Free A Settler's Wife's Dreams (Erotic Romance, Romantic Erotica, Erotic Historical Romance) by Ashley Olsen Page A

Lisa said. “Have you heard the talk around town about the men going out to hunt Indians down to avenge Frank?”
    Ted paused before he set their food down on the table.
    “I have,” Ted said. “But I don't agree with it. I think it's foolish to risk more lives. Nothing will bring Frank back. Like you, I was quick to tell that sheriff, that the Indian that killed Frank is already dead.”
    Lisa nodded in agreement.
    “You know how I feel about it,” she said. “I just don't understand why everyone is acting like they cared about Frank so much now that he's dead. No one cared when he slaved away all night and day on fields that weren't growing the crops we needed. No one cared when we went hungry. Until an Indian killed him, not a single person in this city cared about my husband.”
    Ted nodded sympathetically.
    “The sheriff talked to me on his way out,” Ted said. “I'll be taking part in the search for any Indians who are stationed around the woods surrounding the city. I know that will be hard on you, but try not to worry about me. I don't think there are any Indians to find out there, to be honest. I think this was a singular event that happened to Frank.”
    “What do you mean you are helping?” Lisa said in horror.
    “I have to,” Ted said. “I don't have a choice. When posies form up, all the able bodied men of the town are expected to come together and do what needs to be done. This time we need to look for Indians. Besides, I think I'd rather be there if some are found so I can be a voice of reason and hopefully spare their lives.”
    Lisa didn't know what to say. First she had lost her husband now she might lose the other man in her life. She started weeping at the table. Ted got up and ran over to her.
    “Please don't be upset,” He said. “I promise that I'll be all right.”
    Lisa held Ted close and listened to his heart beat. She hoped she never had to hear it stop beating.
    “I don't understand all of this business about getting up in arms over Indians who might not even be there. It was only one Indian that was giving me and Frank a hard time. Just one!” Lisa said sobbing. “I don't want anyone else to get hurt. I know Frank wouldn't want anyone else to get hurt. This just doesn't make any sense.”
    “I know, dear,” Ted said, looking sad. “But sometimes people need justice and that's just the way it is for some things. Right now, you're right that most people are choosing to be very worked up over certain things when they don't have to be worked up at all. But here they are, getting worked into a right rabid froth about something that happened that didn't even really involve them at all.”
    Lisa calmed down gradually. They both sat and tried to eat their lunch, but all either could manage to do was pick a little at their food like there was something wrong with it. Lisa kept looking over the town with tears streaming out of her eyes. She couldn't believe that people were being so vengeful. It hurt her to think that Frank's memory was somehow being used as a catalyst for a manhunt.
    Secretly, in places she would never reveal to Ted, she also blamed herself for Frank's death. No matter how many times she replayed the events in her mind she would never be able to go back and unsleep with Ted or be given a chance to stay at the house instead of leaving to get a shoe for the horse. She realized that it didn't do any good to get down on herself about it. She knew that nothing would bring Frank back, but she still felt guilty.
    “Don't look so sad, sweetheart,” Ted said. “Tomorrow is a new day. We don't really know if all of this fervor to go looking for the boogeyman is really going to hold or just all blow over by the morning. You know how people are sometimes. They are so quick to speak of big, bold plans to do this and that and most of the time it doesn't amount to anything anyway. We both know this. So let's not get upset about it, all right. It doesn't do anyone any good to be