Married
Page 32
“Ernest made quite a scene about it. I’m surprised you didn’t hear. No one would even look at me after that, let alone help me.”
“Superstitious bastards.” The man ran the tip of his nose down her neck. “You smell good.”
Hyacinth felt a hand snaking down over her waist. She gasped and jumped back, but the man only smiled. “Don’t touch me, sir!”
“Darlin’, you better prepare yourself to be touched by every man in this town. If you don’t have a way home, how do you think you’re gonna survive in Creek Bend? Saloon’s pretty much your only option.”
“I would rather starve in the streets than work in a diseased whorehouse. Besides, I told you, the men don’t want me.”
“And I told you, a man can’t see a woman’s eyes in the dark. Lot of horny men come to town on Friday nights, darlin’. They aren’t gonna care about your eye color. Their sights will be set much, much lower. And I aim to be the first to lead the charge.”
Once again, the man stepped close and grabbed Hyacinth’s hip. Trapped against the rough wood wall of the depot, she had no way to escape. Clever fingers kneaded through her skirts and slipped down further.
“Stop that!” Hyacinth took a breath, but one particular memory made it shaky.
The man’s eyes narrowed and he ducked his head to meet her gaze beneath her bonnet. After a tense moment, he growled, “You aren’t a virgin.”
Her cheeks burned, her mouth fell open. “You can’t know that!”
“I do. I see it in your eyes.”
“Maybe I’m a widow.”
He shook his head. “Nope. Tell the truth, darlin’.”
“I was engaged,” she exhaled dramatically.
“I doubt it.”
Hyacinth dragged air in through her nose. “Well, I thought I was engaged. He was going off to battle and one thing led to another. My parents died before the War Between the States and the money they’d left me wasn’t enough when the prices started to rise, so when Jonathan came courting, I was grateful and I believed—”
“Just the one man?” She nodded and he continued, “He never came home?”
“He came home. Then he married another woman. One with two blue eyes.”
“Bet she wasn’t packing the curves you are.” The man ran his hand as far down her thigh as he could reach, then back up. “Did you like it? Did you like the way your soldier touched you? Did he make you wet?”
Hyacinth was scandalized. Her eyes widened further, her cheeks blazed hotter and her spine snapped straighter. “I beg your pardon?”
“Well, if I’m gonna take you home with me, I want to know you’re receptive to fucking. I figure, if you had a good time before, you’re less likely to put up a fight. I don’t have time to settle a nervous filly, darlin’.”
She opened her mouth, only to close it. Two more tries had her finally able to form words. “You want to take me home with you? You want to marry me?”
The man flinched back. “Hell no, I ain’t marrying you. But I’ll give you room and board in exchange for services rendered. You can do the women’s work, including warming my bed.”
“You are outrageous! Vile and vulgar.” Hyacinth pushed at his chest, finding it to be surprisingly solid, but the man didn’t budge. “I’d rather—”
“Work in the saloon?” A full smile spread across his mouth, revealing straight teeth in remarkably good condition. “Those are your options, woman. Me or the saloon. I’m getting ready to head out, so make your choice quick.”
Hyacinth forced herself to think past the fear tangling her nerves into knots. Evaluating her options, she found them to be bleak. She snuck a peek past the man trapping her against the stage depot and eyed the few people wandering down the broken boardwalks. They were all men. Most were old, many unwashed and all of them had avoided her since Ernest had proclaimed her deformed.
Down the street, lights began to blaze from the windows of the saloon. The establishment obviously did a booming business, as all the men on the boardwalks were heading in that direction. Loud music, raucous conversation and the sounds of glass breaking drifted through the wide-open doors. A woman shrieked.
Hyacinth shuddered. “Well, if I’m going to go home with you, I think I should at least know your name.”
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About the Author
I’ve always been a storyteller, just as I’ve always been an avid reader. I love stories that twist reality at its edges, and adore new takes on old myths and legends. I’ve travelled extensively, which has given me the opportunity to hear many legends from many cultures and I make use of these in my stories as often as possible.
Email: info@lola-white.com
Lola loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.totallybound.com.
Also by Lola White
Magic Matched: Betrothed
The Double O Saga: Outrageous Offer