California Romance Read Free Page B

eyes watching her carry out her duties in his home. Sarah steeled herself to refuse his offer of employment.
    Tice strolled leisurely across the floor and came to a stop a few inches from where she stood next to Gus. He caught her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. “She’ll do nicely.” He chuckled. “Needs a bit of cleaning up, but you’re right. She’s real pretty.”
    “Then it’s a deal?” Gus asked eagerly.
    Tice dropped his hand and smiled. Straight, white teeth flashed. A line from a fairy tale crossed Sarah’s mind.
“The better to eat you with, my dear.”
“It’s a deal.”
    Sarah rubbed her chin and turned on her stepfather. “What’s a deal?” she demanded. “If you think I’m going to work for Mr. Edwards, you’re mistaken.”
    Gus’s slap sent Sarah reeling. He shot an apologetic look toward Tice. “She’s a mite feisty sometimes, Tice. Didn’t have real good bringing up, I’m afraid.” He waggled a finger at Sarah. “You’re not going to work for Mr. Edwards, m’girl. You’re going to be his wife.”

Chapter 3
    S arah staggered to her feet. “His—his—
wife?”
she stuttered, unable to grasp what Gus was saying. The stinging pain of her stepfather’s slap went unheeded. She stumbled to the crude table and leaned against it, breathing hard.
This can’t be happening. Please, God, let it all be a bad dream
.
    Tice Edwards quickly joined Sarah. “If I may?” he offered, pulling out a chair. His silken words flowed over Sarah like sweet, sticky honey.
    She shivered and closed her eyes then crumpled into the chair. She buried her head in her arms and fought against the nausea that threatened to overwhelm her. Hot tears sprang to her eyes, but she forced them back.
This is not a crying matter
, Sarah told herself fiercely.
I must think. I must get control of myself
.
    A whimper brought Sarah’s head up. Timmy stood at the end of the table, biting his lip. His light brown hair curled around his ears and fell into his wide, dark eyes. His hands were thrust into the pockets of his overalls, and he sniffled. When Sarah caught his gaze, he blinked hard and whispered, “Sarah?”
    Her heart softened at the uncertainty on the little boy’s face. But before she could respond to him, Gus barked, “Get outside—all of you. Don’t come in till I tell you.”
    “I want Sarah,” Timmy pleaded. He’d swiftly changed from the screaming, fighting little tiger of a few minutes ago to a scared child in need of a hug. No matter how irritated Sarah found herself at the antics of Gus’s children, it was clear Timmy knew where he could find shelter during his father’s many angry storms. He reached for her in spite of his father’s order.
    “Git, I told you!” Gus took a swipe at Timmy, but the boy was too quick. He ducked under Gus’s arm and scampered outdoors with a frightened yelp. The other children had already disappeared through the door, away from their father’s rotten temper and heavy hand.
    Sarah heard the harsh teasing of the older boys and Timmy’s sobbing through the open door. She clenched her fists. She wanted to rush outside and gather Timmy into her arms. Of Gus’s four children, Timmy was the sensitive one, the child who had known Sarah’s mother as his only mother and Sarah as his real sister. When he wasn’t being influenced for evil by his older siblings, he was a loving little boy.
    The brush of Tice’s hand across the braid on the top of Sarah’s head brought her around. She shook herself free of his touch and stood. She looked up, gripped the edge of the table to steady herself, and took a deep breath. Ice tinkled in her voice as she said, “I will not marry you, Mr. Edwards.”
    Gus lurched forward, hand raised, but Tice motioned him away with a curt wave. “No more of that, Gus. I don’t want my future wife marred for her wedding day.” He gave Sarah a rueful smile. “I’m sorry the arrangements are not to your liking, Miss