Rocky Mountain Wild (Rocky Mountain Bride Series Book 6) by Lee Savino Page A

and demanded I come back and marry.”
    “Let me guess… your cousin.”
    “How did you know?”
    Calum just shook his head. “Never mind. Is that when you came here?”
    “No, I was only sixteen when my uncle first came to collect me. I convinced them it would be better if I worked and sent money. They said as long as I did that, I could keep my freedom.”
    Her head bent to her lap, studying her hands as they clutched one of Calum’s, holding on as if he might pull her from a pit. As if he could help her.
    “Keep talking, Phoebe. What did you do next?”
    “For the next few years I worked and sent money. I always sent what they asked, but my grandfather would send my cousins or uncle sometimes to get more. That’s when I learned to sell the things I sew.”
    “Did Mrs. Covey help you at all?”
    “She did what she could. After the first couple of times my family visited, she made me tell her what was going on. But she could not stand against them. No one can.”
    “I can,” Calum said. Phoebe raised her head, opening her mouth to protest, but he’d cut her off. “When did you decide to leave?”
    “The last time I sent them money, and they wrote to tell me they’d picked out a husband for me, and would make me return home. My grandfather liked my looks, and thought, with enough hard work, I could repay them all for the curse.”
    A low sound rumbled in Calum’s chest. Wolfie raised his head, recognizing his master’s growl. But Calum’s hand on her hair was gentle.
    “And so I looked for a way out. Mrs. Covey promised to help me find a new position. She read your advertisement and thought it would be perfect.” Her body felt cold, remembering the horrible months of searching, praying each morning that the day wouldn’t bring her cousins in a wagon to drag her home. Calum’s advertisement had been a light shining in a dark tunnel. She had so hoped it would mean a new start, and a new life free from threat.
    “It is perfect.” He had that strange look on his face, the one that made her insides flutter. Soft and intense, fierce and adoring, all at the same time. “It led you to me.”
    “But now I have to leave.” Phoebe didn’t realize she was crying until a tear slid down her cheek, and Calum’s thumb brushed it away. His hand cupped her chin.
    “You’re not going anywhere.”
    “What?” she sniffled. “But my family will come—”
    “Let them come.” Calum shifted under her restlessly, and anger rolled over his expression. Phoebe recognized it, but wasn’t afraid. It wasn’t directed at her.
    “But they’ll hurt you.”
    “They’ll try. I honestly hope they do,” he said fiercely. Wolfie sat up and woofed. “I’ll string them up and take a horsewhip to them.”
    “My uncle and cousins are very strong.”
    “They will be no match for me. You think I would let them take you from me? Phoebe, hear me now. No one is going to force you to do anything against your will again.”
    Phoebe sagged against him as if a weight had lifted off her.
    “I’m going to take care of you,” Calum continued. “You’ve struggled long enough. You need someone to guard and protect you. I’ll do that, and take care of you besides.”
    “But how?”
    “From this moment on, I’m your guardian. I’ll write to your family and tell them they’re never to threaten you again.”
    Phoebe jerked up in his lap, but he held her in his strong, careful grip, speaking firmly. “I’ll give you all the gold you need to buy clothes and thread and pretty things, but never to them. You don’t have to speak or write to them again, unless you want to.”
    She shook her head frantically. “You can’t do that. You don’t know them, they’ll get angry—”
    “I don’t give a damn about them,” Calum growled, then squeezed her shoulders as if he regretted cursing in front of her. “It’s you I care about. Your safety, your happiness. You will not feel hurt or hardship again, if I can help it.”
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