Hearts in Defiance (Romance in the Rockies Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

set foot in Defiance.” He clutched her
hand and moved a breath closer. “I give you my word I will honor you, Naomi,
and what you mean to me.”
    She heard a fierce
determination in his voice and prayed it was born of love and not fear that he
would fail.
    He brushed her bangs aside
and searched her face. “You make me believe …” He shook his head, an
incredulous smile tipping his lips. “You make me believe.”
    “Then let them come. I can
take it.”
    ~~~
     
     
    Naomi gently showered the row of tiny green corn sprouts with the
watering can. Never much of a gardener, she had to admit that the pleasant
spring sun, the smell of damp earth, and the promise of corn ears dripping with
melted butter did at least make the chore bearable. It also put her in a mind
to reminisce.
    Back home in Carolina, the
weather broke quickly. Spring meant warm dirt between your toes, and quick cool
showers that opened the door to suffocating humidity. She recalled several
spring plantings, walking with John as he plowed the dark earth. Sleeves rolled
up, her hair tucked in a straw hat, she would happily amble alongside him,
hunting for arrowheads in the freshly-turned earth. He would steer his Belgian,
Sampson, with skill and confidence, the big horse an equal to John’s brawny
build.
    She let a wistful smile
break. Simple, sun-washed days. Life with John had been peaceful and
predictable. Her oak, he had covered her with his strength and steady love.
Charles, on the other hand, made her feel as if she were standing in an open
field, waiting for lightning to strike. When he turned those spellbinding,
consuming eyes on her, the air around them thrummed with a charge that
quickened her pulse. And when he touched her, she felt heat shoot from his fingers
down to her soul.
     “You’re going to drown
those sprouts, Naomi.”
    “What?” She blinked, saw the
small river flowing down the row, and jerked the water can back. “Oh! Good
grief.”
    Mollie laughed, and Naomi
wondered at the sound. The girl had been a weak, pale, broken Flower in
Charles’ brothel, which he had called the Garden. Now a contagious smile
radiated from her and her pretty petite face, not downcast anymore, glowed with
true peace. Naomi had seen God work in people, but in Mollie, he had created a
fair-haired angel with a heart so full of Jesus, it was humbling to be around
her.
    Her sins, which are many,
are forgiven, for she loved much.
    “Good thing you came along
when you did,” Naomi said, hugging the watering can.
    “That must have been some
daydream.”
    Naomi started to wave away
the thought, but it led to another and she peered sidelong at Mollie.
    The girl took a step back.
“What? I don’t think I like that look in your eye.”
    Mollie had been somewhat
forthcoming about life in the Garden, but she had shared more with Hannah. Now
Naomi saw an opportunity to gain a little understanding of Charles.
    “Do you think Charles
has changed?”
    The girl sucked in a breath
as if Naomi had asked her to raise the dead. “Oh, I don’t think I’m qualified
to answer that. I don’t know his heart. I just know what I’ve seen.”
    Naomi studied the corn at
her feet and scratched her nose. “He warned me about women who might show up in
town this summer. Women he’s been … intimate with.” Jealousy gnawed at her.
Angry over feeling so vulnerable, she shifted her gaze back to Mollie. “He said
if I couldn’t bear up under it, under his reputation …” Naomi shook her head,
groping for a way to explain his concern, and now hers. “He’s afraid he’ll hurt
me. And he’s worried I might end up hating him.” Her jaw tightened as she
imagined an encounter with any of his former lady friends. “I cannot imagine
looking any of these women in the eye, Mollie.” She—and probably Mollie—knew it
wouldn’t end well. Naomi wasn’t exactly known for her patience or compassion.
God still had quite a bit of work to do on both fronts, as far as Naomi