Alana Read Online Free

resounded, but Alana had won out even in that.
    The Landows–Jason, his brother Robert, and their mother Esther–had come forward to claim guardianship until Alana reached her maturity. Their act helped to keep Riverbend under her control and to stifle the scandal that her father’s death had brought about.
    Although Alana believed herself to be in love with Jason, she understood it was not a love of great passion but a love of loyalty, gratitude, and hope for the future. Jason had done so much for her–how could she not love him? When he had asked her to marry him, shortly before war broke out, she had accepted without qualm, knowing she would never find a kinder man, or one who better understood her needs. She was certain Jason would make a good master for Riverbend.
    She had kept her hopes high throughout the war, never once surrendering to self-pity. She had kept Riverbend alive. She had salvaged much from what might have been lost and had lived every day hoping for the war’s end. But, when the end came, it had not brought Jason back to her as she had prayed.
    Now, five months after the war’s end, her waiting was finally over. Her life would begin again.
    Rising slowly, Alana again drew upon her deep well of determination. It was time to return to the house and ready herself to meet Jason. Come what may, she knew she would stand by her promise to Jason, and their wedding would take place as soon as possible.
    When she took the first step toward the house, her legs froze and her heart lurched. Within her mind’s eye, Rafe Montgomery’s face appeared. She stared at the image for a full two seconds before realizing what she was doing. Then, forcefully, she banished the handsome face from her mind.
     
     

2
    Rafe Montgomery stood bare-chested, staring out the window of the guest bedroom. Behind him, spread out on the bed, were the few items he could call his own.
    A young former slave named Kitty had taken him to this room, unpacked his traveling bag and taken his one change of clothes for pressing. Five minutes later, she’d returned with a basin of hot water.
    After washing the grit of the road from his hands and face, Rafe walked to the window and tried to sort out his thoughts, which were running rampant.
    He had known better than to come here. He had known not to accompany Jason but to return home and avenge those who had been so treacherous to him.
    For two years, he had been Jason Landow’s cellmate. In those two years, strong feelings had grown between the men. They did not have a conventional friendship, but there was a strong bond between them nonetheless. Rafe had cared for the injured Jason, nursing him after his operation and had done whatever he could to make Jason’s life comfortable. They had shared a common life–and shared, too, the same dreams.
    When the war ended and freedom came, they were given clothing and enough money to return home. Jason received one other item: a wheeled chair.
    Upon their release, Jason had asked Rafe to accompany him home. The comradeship they had forged had kept Jason alive, for Rafe had not let Jason die, as Jason had wanted. It would be a difficult but not impossible task for Jason to go home and face the rest of his life as a cripple. He needed help, and Rafe had been unable to refuse him this.
    Besides, Rafe had realized, California was a long time away, and after two years, a few days’ delay would mean nothing.
    In reality, Rafe knew he’d had another reason for agreeing to return home with Jason. The reason was raven hair, blue eyes, and the face of the angel that had allowed him to keep his sanity.
    Although he thought he had prepared himself for meeting Alana, he had not in fact been ready for what he'd found. He had known of Alana for two long years, from having listened to Jason’s unending talk of her. She was the only reason Jason could find for living. Rafe knew everything about her, from the moment she had been born to the start of the war. He