Page 72 of Just Imagine
“What’s going on here?”
Kit gave a sob of relief at the sound of Magnus’s voice. She broke away and ran toward him. “Magnus! Let me stay at your house tonight.”
He put his hand gently on her arm and turned to Cain. “What are you doin’ to her?”
“Trying to keep her from killing herself. Or me. Right now, I don’t know which one of us is in more danger.”
Magnus looked at her questioningly.
“She’s my wife,” Cain said. “I married her not an hour ago.”
“He forced me into it!” Kit exclaimed. “I want to stay at your house tonight.”
Magnus frowned. “You can’t do that. You belong to him now.”
“I belong to myself! And both of you can go to hell.”
She turned to run away, but Cain was too quick for her. Before she could move, he caught her and tossed her over his shoulder.
The blood rushed to her head. His grip tightened on her thighs. He began to stalk toward the house.
She punched him in the back and got a smack on her bottom for her efforts. “Stop that before I drop you.”
Magnus’s feet came into view walking beside them. “Major, that’s a fine woman you’ve got there, and you’re handling her a little rough. Maybe you’d better give yourself some time to cool down.”
“That’d take the rest of my life.” Cain turned the corner to the front of the house, his boots crunching on the gravel drive.
Magnus’s next words sent Kit’s already uneasy stomach pitching. “If you ruin her tonight, you’re goin’ to regret it the rest of your life. Remember what happens to a horse that gets broke too fast.”
For a moment, stars swirled behind her eyelids. Then she heard the welcome sound of feet rushing down the front steps.
“Kit! Sweet Jesus, what’s happened?”
“Sophronia!” Kit tried to jerk upright. At the same time, Sophronia grabbed Cain’s arm.
“Put her down!”
Cain pushed Sophronia toward Magnus. “Keep her out of the house tonight.” With that, he carried Kit up the steps and through the door.
Sophronia struggled inside the circle of Magnus’s arms. “Let me go! I have to help her. You don’t know what a man like that can do to a woman. White man. Thinks he owns the world. Thinks he owns her.”
“He does.” Magnus held her to him and stroked her. “They’re married now, honey.”
“Married!”
In calm, soothing tones, he told her what he’d just heard. “We can’t interfere with what takes place between a man and his wife. He won’t hurt her.”
As he said it, he hoped she wouldn’t hear the faint thread of doubt in his voice. Cain was the most just man he knew, but tonight there had been something violent in his eyes. Despite this, he continued to comfort her as he led her across the dark orchard.
Only when they reached his house did she grow aware of their destination. Her head shot up. “Where do you think you’re taking me?”
“Home with me,” he said calmly. “We’re goin’ to go inside and have a little bite to eat. Then, if you feel like it, we’ll sit in the kitchen and talk for a spell. Or if you’re tired, you can go in the bedroom and sleep. I’ll get myself a blanket and make a bed right out here on the porch with Merlin, where it’s nice and cool.”
Sophronia said nothing. She simply gazed at him.
He waited, letting her take her time. Finally she nodded and went into his house.
Cain slouched in the wing chair that rested near the open window of his bedroom. His shirt was open to the waist to catch the breeze; his ankles were crossed on a footstool in front of him. A glass of brandy dangled from the hand that hung over the arm of the chair.
