Free Restless Heart by Emma Lang Page A

did you get here?” Jonathan was full of questions, but those two were the ones he simply had to know.
    “We’re here because this is where we stopped, and Godapparently thought it great fun to bring you here as well.” Lettie moved close enough so he could see the sheer fury in her eyes. “I’m here because I got tired of Josiah’s iron fists and the sting of his whip. I’m here because I wanted to live my life without cowering every day, wondering what infraction I might commit to warrant a beating. I’m here because
I
chose to be here and there’s not a damn thing that bastard can do about it.”
    Jonathan knew Josiah was mean, but he’d had no idea how bad it was being married to the man. A whip? Lord have mercy on Lettie and all she’d been through. He couldn’t even think of a single thing to say.
    “You’d best forget what and who you saw here.” Lettie’s statement sounded like a warning.
    “But what about Angeline?” His heart stuttered at the thought of never seeing her beautiful face again. He loved her and wanted her for his first and only wife.
    Lettie shook her head. “You lost her a year ago. A few months after you left, Josiah turned his gaze on her. She became his wife last August.”
    All the blood drained from Jonathan’s face and he staggered beneath the weight of that awful news. “You lie.”
    “I wish I did. That girl, that woman, is one of the strongest people I’ve ever met. She did as she was bid and for her obedience she lived with that monster for two months.” Lettie’s stern expression softened. “Angeline might look as if she would break easily, but she has a backbone of steel. If it weren’t for her, I’d be dead.” Her voice caught on the last word and she sucked in a shaky breath.
    Jonathan felt as if someone had kicked him square in the chest. His heart clenched so tightly he almost stopped breathing. Josiah had taken Angeline to wife? Josiah knew how much she and Jonathan loved each other. How could he? To know his beautiful Angeline had lain beneath the old man made his stomach turn.
    “You ran.”
    “No, we took our freedom and left. Josiah doesn’t give up what he covets though. He’s already sent one killer after us.” Lettie narrowed her gaze. “If you tell him where you saw us, she’s as good as dead. The only reason Angeline’s alive is because of Eliza. She followed the bounty hunter sent to kill us and stopped him when he had a gun to Angeline’s head. Do you understand what I’m telling you? Josiah tried to have us killed because we left the prison he called marriage.”
    Jonathan managed to make it to the steps of the hotel before he vomited in the bushes. What Lettie had told him couldn’t possibly be true. Yet it appeared the two women were there in a small town in Wyoming, unprotected and alone. He took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his mouth while he shook like a newborn calf.
    When he straightened up, Lettie was standing by his horse. Waiting.
    “I must speak to her.”
    “I don’t think that’s a good idea. She’s been on her own for nearly a year. Angeline is not the same girl you knew.”
    A year?
    “I still need to speak to her. Lettie, please, I love her. I can’t simply walk away and never see her again.” Jonathan couldn’t believe he was begging. “Please.”
    “In the morning then. Get yourself cleaned up and get some sleep. Your clothes could use a good brushing too.” Lettie gestured to the building behind him. “The hotel is a nice one. You’ll find everything you need.”
    He wasn’t happy with waiting to speak to her, but judging by the expression on Lettie’s face, he had no choice. She might just shoot him down if he tried to speak to Angeline before the morning. Lettie was one tough, cool, unmovable force.
    “Fine then, in the morning.” He stood, not surprised to feel weak in the knees. “Where should I meet you?”
    “Come to the restaurant across the street at six. I’ll be waiting