Free Rogue Love by Ophelia Grey Page B

yard, but things were tight ever since Sarah had to have an emergency appendectomy last year.
    “Girls, please set the table while I get dinner fixed,” mother called out as she walked into the kitchen. Sarah and I were just about the sink onto the couch for a moment of relaxation and respite from the heat, but we both jumped up and hurried into the kitchen to grab the dishes.
    Once we had set the table, the whole family sat down for grace. Our father started us off like usual, thanking God for all the blessings in our lives. I bowed my head and listened quietly.
    “And finally, thank you Lord for two godly daughters who follow your word. We pray for the Martins and their wayward girl.”
    I stiffened as he finished grace and mother started to ladle food onto all of our plates. I knew that many people in town were gossiping about my best friend, but I thought my parents would be different. They knew that we had been like sisters growing up and that Grace was a kind and intelligent young woman.
    I pushed my meat and vegetable around my plate, finding that I had absolutely no appetite. The mixture of the heat and my repressed anger at everyone turning their backs on my best friend turned my stomach.
    “Father, you have known Grace her whole life. Do you really think she is a bad person?” I asked carefully, looking up at him as he carefully chewed a piece of roast.
    “The devil can find his way through any crack in godliness,” my father said, finally swallowing his food. “Grace opened the way for him. I know she was your friend, but you need to forget about that now. She is no longer who she used to be.” He nodded decisively, picking up another forkful of food. My mother and sister carefully avoided my eyes and picked at their own plates.
    “I’m not feeling well. May I be excused? I think some fresh air would help.” I jumped up and pushed my chair in, rushing out of the room before I could say anything I would regret.
    “Mary!” I heard my mother call out, but the door slammed behind me and I started running down the long dirt road.

 
    Ch apter 2:
     
    I stopped running when my lungs started to ache. In truth, I wasn’t much of an athlete. I never had been, despite my long, lanky l egs. I trudged along the road until I reached the end of the main stretch and then turned left to wards the river for which our town was named. Evening was starting to fall and the repressive heat had finally subsided into a warm breeze.
    I reached the edge of the river and realized there was nowhere else for me to go. Mercy River was small, just like the town. It was also an ugly, muddy brown and smelled a bit like sulfur. Nevertheless, it was somehow peaceful to sit on the grassy bank and stare out over the water, pretending that I was sitting on the edge of an ocean.
    I was pulled out of my reverie by the roar of an engine approaching on the small dirt road. I jumped up and shaded my eyes with my hand, but all I could see at first was a small cloud of dust approaching me.
    It wasn’t until he was almost on top of me that I realized it was a muscular, tattooed man on a motorcycle. He pulled up right in front of me, planting his feet on the ground in a seamless dismount that was strangely graceful for a man of his hulking stature.
    I stared at him, not sure if I should be afraid. He looked like something that should scare me. The man was tall and broad chested, with tattoos snaking up his arms into the fitter black t-shirt that stretched around his biceps. His jeans and boots looked worn and dirty, but his hair looked freshly washed. It was a dark, luscious brown and fell in long locks into his piercing eyes. Once I looked at them, I couldn’t tear my gaze from his eyes. They were a pale blue, somehow piercingly sharp but also soft and sweet all at once. I couldn’t look away.
    “Hi there,” his smooth, deep voice intoned. “Sorry if my bike startled you. Are you from around here?”
    I stepped backwards, my head suddenly