Free Samuel (Samuel's Pride Series) by Kathi S. Barton

knew wanted to wed and bed her for no other reason than he said he was
supposed to. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
    “Aye, I can tell. The sadness in your
eyes tells me you’re thrilled to death. Tell me, lass, and let me see if it can
be fixed or not.”
    Kennedy told her everything, even some
of the things she knew that she’d never share with her mother or sister. Her seanmháthair never said much but asked a few questions. And when she was done, she looked at
her with concern in her eyes.
    “You’ve a mind to run from this mon?” She
nodded, then shook her head. “Very clear you are about him, I can see. What do
you want from him, Kennedy? Love? He more than likely will after a fashion, but
not if you flee him.”
    “He’s no desire to love me, only keep me
in a shell that will kill me. I don’t need a keeper, Seanmháthair , but
he thinks it’s in my best interest for him to be mine.” Kennedy started to cry
again. “I’ve been marked by him, and now…now he wants me to give up everything
I have.”
    Her seanmháthair sat and looked
at her for a long time. Kennedy knew her well enough to know that she was
thinking. Dani Kennedy Buehler did not make rash decisions. When she stood up,
Kennedy felt disappointed. But her seanmháthair hugged her tightly.
    “I have to think about this a bit more.”
Kennedy nodded. “You’ll sleep here, of course, and then in the morning, we’ll
go and see this man of yours.”
    “Nay, Seanmháthair , I’ve no
desire to see him again.” Seanmháthair raised her hand. “I doona think
he’ll be thrilled to see me anyway. I’m supposed to be packing my things and
going back to his bed. I’ve no desire to go from the fire to the frying pan.”
    “We’ll see.” Something about the way she
said it had Kennedy thinking she might have been better off not telling her seanmháthair what had happened. When she closed the door behind her to the bedroom, Kennedy
sat there for long moments trying to think what was going to happen in the
morning, and decided that she didn’t want to know. But when she stood up, her seanmháthair came to the door and opened it just enough to see her.
    “You run and I’ll be sorely disappointed
in you, my child. This mon will think you a coward as well. Is that what you want?”
    “He doesn’t want me.” Saying it aloud made
the pain more noticeable. “I’ll not have anyone in my life that feels that way.”
    The door closed without a word, and
Kennedy sat down. There was no hope for it. She’d have to see Mr. Payne in the
morning, and her seanmháthair would be there to witness her humiliations
as well. Burrowing deep into the couch, Kennedy let the tears flow. She’d have been
better off marrying old man Tailor when she’d been told to. At least he wanted
her somewhat.
    The dream of her da’s death came to her
again that night. And when that one ended, the one where her brother beat her
followed. The pain of what he’d done to her body was nothing compared to the
betrayal she felt from him. But hurt her physically he had.
    Broken bones were the most of it, but he’d
beaten her with her da’s belt, the buckle of it tearing into her skin so deeply
in places that they’d had to stitch them closed. Walking had been difficult
with all the lashes on her legs. Even when she’d left the hospital, she’d still
been in pain, broken ribs not quite healed and her head still concussed. Kennedy,
in a word, had been a mess. The only way for her to be able to travel had been
by boat and with a nurse by her side. She had much to be grateful for from her seanmháthair .
    But the men in her life, all of them, including
her da, had wanted so much from her. All of them were set to hurt her and make
her do as they said no matter what she wanted. Kennedy lay there after the
dreams woke her and cried more in the darkness. When sleep finally claimed her,
she knew that she’d look awful in the morning.

 
    Chapter 6
     
    “Sir, there’s a miss on