Lonesome Bride by Megan Hart Page A

you,” she said with quiet dignity.
    Jed stayed quiet. He was afraid what words or accusations would rise from his lips should he dare open them to speak. He did not want to risk saying something that would later come back to haunt him. He had already spoken too much.
    "I thought you cared about me,” Caite continued. “I suppose I was wrong."
    "Caring for you has nothing to do with it,” Jed replied. Her quiet accusations were making him more uncomfortable than if she had called him names, or struck him.
    "I see.” She seemed to sag a little before standing ramrod straight again. “Then what does it have to do with?"
    "If I have to explain it to you,” Jed said heavily, “then I don't reckon it's worth explaining."
    "You told me you were not out to hurt anybody,” said Caite. “If that was true, Mr. Peters, than I'm sorry to say you've failed."
    As she boarded the high wagon once more by herself, Jed felt rather than heard the dull crack of the wooden bench settling under her. Or, more likely, he reflected, the sound wasn't from the bench at all. It was the sound of his heart beginning to break.

CHAPTER 6

    They really should have waited several hours before trying to travel again, Caite thought as the ponderous wagon wheels caught in the mire again. It was the third time since morning that they had bogged down. Each time, Jed had climbed down from the bench amid muttered curses and low-spoken oaths. Each time, she had remained in the wagon, silent, until he had cleared the muck away from the wheels and they could progress again.
    Now, although the sun had risen high and hot in the afternoon sky, their buckboard had managed to find one of the last few soggy spots remaining on the trail. Caite could no longer restrain an irritable sigh as Jed was forced to rein in Nutmeg and Ginger once more. She did not know what would be worse, actually reaching Heatherfield with the man who had so humiliated her this morning, or these interminable delays.
    "I'm not stopping the wagon on purpose,” Jed remarked from beside her, his first words to her since they had gotten underway.
    His voice was boon and bane to Caitleen's ears. Could this be the man whose voice had so soothed her only a short time before? She gritted her teeth, not favoring him with a look. “I never suggested you were."
    "You didn't have to,” Jed replied.
    "I hardly believe you would stoop to such measures,” Caite remarked evenly.
    "Just what is that supposed to mean?"
    He was angry. Caite lifted her chin, then threw him a glance. Jed was staring at her, the reins loose in his hands. She was secretly pleased to see him frowning. She had been put out of sorts, and so should he.
    "I mean I can not believe you'd stoop to such ridiculous measures as deliberately forcing the wagon wheels into muddy patches. Despite what you said earlier, I believe you must be eager to return home. I wish I could share your enthusiasm."
    Jed blinked at her slowly. “You don't want to go to the ranch?"
    Caite returned his stare, fighting back the waves of emotion threatening to spill from her eyes and out her mouth. “Would you, if you were me?"
    At least he had the decency to look away, almost as if he was ashamed. “I reckon not."
    Caite turned forward again and smoothed her skirts over her lap. “Unless you want to sit in this hot sun all day, Jed, I suggest you free that wheel."
    Fortunately, the patch of mud holding them was not deep. A few well-placed handfuls of grass and twigs and a hearty shove from Jed, and they were freed. None too soon either, Caitleen thought. The sun was beginning to give her a headache. The steady throbbing rose behind her eyes and threatened to turn to nausea should they not start moving soon.
    "Are you satisfied, now, Caite?” Jed asked, swinging back onto the seat.
    An angry retort rushed to her lips. She bit it back and instead smiled vacantly and serenely at him. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I am."
    Once the horses picked up speed, the