The Farmer's Reluctant Bride Read Online Free Page A

proper!”
She tried slapping his hands away from her as he began to pull the unfastened
dress off her shoulders.
    “Raise your hand to me again, young
lady, and I’ll be using my belt on your backside instead of my hand, as I
planned.” Mandy had been just about to push his hands away again. She stopped.
“And we’re married, I need to remind you. I’m your husband and I have every
right to see you without a stitch of clothing on.” Hank had the dress off then
and reached for her pantaloons, pulling them down and off as Mandy stood
silently, seemingly resigned to what Hank had decided to do.
    When Hank pulled Mandy’s chemise
over her head and she stood before him without a stitch of clothing on, it was
then that he realized his mistake.
    She was absolutely gorgeous. And his
body immediately responded as any warm-blooded man’s body would.
    Damn it , Hank thought,
cursing himself silently. Why hadn’t he anticipated this?
    *  
*   *
    Hank seemed to be doing something
behind her, so Mandy waited patiently for him to tell her that she could get
into the tub. She was cold without any clothes on and starting to shiver. Even
though the tub was right in front of the fire, and therefore so were the two of
them, it was still chilly—especially if a body had not a stitch of clothing on!
    “Um...Hank?” Mandy’s tentatively questioned
him. “May I get in the tub now? I’m a bit cold.”
    “Of course, darlin’.” Hank responded
almost as if he had forgotten she was there. It seemed a bit odd to Mandy. “You
just get yourself right into that tub of water and start in to washing
yourself. Soap’s right on the stool there, next to the tub.”
    Mandy didn’t waste one second doing
just that. And she had no intention at all of questioning Hank’s decision to
let her wash herself, rather than him washing her like he had said he was going
to do. Maybe he had forgotten, but either way, Mandy figured the faster she got
to it the better, just in case he had forgotten. She could be done before he remembered
that’s what he had promised her.
    Maybe he’d forget about the
spanking too. A girl could hope.
    As Mandy worked the lathered bar of
soap over her body, she turned to look over her shoulder. Hank had pulled out a
chair from the table and sat behind the tub holding a large bath sheet. He had
been staring at the floor with a pained expression on his face, but met Mandy’s
eyes when she turned to see him. He smiled at her.
    “Don’t forget to wash that hair of
yours, too. Best you soap it twice.” Then he looked back down. Mandy wondered
if he was hurting in some way. Maybe he had an injury that couldn’t be seen,
something that acted up from time to time. He seemed to be in pain. She turned
back around and concentrated on finishing up.
    When Mandy had finished washing
herself from head to toe and to Hank’s satisfaction, he held up a large bath
sheet as she stepped out of the tub and proceeded to wrap her up in it. Hank
guided Mandy to the hearth.
    “You sit here a moment and dry off
a bit. It’s warm by the fire.” Hank picked up Mandy’s satchel. “Is there a
nightdress in here?”
    Mandy nodded.
    Hank brought the bag to her and she
pulled out her nightclothes, then closed it again quickly.
    “Tomorrow you can take your things
out and put them away. I’ve made room for you in the cupboard by the bed.”
    Mandy looked at him in surprise.
“Thank you.” His thoughtfulness was unexpected. He could go from stern and
dictatorial one minute to thoughtful and kind the next.
    Hank took the bag from her and
placed it on the trunk at the foot of the bed. “I’ll get supper together while
you finish drying off and get into your nightdress.” Hank didn’t say as much,
but it seemed that he was letting Mandy have a little privacy to finish up. He
was already busying himself in the kitchen and pulling dishes down from the
shelves next to the kitchen window.
    When she was dry and dressed, Mandy
went to her