Read His Brother's Bride for Free Online Page B

face went hot and her skin prickled. She heard his heavy boots thudding down the stairs and thought her heart must surely be as loud. Shame uncoiled in the pit of her stomach and snaked through every part of her. He had wondered why she was up here sorting through his things. She looked down at the floor where the silly lamp sat. Her excuse for being up here seemed absurd. The garden lay outside barely touched, and she was in here going through old relics.
    He must think her lazy or incompetent or daft. Why else would she let chores go undone while she snooped about in an attic? And all for nothing, too, since she’d come up empty-handed.
    She heard the front door slam and was relieved he was out of the house. A quick glance of the room reminded her there were still trunks to go through. And like it or not, she would have to go through them.
    But first, she had to get cleaned up and get supper fixed. And if it killed her, she would get it done before Cade returned.
    â§
    Cade balanced Adam in front of him and kicked Sutter into motion. His heart still thudded heavily in his chest even while guilt flooded his soul. He relived the moment in the attic, then shook his head as if to dislodge the thoughts. Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought he was capable of those feelings again. It was wrong.
    But it had felt so right for just those few moments. Right and good.
    Stop it, Manning. He clenched his teeth and kicked Sutter into a gallop. Adam laughed as the wind hit their faces.
    But it had felt right and good. When Emily’s eyes had widened in the glow of the lamplight, his gut clamped down hard. Her dirt-streaked face had looked adorable, had reminded him of the first time he’d seen her, getting off the stage.
    Then Ingrid’s face had come into his thoughts. Her golden hair and sad blue eyes. Sad because he’d been thinking of Emily in the way a man thinks of a woman.
    She’s my wife.
    In name only, his spirit rebutted. What would Ingrid think of him now? She’d loved him and given birth to their precious son. What right did Cade have to carry on with another woman when his wife had lost her life bearing him a son?
    â€œFaster, Pa, faster!” Adam’s voice mingled with the wind.
    â€œThis is fast enough.” Cade held his son close to him and allowed himself to enjoy the softness of his little body. Before he knew it, Adam would be too big to ride tandem with him. One day, he would leave home and go off on his own. The thought tugged at his heart. And then where would Cade be?
    Emily will still be with you.
    Yes, she would still be here, Lord willing, but they would be like brother and sister sharing a house. His heart denied the idea. When they were in the attic awhile ago, she hadn’t felt like any sister he’d known. No, your skin didn’t flush and prickle when you held a sister in your arms.
    He shifted in the saddle, feeling suddenly discomfited. She didn’t feel like a sister at all, but more like a—
    Wife.
    His mind rejected the thought. No matter that his heart had felt alive for the first time since Ingrid had died— he would not let himself fall for Emily. Hadn’t he loved Ingrid well, and what had that gotten him? A broken heart. He’d grieved for months like he hadn’t thought possible. He’d never imagined such pain as he felt when he’d lain his head on her pillow and smelled her lilac soap. Or held his baby in his arms, knowing Ingrid would never have that chance.
    He didn’t want to feel that way again. Ever. No amount of pleasure was worth that, and if necessary, he would put up walls twenty feet high around his heart to keep her out.

Six
    Emily,
    I’ll not waste time with pleasantries as you did in your letter. It seems you have settled in that cozy little farmhouse with a husband and his brat and forgotten why you’re there to start with. You are not there to be a wife or ma. You are there to find