cool breeze fanning her face was a welcome relief from the noonday sun. Her head still throbbed, but the pain there was nothing compared to the ache in her heart. Why did Jed insist on treating her so harshly? As the wagon hit a rut, Caite and Jed were jostled momentarily together. Each pulled away as if they had laid their hands on shards of glass.
"How much longer?” Caite finally asked. She had no desire to make idle conversation, but the thought of another night spent by Jed's side was unendurable. The memories of their lovemaking would continue to haunt her the longer they were alone. She wanted—no, needed—other people around to lessen the effect his nearness had upon her.
"A few more hours,” Jed replied. “We're making good time."
"Praise be,” Caite murmured. She hoped that would be the last of the conversation until they reached Heatherfield. Her hopes were immediately dashed.
"I'm just as ashamed as you are about what happened between us, Caite,” Jed said. “We just have to forget about what happened and get on with our lives."
His words sliced her to her very soul. Caite spun to look at him, dismay surging in her throat like nausea. Colored spots danced hazily in her vision, and for a moment she feared she would faint.
"Ashamed!” she cried. “Why should I be ashamed?"
His eyes narrowed. “What we did was wrong. You know it, and so do I. Don't play the injured miss with me, Caitleen."
"If you feel shame about what we did, then that is your burden to bear, Jed,” Caite said in a low, dangerous voice. She felt dangerous now. “Not mine. I chose to lay with you. I will not dishonor myself, or you, or what we shared by regretting that choice."
Jed snorted. “There was nothing honorable about what we did, Caitleen, so you can't dishonor it."
Contempt dripped from his words like honey from a comb. Would that they be as sweet, Caite thought. Hot tears fought to spill from her eyes, but she forced them back. Only by imagining her hurt and anger as squares of muslin was she able to fold up her emotions and tuck them away where they could not show.
"Why did you make love to me, Jed, if you felt it was so wrong?” she asked finally, relieved to hear her voice did not tremble. She did not sound lighthearted and carefree, not by any stretch of the imagination, but she at least did not sound as distraught as she felt.
"Blast it all, woman!” Jed spluttered. “You tempted me!"
The blood drained from her cheeks, and her fingers strained against the cloth of her skirt as she struggled not to throttle the insufferable bastard beside her. “I tempted you!"
"Yes, with your flirting and your sweet talk,” Jed spat.
"I was merely trying to please you!” Caite exclaimed. Her former resolve to remain calm melted away under this new flood of insults.
"Well, I reckon you pleased me about as much as a woman can,” Jed snarled, clucking to the horses to make them go faster.
Her heart pounded. Never had anyone sent her into so blind a rage as this man had just now, not even her father. Jed had taunted her, berated her, then made love to her. And now it was supposed to be her fault? Because she tempted him? Sweet Lord, if he thought making love to be a sin, what would he think if he knew I was contemplating murder?
"Stop the wagon!” Caite shrieked. She did not wait for him to comply, but instead stood unsteadily. The horses were moving at a rollicking pace, and she found it hard to maintain her balance, but she would risk falling off before she would spend another moment in Jed's company.
"Are you crazy?"
"Stop this wagon, or before God, I'll jump off and take my chances!"
"Ho, Ginger! Ho, Nutmeg!"
He must have seen the seriousness of her intent, because he immediately began to pull back on the reins. The horses snorted and strained against the sudden pressure of the bits in their mouths, but they began to slow. They did not obey fast enough to suit Caite, however, who felt wild-eyed with
"How much longer?” Caite finally asked. She had no desire to make idle conversation, but the thought of another night spent by Jed's side was unendurable. The memories of their lovemaking would continue to haunt her the longer they were alone. She wanted—no, needed—other people around to lessen the effect his nearness had upon her.
"A few more hours,” Jed replied. “We're making good time."
"Praise be,” Caite murmured. She hoped that would be the last of the conversation until they reached Heatherfield. Her hopes were immediately dashed.
"I'm just as ashamed as you are about what happened between us, Caite,” Jed said. “We just have to forget about what happened and get on with our lives."
His words sliced her to her very soul. Caite spun to look at him, dismay surging in her throat like nausea. Colored spots danced hazily in her vision, and for a moment she feared she would faint.
"Ashamed!” she cried. “Why should I be ashamed?"
His eyes narrowed. “What we did was wrong. You know it, and so do I. Don't play the injured miss with me, Caitleen."
"If you feel shame about what we did, then that is your burden to bear, Jed,” Caite said in a low, dangerous voice. She felt dangerous now. “Not mine. I chose to lay with you. I will not dishonor myself, or you, or what we shared by regretting that choice."
Jed snorted. “There was nothing honorable about what we did, Caitleen, so you can't dishonor it."
Contempt dripped from his words like honey from a comb. Would that they be as sweet, Caite thought. Hot tears fought to spill from her eyes, but she forced them back. Only by imagining her hurt and anger as squares of muslin was she able to fold up her emotions and tuck them away where they could not show.
"Why did you make love to me, Jed, if you felt it was so wrong?” she asked finally, relieved to hear her voice did not tremble. She did not sound lighthearted and carefree, not by any stretch of the imagination, but she at least did not sound as distraught as she felt.
"Blast it all, woman!” Jed spluttered. “You tempted me!"
The blood drained from her cheeks, and her fingers strained against the cloth of her skirt as she struggled not to throttle the insufferable bastard beside her. “I tempted you!"
"Yes, with your flirting and your sweet talk,” Jed spat.
"I was merely trying to please you!” Caite exclaimed. Her former resolve to remain calm melted away under this new flood of insults.
"Well, I reckon you pleased me about as much as a woman can,” Jed snarled, clucking to the horses to make them go faster.
Her heart pounded. Never had anyone sent her into so blind a rage as this man had just now, not even her father. Jed had taunted her, berated her, then made love to her. And now it was supposed to be her fault? Because she tempted him? Sweet Lord, if he thought making love to be a sin, what would he think if he knew I was contemplating murder?
"Stop the wagon!” Caite shrieked. She did not wait for him to comply, but instead stood unsteadily. The horses were moving at a rollicking pace, and she found it hard to maintain her balance, but she would risk falling off before she would spend another moment in Jed's company.
"Are you crazy?"
"Stop this wagon, or before God, I'll jump off and take my chances!"
"Ho, Ginger! Ho, Nutmeg!"
He must have seen the seriousness of her intent, because he immediately began to pull back on the reins. The horses snorted and strained against the sudden pressure of the bits in their mouths, but they began to slow. They did not obey fast enough to suit Caite, however, who felt wild-eyed with
Similar Books
