Free Simon's Brides by Allison Knight Page A

your sister? Is she missing? And where have you been?” Agatha tapped the index finger of her other hand on her cheek. “I haven’t seen a one of you all day.”
     
    “We went to the cottage to pack our things.” Amy swallowed hard, trying to figure how to get away.
     
    “I must go. Beth is not one to stay by herself.”
     
    She pried Agatha’s hand from her arm, turned and fled back toward the front door, the need for a shawl forgotten in her anxiety. Amy was positive that Beth would never have stayed behind on her own. Something had happened to her sister.
     
    She flew out the door and stopped beside Simon. “I’m going with you.”
     
    “I’m riding. You’ll stay here.”
     
    “Look, Simon,” She turned toward him, “You have no idea where she might be, or who to ask, even where to go.” Her voice shook but she didn’t care. She was too worried about Beth.
     
    “I thought I would start at the cottage,” Simon broke into her thoughts.
     
    “At least I know where she will not be,” Amy reiterated.
     
    “I’d rather you stay here.”
     
    “I’m going, with you or without you. If I must, I’ll walk,” Amy announced. She had no intention of staying behind.
     
    “You’ll have to ride one of the carriage horses.”
     
    “Fine. I can ride one.”
     
    He glared at her for a moment. “Chester,” Simon commanded, “Bring one of the horses.”
     
    “Ain’t no other saddle.”
     
    “Neither of the carriage horses can be saddled. Can you ride without a saddle?” Simon asked.
     
    “Yes, I can ride without one. Just bring the horse,” Amy demanded. She and her sisters had ridden bareback around the estate many times but she decided she didn’t need to mention that to Simon.
     
    As they waited, Simon asked, “By the way, what happened to your father’s stable of horses?”
     
    “Harold sold them and all the tack,” Amy whispered, knowing how much that action had hurt Caro.
     
    He glanced in the direction of the stable, “I might have guessed.”
     
    Simon paced back and forth while they waited.
     
    “First, we check the cottage,” Simon announced as Chester ran forward with the horse. She noticed Simon’s hesitation before he grasped her around the waist and hoisted her onto the back of the horse. She tried not to react, she did, but she shivered as more strange heat coursed through her.
     
    “Amy,” Simon said, “Beth could have sustained a twisted ankle, or something, and is waiting for rescue. Nothing more than a slight accident. She’s intelligent enough to wait for someone to come for her. Don’t worry so.”
     
    Amy swallowed a sigh. He thought she shivered from fear. He didn’t know his touch caused that reaction. And, she wasn’t going to tell him.
     
    Simon mounted his horse and turned toward the cottage path. Amy tried to console herself. If Beth had suffered a twisted ankle, she would be waiting at the cottage. She kept reminding herself Simon had analyzed the situation and made the proper determination. Beth had to be at the cottage awaiting rescue.
     
    As they rode, Simon often glanced at Amy who looked sick with worry. For a brief moment, he wanted to gather her in his arms and assure her nothing had happened to her sister, that Beth would be waiting for them.
     
    He forced himself to dismiss Amy’s concern, certain he had guessed correctly. Beth had only suffered a minor injury and awaited rescue. Certain he had the situation in hand, he turned his thoughts to the fields he’d viewed that morning. The estate was a prosperous place. A feeling he didn’t want to identify, but one similar to pride of possession swept over him. Shocked, he wondered from where that sensation had come. He glanced at his riding companion. Would she be happy caring for the estate and could she do it as well as a man?
     
    The question didn’t surprise him considering the unusual feelings Amy stirred in him. However, the emotions that bothered him more were his