get away....Gloria is like any other 17 year old girl getting ready for summer break, but this summer is going to be completely different. Gloria has been playing baseball since she could remember and has been invited to a national baseball camp. Being a girl in the world of a male-dominated sport, she couldn't even count how many times people have told her she needed to find something else to do. Her dad kept her playing though, even after he died a few years ago, that didn't stop Gloria from doing what she loved. The only problem is she is the only girl at the camp for three months. Enter the problem of suddenly having to share a room, more specifically, sharing with Miles Harris. Gloria must deal with Miles, a big shot and arrogant jerk, and all the other horny, testosterone driven baseball players, who just might push Gloria off the edge of sanity.Trigger warning: mention and vague description of SA
8 172 - In Serial53 Chapters
His Possession {Major editing}
"I don't want to go with you" I whispered... Big mistake. I screamed as he slammed me down to the ground hard and held my neck, he straddled my hips hovering over me and growled in my ear making me whimper. "You are mine do you understand? Mine. And I will have you to myself which means you are going to join me and my pack" he said and I shook my head "j-just reject me and none of this has to happen" I whispered and he growled sliding his other hand down my stomach. "Don't test me mate" he said and I gasped as he grabbed me "you belong to me now so like I said before. Go home and pack your bags" he said and I just shook my head "I don't want to leave my pack-" "To-fucking-bad" he said "I let you go twice. I'm not letting you go again" he growled and I looked up at him nervously shaking my head. "Do as I say or I'll kill your pack. One. By. One" he said putting his lips to my ear "no" I whimpered and he looked at me. "I-I'll do it" I whispered and he nodded letting me go.
8 227