Page 157 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 1

“I said, enough! You sound mighty condescending. I won’t have you talking down to me in that insolent tone!”

“Oh really? Well, how about if I tell you, that for a murderer, you are darned lucky I am talking to you at all...”

Jake grabbed her by the shoulders and brought her up onto her tip toes. His eyes bored into hers. “What are you talking about? I’m no murderer! Do you honestly think that I could have killed Megan, the mother of my own children?”

Verity had a slow fuse as far as temper was concerned but, once fully riled. she simply lost control, and blew.

“The man in the street, remember? I saw you, you wicked thing! You stuck a knife in him! I watched you do it, so don’t try and deny it!”

He let her go so suddenly that she stumbled backward onto the bed and bounced. Steadying herself, she sat up and remained there. Jake spun away. He ran a hand through his hair, obviously agitated.

“You believe that I killed a man, and yet you still married me?” he asked, ashen faced.

She gulped at the lump which formed in her throat at his stricken look.

“Jake, I...” Her ire instantly drained away, replaced by regret that she’d spoken so harshly.

He turned and stalked from the room, closing the door quietly behind him. Verity sat in shocked silence until it became apparent that he wasn’t coming back. She considered her options. Go after him, but what then? How could she make this right between them? Perhaps she should get into bed and hope that he would join her later.

She turned down the wick on the lamp. After tossing and turning for a couple of hours trying to come up with a way to make things right between them, she finally drifted into a troubled sleep. Waking before it was light, she sat up. How could things ever be the same now she’d told her husband she believed he was a murderer?

“They can’t be,” she choked the words aloud. Tears of regret cascaded down her cheeks. She couldn’t see how things could ever be right between them again. Not after her careless, hurtful words of distrust. There was nothing for it, but to leave, and she must leave before daylight. Of course, the twins would be upset, but it was early days into the marriage, it wasn’t as though she’d made a huge impact on the family in the short time she’d lived here. The girls would soon adjust to living alone again with their father.

Dressing hastily in her warmest gown, she packed her valise and wrapped her woollen shawl about her shoulders. She would return to Mrs. Campbell’s and consider her options. A sob escaped her. How could she have gone so quickly from joy to utter desolation?

Outside, she drew in a breath of relief that Jake hadn’t heard her leave. Hastening over to the barn Verity realized the buggy wouldn’t be hitched. She was going to have to saddle a horse and ride into town in darkness.

Selecting the gentle horse she’d ridden previously on her visits to the ranch, she fetched a saddle and reins. Trying to recall where each of the straps fitted took all her concentration. Finally, she had the animal fully tacked and fetched her valise and hooked the handles over the pommel.

“Verity!”

A loud voice called, as her horse ambled out of the barn. Kicking the animal’s flanks, she urged it forward.

“Verity, stop! Hold hard!”

She recognised her husband’s voice.

“Verity, I said stop!”

How dare he order her? She clicked her tongue, and the horse leapt forward.

Holding on, she gave the animal its head. Riding into the darkness was a fearful, yet exhilarating experience.

She held on tight as the night breeze tugged at her hair. For a brief time, all seemed well, until something gave beneath her. A loosening, a slipping, and then she was sliding. It all happened so fast. One minute she was riding high, the next she was spinning, tumbling to the ground, the breath knocked forcefully from her lungs.

Gasping, she lay still, utterly winded.

“Verity!”

The sound of Jake’s voice was welcoming. Help had arrived. She rolled over in an attempt to sit, and moaned.

“Stay where you are, until I’ve checked you over!” he scolded.

It was such a relief to feel large capable hands skimming her body, testing her limbs for broken bones. Once he’d established, she was whole, he asked if she had the breath to stand. At her nod, Jake helped her to her feet. Keeping a firm hold of her, he led her slowly to where his horse stood placidly by. There was no sign of her own ride.

“There you go.” He lifted her up onto his saddle, keeping a hold of the reins.

“You think I might ride off on your horse?” she asked.

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