Free Amon by Kit Morgan

accusation.
    Newton rolled his eyes at her. “It wouldn’t have been proper for the two of you to start courting this very minute. A man needs time to think about these things.”
    “Think about things?” she said with a laugh. “What has he got to think about?”
    “Clearly, dear sister, you know nothing of the opposite sex.”
    “I know what it’s like to empty their chamber pots, cook for them, clean for them, serve them, do their laundry, start the fires in their houses for them …”
    “… but this isn’t like that. You’re not trading our grandfather for this man. Mr. Cotter wants to marry you.” He leaned toward her in his chair. “Give the gentleman a chance to prove his worth.”
    “Prove his worth? What are you talking about?”
    He sat back with a heavy sigh. “Egads. You really don’t know, do you?”
    “Know what?”
    “Men want to be able to woo a woman, to prove to her that he’s worthy of her love.”
    Nettie sat and gave him a blank stare. “What have you been reading lately?”
    “You may not have paid attention to those around you growing up, but I did. I’ve seen with my own eyes what it’s like between a man and a woman, how a man vies for a woman’s attention. Or the other way around.”
    “Did you?” she asked incredulously. “What were you doing? Peeking through windows?”
    “I did nothing of the kind and you know it!” Newton shot back, annoyed.
    Nettie giggled. “I suppose you’re referring to old Mr. Thompkins and Miss Bundy.”
    Now it was Newton’s turn to be amused. “Yes, yes I am. Mr. Thompkins did everything in his power to woo that woman. It was a miracle she finally gave in.”
    “ Gave in ? Did she pity him, then?”
    “On the contrary, it became a great game between the two of them. I think she was tired of spending her nights alone and wanted his company all the time. So she married him.”
    “I’ll play no such games with Mr. Cotter,” Nettie stated matter-of-factly.
    “I don’t expect you to. What I do expect is for you to remain a lady and not drive him away.”
    Nettie set up in her chair. “I’ll do no such thing!”
    “Won’t you?” he asked, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
    “Of course not … I … well …” she stammered. “If you’re referring to Benjamin Hopkins …”
    “I am. He too would have made you a fine husband, but then you had to go and chase him off.”
    “He left of his own accord, I had nothing to do with it,” she said innocently.
    Newton raised an accusing eyebrow at her. “Didn’t you?”
    “Oh, enough about Benjamin Hopkins. This is about Mr. Cotter.” She looked away. She wiped her palms on her skirt a few times before turning back to him. “I’m frightened, you know,” she said softly.
    Newton leaned forward and put a hand on her knee. “I know. But I’ll be at your side as often as I can.”
    “You do that and Mr. Cotter might not be as inclined to win my affections. Especially if you’re wearing a pistol.”
    Newton sat back with a quiet laugh. Ever since they’d left England, he’d hardly been without one. He was also a very good shot. “I’ll keep it hidden under my coat, then.”
    Nettie sighed once more. “Oh Newt, how did it come to this? Here we are in a tiny little town in the middle of nowhere on the other side of the world because … because …”
    “Because I love you,” he said, his voice gentle. “Because I couldn’t stand by and watch the Baron marry you off to some … someone like that Mr. Moresy. And he’d have done it too, if only to get you out from under his roof.”
    “To get the scandal away from him,” she said, her voice trailing off.
    “We’ll make the best of this, sister, you’ll see. This isn’t hidebound old England. Remember what that fellow on the ship said – America is the land of opportunity!”
    “Yes, I remember.” Suddenly her head shot up. “But after… after I’m married, what will you do?”
    He shrugged. “Find an opportunity of