[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
head. "I'm being honest. There is no future between us."
"I wouldn't hurt you, Fiona."
"You might not mean to, but you have the power to break
my heart."
"Why is that?"
"Because you make me hope for somethin' that could
never be."
Myles framed her face with his hands. "What if I wanted it,
too?"
She put her hands around his wrists. "You only think that
right now because you are caught up in the moment. I am
here and you need comfort."
His gaze probed hers. "What about love?"
"Dinna, Myles. Dinna make me say things that will come
back to haunt both of us."
Myles saw the fear and uncertainty flickering in her eyes.
He wanted to kiss her. To hold her slender body tight against
his and shut out the doubts and fears, if only for one night.
But would that make him like Rudgewick? Would pressing his
advantage now be wrong? As much as he regretted the
insight, Myles knew it would be unconscionable to take Fiona
while she was vulnerable.
He brushed a soft kiss across her trembling lips and
pressed his forehead to hers. Her sweet breath mingled with
his as he stood savoring the moment.
"When everything is settled with my sister, we will talk,
Fiona. Be forewarned. I mean to have you in my life. You
have to decide what you want to do about it."
302
Sweet Serenity
by Catherine Stang
* * * *
Collin paused outside Serenity's door when he heard his
daughter's pleading voice.
"Please don't die, Serenity," Alisha begged. "I promise to
be good. No more telling you the wrong ingredients for food,
or riling up the chickens, or making the pigs squeal."
From where Collin stood, he could see Alisha kneeling
beside Serenity's bed. Serenity slept too hard to notice. He
softly walked into the room, placing a hand on her trembling
shoulder. Alisha stood up, throwing herself into his arms.
"Oh, Papa, I'm so sorry. I dinna mean to wish her away."
Alisha's burr was thick through her sobs. "I'm cursed," she
wailed. "I made Mama and Felicity die, and Serenity is going
to, too. I changed my mind. I dinna want to her leave. I
never meant to be mean to her. I was scared of staying. I
had just made friends in New York."
Collin stroked Alisha's back. Then pushed her to arms'
length. "Wait a minute, Lish. You had nothing to do with your
mother's or sister's deaths any more than you caused
Serenity's accident. There are many things that happen in life
that are out of our control. These are a couple of them."
He pulled her back into his embrace. "Granted, you havena
been as cooperative with Serenity as you could have been.
But even you canna will people away."
"Really?" Her voice squeaked.
"Really. Doc Hogan said Serenity needed to rest. Soon
she'll be good as new."
303
Sweet Serenity
by Catherine Stang
As he held his trembling daughter, Collin prayed that just
this once, God didn't make a liar out of him.
* * * *
Serenity's eyes slowly opened. Her mouth felt like cotton.
Around her were the anxious faces of the MacClarron girls.
"You're awake?" cried Alisha. "We've waited so long."
"Papa, come quick!" Cherise yelled, bouncing.
"Yes, hurry, Papa!" Emily hollered.
Collin strolled into the room, his eyes brightening when he
saw her.
"Wh-what happened?" Serenity asked, trying to sit up, but
the pain in her chest wouldn't let her.
"You ran into a tree branch," Collin said.
"Lassies, go tell Gran. She is fixin' supper."
He stood silently beside the bed. His expression was world-
weary and taut.
"Is something wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?
Did I break ribs or something?"
"No." He stroked his chin. "You're fine. In fact, Doc Hogan
says you'll keep the baby."
304
Sweet Serenity
by Catherine Stang
Chapter 18
The blood drained from Serenity's face. "Keep the baby,"
she whispered. Her hand went over her mouth. Silent tears
ran down her cheeks. "I d-didn't know how to tell you.
Believe me, I have wanted to so much." She covered her face
with her hands.
Collin couldn't stand watching her cry. He felt her pain as
deeply as if it were his own. He cursed himself for blurting out
his discovery like that. His only excuse was that it had been
plaguing him all afternoon. With a sigh of regret, he climbed
onto the bed, scooping her up in his arms, and pressed her
hot face against his chest. He stroked her golden hair. "There,
there. Let it all out."
She sucked in a sob. "I can't believe I'm crying," she
moaned, her voiced muffled in his rough, plaid work shirt. "I
didn't cry for Father. I've been so strong, and now I'm falling
apart."
Her body shook. Collin tightened his grip on her as another
gut-wrenching sob racked her body.
"I-I can't st-stop."
She continued crying for a few minutes, soaking his shirt.
With a great measure of willpower, she took deep, gulping
breaths as the tears stopped flowing. He continued stroking
her back until her breathing slowed.
"Feel better?" he asked.
"Y-yes. Remarkably, I do." She pulled back away,
accepting the handkerchief he offered from the nightstand. "I
always thought bawling was for children. Father was never
305
Sweet Serenity
by Catherine Stang
one to show emotions. 'Keep a stiff upper lip,' he would
always say. Sometimes I think he wanted me to be a man."
The tears began trickling down her cheeks. Her body
trembled with the effort to keep herself under control.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]