Forbidden Secrets Read Free Page B

horse to a halt before her. The stallion’s black coat was wet and shiny. Savannah could smell the animal’s sweat, feel its warm breath as it struggled for air.
    Savannah stepped forward and lifted her gaze to Tyler’s. His blue eyes still seethed with anger. His handsome face was twisted with fury and hatred.
    Tyler reared his horse up so it pranced on its hind legs.
    Savannah stumbled back and wrapped her arms around the white marble pillar.
    â€œMark my words, Savannah Gentry!” Tyler threatened. “I am a man who keeps his promises!”
    His horse’s hooves hit the ground. Tyler leaned over until his face was even with Savannah’s. Icy dread clamped around her heart.
    â€œYou will regret choosing the South over me!” Tyler snarled. “I swear it!”

Blackrose Manor
    T he old woman shuddered at the memory.
    So vivid. As though it had all happened yesterday.
    She could still hear Tyler’s words echoing over the plantation. She could still see Tyler galloping down the dirt road, away from Whispering Oaks.
    With a gnarled finger she plucked a rose from a nearby bush. She ripped off a black petal and tossed it into the air. She watched as it floated slowly to the ground.
    â€œSavannah loved him,” she said in a raspy voice.
    She tugged another petal free and dropped it. It drifted down and settled near her feet.
    â€œSavannah loved him not.”
    She plucked another petal.
    â€œSavannah loved him.”
    And another petal.
    â€œSavannah loved him not.”
    Over and over the old woman plucked a petal and repeated the words.
    Finally, all but one of the rose petals lay scattered on the ground.
    The old woman held the last petal in her hand and studied it.
    â€œSavannah loved him.” She cackled. “No matter how many roses I pick, no matter how many petals I pluck, the last petal always reveals the truth—Savannah loved Tyler Fier.”
    She wrapped her arms around herself, but she could not ward off the chill in the air. She could not protect herself from the truth. She could not stop herself from remembering.
    Everyone knew Savannah’s heart broke when Tyler rode away to fight with the Union Army.
    But during a war many things broke, the old woman thought. Many things changed.
    â€œOur father’s cotton fields became battlefields,” the old woman remembered wistfully. “The slaves ran north to freedom. Our parents died.”
    Wearing a soft smile, the old woman gazed at her sister’s grave. “We had only each other,” she whispered in a voice that sounded like sandpaper on wood. “Savannah and Victoria. We were left alone at Whispering Oaks.
    â€œDo you remember, dear sister, how frightened we were? How hungry? How worried?”
    Tears filled the old woman’s eyes.
    â€œBut we survived, you and I. Together we survived. And we became so close again. The way we were when we were small children. We began to tell each othereverything. Our fears. Our hopes. Our dreams. Sometimes you even talked about Tyler.”
    With a sigh, the old woman closed her eyes, remembering past conversations. Savannah wanted—needed—to talk about Tyler.
    And Victoria listened.
    Savannah knew that Tyler betrayed her love. But still she feared for him.
    Savannah wondered if she would ever see Tyler again.
    She wanted to tell Tyler that she still loved him.
    She needed to tell Tyler that she loved him.
    As the months of the war dragged into years, Savannah’s desperation grew.

Chapter
    5

    Whispering Oaks
Summer 1863
    S avannah walked across the old vegetable garden. “I’ll look here,” she said to Victoria. “You look over there.”
    We will not go hungry tonight, Savannah promised herself. We won’t. She sank down on the warm soil and began searching through the withered cornstalks and blackened tomato plants. I have to find us something to eat.
    Savannah glanced over at Victoria. Her sister’s