Free Sweet Forever by Ramona K. Cecil Page B

him. This was what she’d wanted. The moment she’d dreamed of for so long—to melt in the embrace of her angel’s arms.
    “Rosaleen,” he murmured, sounding as breathless as she felt. The stubble of his unshaven chin prickled against her cheek as he nudged her face back. For a moment, their gaze held. Then, as his eyes closed and his face lowered, their lips met.
    Feeling as limp as a rag doll, Rosaleen luxuriated in the kiss, glad that Jacob’s strong arms supported her, holding her tight.
    The sudden realization of what was happening jolted her from the beautiful trance. She pushed away from him, tears of regret stinging her eyes.
    Rosaleen felt wretched. How could she do this to Sophie? Sweet, naive little Sophie. Jacob deserved better. He deserved someone like Sophie. “We—we mustn’t.” Filled with panic and disgust, she stumbled away from him toward the front steps.
    “Rosaleen, I—I never meant. . .”
    Disregarding the look of bewildered pain in his blue eyes, Rosaleen fled down the steps and ran sobbing across town until she reached the boardinghouse.
    Trembling at the backyard pump, she washed the tears from her face. How could she have allowed such a thing to happen? Her heart sank at the awful truth.
    Reverend Maguire was right. I am evil.
    Her resolve stiffened. She must leave Madison as soon as possible.
    Glad to find Opal and Patsey gone from the kitchen, Rosaleen headed for the stairs. Still shaking, she sought the solitude of her little attic room.
    Just as her foot touched the first step, she heard a sharp rap at the front door. With a sigh, she trudged across the front hallway in no mood to greet new boarders with a cheerful smile.
    She swung the door open and stood, stunned.

Ten
    “Alistair?” The name burst from Rosaleen’s lips as she stood staring wide-eyed at Alistair “The Earl” Ralston.
    She’d known the accomplished young thimblerigger and three-card-monte sharp most of her life. Continually moving from one riverboat to another, she and her father had crossed paths with Alistair many times.
    The puzzled look on the man’s face changed to joyful surprise as recognition flickered in his eyes. “Rosaleen? Rosaleen Maguire, is it really you?”
    Rosaleen managed to nod.
    He grinned, showing off his gold front tooth. “Well, as I live and breathe! If it ain’t our own little Rosaleen, all growed up. Ain’t ya gonna invite me in? That is, if you have a room to rent.”
    “Yes—yes, we do.” Still reeling from the surprise, Rosaleen stepped aside to allow Alistair into the front hallway.
    His gaze seemed to sweep the little hallway, taking in its gold and white patterned wallpaper, mahogany table with a pair of Aragon lamps, and floral ingrained carpet. “Not bad.” He gave her a wink. “Nice as any of old Vanderbilt’s steamboats.” His grin faded, and he pulled his black beaver hat from his wavy auburn hair. His gray eyes held a look of genuine sympathy. “Heard about your dad sometime back. Real sorry. Heard you went to live with relations or somethin’.”
    “Something like that.” She questioned the wisdom of telling Alistair too much. Had he learned of her time with Bill McGurty? If he had, he’d chosen to pretend otherwise. Alistair would know as well as anyone that few crossed Black Jack Bill McGurty and lived.
    “Little Rosaleen.” Smiling, he shook his head in disbelief. “You’ve grown into a beauty, and that’s a fact.” Though his gaze roved over her, it caused her no unease. His benign assessment of her seemed to convey only a brotherly pride.
    Rosaleen had to admit that the six-foot-tall Alistair cut a handsome figure in his dark green broadcloth coat and black tapered trousers. He held out his arms. “How about a kiss for an old friend?”
    Before she could protest, Alistair caught her up in a bay-rum-scented bear hug. Lifting her feet off the floor, he planted a wet kiss on her mouth.
    “Rosaleen, I came as soon as I got the chance. We need