Free Tracie Peterson by Forever Yours-1

told, not because she felt overly obedient, but because she was a coward. She had no desire to hear the things her father would no doubt have to say to her husband. “Why, God?” she prayed aloud. “Why couldn’t I have just done things the right way?”
    In only a matter of minutes, angry voices rang loud and clear. Daughtry tried to cover her ears, not wanting to know what was said. What if her father said something really ugly? What if Nicholas refused to let them see her?
    Daughtry started to pace. A part of her was certain that she should go outside and try to smooth over the situation. Maybe once her father saw how happy she had become and how wonderful Nicholas truly was, he’d let things be and go back home.
    She reached for the door, just as things quieted considerably. A horse whinnied nervously, and Daughtry pulled back. Nicholas had told her to wait inside. She at least had to show him that she could follow his instructions. She might have misled him regarding her family, but that was all behind her now and she wanted to be a good wife.
    Just as she’d convinced herself that everything was going to be all right, shots rang out, and Daughtry felt her knees turn to jelly.
    “They’ve killed each other!” she gasped and ran to the window.
    Outside, two men lay on the ground holding their bleeding arms, while one man remained on his horse with his hands raised high in the air. Daughtry didn’t recognize any of them. She breathed a sigh of relief and turned her attention to her husband.
    Nicholas stood with his feet fixed and a rifle leveled at the third man. The rage in his face was terrifying, and Daughtry saw blind hatred in his eyes. She stared at her husband’s face and thought, Who is this man? He certainly didn’t resemble the gentle one she’d married. Daughtry clutched her apron to her mouth to keep from screaming.
    Her mind whirled. Who were these men and why had Nicholas shot them? Furthermore, where had he gotten the rifle to do the deed? She’d never seen a gun of any kind on the grounds, although she wouldn’t have been surprised had there been one.
    Staring at the scene outside her house, Daughtry couldn’t hear a word that was being said. She watched the third man dismount from his horse and stare down the barrel of Nicholas’s rifle. She couldn’t watch anymore.
    Daughtry moved to the far end of the house and cowered in the corner. She was wavering between tears and out-and-out hysteria. The more she thought about the scene, the more frightened she felt. A nervous laugh escaped her as she shook her head. Had Nicholas killed the two men? She sobbed and drew a ragged breath. Suddenly, she felt more terrified than she’d ever been in her life. She would have gladly welcomed the sight of her father and brothers at that moment, but she knew she could hope for no such reprieve.
    The kitchen door banged, and Daughtry knew someone had come into the house. Trembling, she backed into the corner even tighter.
    “Daughtry!” Nicholas called out to her as he moved from room to room. “Daughtry, where are you?” His voice sounded worried, almost panicked.
    When he came into the front room, he sighed when he saw her. “Why didn’t you answer me? Are you okay?”
    Daughtry couldn’t say a word. She stared at him, trying to force herself to calm down. It was an impossible task.
    “Daughtry, come here, Honey. It’s all right now.”
    Daughtry shook her head, not really seeing him. She saw instead the man who’d held the rifle in black rage. She saw a killer in her mind and felt her breath quicken.
    Nicholas stepped forward with his arms extended. When he came to her, Nicholas reached out his hands to pull her into his arms. Daughtry went wild.
    “No!” she screamed and fought his grasp. “Don’t touch me!” She doubled up her fists and flailed them in the air at his face and chest.
    With stunned realization, Nicholas understood that Daughtry was terrified of him, not the men he’d tied