Mud and Gold Read Online Free Page A

Charlie. That wasn’t
hunger for food she could see in his gaze. A hard knot formed in
the pit of Amy’s stomach as memories of the terrifying night
flooded back. How long would he let her sit in the parlour before
he ordered her into that bedroom?
     
     

2
     
    February 1885
    Frank rode down the road from Lizzie’s house
feeling warm and content. Another good meal, another pleasant few
hours with the Leiths, and a rewarding little stroll with Lizzie
along the banks of the creek to walk off some of the food. He felt
part of the family already. Arthur had long ago got over his
inexplicable grumpiness, and as far as Frank could tell his
soon-to-be father-in-law treated him with the same rough affection
as he did his own sons. Even when he had caught Frank and Lizzie
having a farewell kiss in the porch he had laughed and given Frank
a wink.
    Yes, a very pleasant few hours. Lizzie
certainly could cook. She had been particularly affectionate today,
too; down at the creek she had definitely kissed back, and had
pressed so hard against him while they were kissing that there had
been no need for Frank to risk a scolding by reaching for those
forbidden bumps of hers. He wondered if Lizzie had noticed the hard
lump in his trousers while they embraced; he suspected it must have
been difficult to miss.
    Only two more months and Lizzie would be
coming home with him. Frank was sure life would be very, very good
when she did, and not just because of her skill in the kitchen. The
thought of Lizzie in his bed made Frank’s trousers feel tight all
over again; that was going to be the best thing of all. As long as
he could figure out what to do with her once he got her there. He
brushed that thought aside for the moment; it was a problem that
would have to be solved, but he would not let apprehension spoil
his good mood. He wanted to keep hold of the courage his delightful
afternoon had given him.
    Today he felt strong and brave; brave enough
to tackle a task he had put off for eight long months. Today he was
going to tell Ben.
    He knew he had been foolish to put it off so
long. If Ben hadn’t been such a hermit Frank would never have got
away with keeping his engagement secret all this time; but if Ben
wasn’t so unfriendly to people it wouldn’t be so hard to tell him
he was going to have to get used to a woman in the house. What
would Ben say about it? Frank knew his brother wouldn’t be pleased,
and he was grateful that Ben was not a great one for talking.
Perhaps he wouldn’t say much at all.
    Frank glanced to the side of the road and
noticed he was passing Charlie Stewart’s farm. What a surprise that
had been, hearing Amy had married Charlie. She was quite a pretty
girl, really, and even younger than Lizzie; it seemed strange that
her father had given her to someone like Charlie. Lizzie didn’t
seem to want to talk about it; when Frank had asked her why she
hadn’t mentioned the wedding till it was over, she had said
something about hoping Amy would back out of it. That seemed an odd
way to talk about a wedding.
    He dragged his thoughts back to the task at
hand and started running through phrases in his mind. Should he
butter Ben up first? Should he be matter-of-fact or solemn? Maybe
try to make a joke about it? Ben probably wouldn’t find it very
funny, though.
    ‘By the way, Ben, did I tell you I’m getting
married in April?’ No, that was too casual. Perhaps he should work
up to it gradually, try to get Ben to see how nice it would be to
have a woman’s touch around the place. Frank grinned as he
remembered trying to work Arthur around to the subject of letting
him have Lizzie. Arthur had certainly made him suffer before he had
relented.
    By the time he reached home Frank had
decided a straightforward approach would be best. After all, Ben
was his brother, not the wary father of a young girl. Ben would be
all right. He’d tell Ben while they were milking.
    But during milking Ben’s attention was so
taken up with