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It isn t right, the second woman agreed. Back east, hussies like
her knew their place.
Sarah recognized one of them. The woman owned the town s lone
restaurant. She d flatly refused to give Sarah a job. Now her gaze flickered
over Sarah with contempt, and she began whispering to her cohort once
again.
This wasn t the first time Sarah had been the source of gossip. She d
put up with it on a daily basis in Georgia. But it wasn t supposed to
happen here. This was exactly what she d wanted to get away from.
Her eyes filled with angry tears, and she blinked them away,
determined not to let those old bats know they d gotten to her.
Reluctantly, she replaced the bolt of yellow calico she d already chosen.
She couldn t do this, couldn t walk up there and ask the balding man who
owned the store to put the fabric on Luke s bill. It would give the women
more ammunition to use against her.
She squared her shoulders and turned toward the door, wondering
why she d ever thought things would be different. The people of this
town had treated her like a pariah when she d only spent one night in
Luke Chandler s house. It was logical they d assume far worse now that
she d lived with him for over a week.
In all honesty, she couldn t blame them, given the way she d fallen
Mail Order Bride
so eagerly into Luke s arms. Perhaps they were right about her.
When she reached the relative safety of the boardwalk in front of
the store, she searched for Luke. He was nowhere in sight, and she
groaned when she saw John Tucker headed her way.
She turned in the opposite direction, walking fast, hoping he d get
the message and leave her alone. But his heavy footsteps fell in place
behind her, and she knew she wasn t going to be so lucky.
Where you goin , sugar?
She ignored him, hurrying her steps, but he grabbed her arm and
spun her around. I m talkin to you, girl.
Sarah swallowed, glancing down at his beefy hand. Please. Let me
go, Mr. Tucker.
John laughed, exposing his rotten teeth. Did Chandler get tired of
you so soon? Damned shame you d rather be that cripple s whore than
my wife, but you can bet I won t make the mistake of extending that offer
again.
Well, you needn t worry, Sarah exclaimed, her anger at his words
outweighing her caution. I d rather starve than be your wife.
Why, you little
John s words broke off, and Sarah lifted her startled gaze to find
Luke looming behind her.
Let her go. Luke s voice vibrated with fury. He stepped forward,
putting himself between Sarah and the hulking blacksmith.
John released her with a vicious curse, and she stumbled away,
rubbing her numb arm. Tears of pain and embarrassment pricked her
eyes, and she blinked furiously, determined not to let anyone see how
close she was to breaking.
What the hell is going on? Luke glanced at Sarah, and she
shrugged, too embarrassed to repeat the words John and the other
townspeople had thrown at her. Whore. Prostitute. Heat crept into her
cheeks and she looked away.
John laughed and held up his hands. My mistake, Chandler. I
didn t know you still wanted her. I was just offering my services, in case
she was in need of a new protector.
Diana Bold
The lady doesn t need any protection from you. Not now, not
ever.
John gave Sarah one last seething glare and then turned away.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Luke turned to look at her, his
handsome face dark with concern. Did he hurt you?
She shook her head, too ashamed to look him in the eye. He thinks
I m your whore, Luke. They all do.
He skimmed his fingertips over the reddened skin on her arm
where John had grabbed her. I m sorry, sweetheart. This is my fault. I
shouldn t have left you alone.
She loved it when he called her sweetheart. She met his tender
gaze, and the look in his beautiful blue eyes took her breath away. Don t
blame yourself. I shouldn t have come with you today. If I d been thinking
clearly, I would have realized something like this would happen.
He moved his hand from her arm to her face, tenderly stroking the
curve of her jaw. It won t happen again, Sarah. I won t let it.
Someone cleared their throat. Sarah stepped away from Luke, only
to find herself face to face with the women from the store.
Well, I never& The one from the restaurant turned up her nose
and hurried down the walk, as though it disgusted her to be on the same
street as Sarah.
Sarah watched them go and then sighed. Can we go home now? I
really don t think I can bear to stay here another minute.
For the first time, Luke noticed Sarah was empty handed. Didn t
you find anything you liked at the mercantile?
A hurt look flashed in the emerald depths of her eyes. The
atmosphere in there wasn t any better than it is out here. She glanced
after the two old busybodies who d just passed them. In fact it was down
right frigid.
The anger he d so recently released began to simmer once again.
Are you telling me those old bats made you feel unwelcome?
Sarah nodded, and his gaze was drawn to her clenched fists. It s
all right. I don t mind. I d just like to go home.
Not yet, he muttered, taking her arm and steering her toward the
Mail Order Bride
front door of the mercantile. You need some new clothes, and we re not
leaving here until you get some. Besides, I promised you a meal at the
restaurant.
Sarah dug in her heels at that. Oh no, she said defiantly. I am
not going to step foot in that restaurant. They ll probably refuse to serve
me, and then they ll have me tarred and feathered and run out of town on
a rail.
Luke laughed bitterly, dragging her along. No they won t. Not
while you re with me.
When she continued to resist, he stopped and met her horrified
gaze. I won t let anyone treat you as anything less than the lady you are.
We haven t done anything wrong, and I refuse to act as though we have.
We haven t done anything wrong, Sarah muttered. Today.
Luke grinned, imagining her in his arms once again. I don t care
what they think, he stated, more at peace with himself than he d been in
years. I really don t.
He held the door of the mercantile open. After a pause, she
preceded him through it. Once inside the dimly lit interior, he guided her
toward the ready made articles in the front window. There was a lilac
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