Free OUT OF THE DARKNESS (THE PRESCOTT SERIES) by B. J. McMinn

were use to her husband’s wandering eye, but had every confidence he would never act on his interest.
    At least, t he children were well behaved, and the baby, Emma, was so sweet. Her hand drifted down to her taut stomach swollen with her child. Was her child the results of a liaison with another woman’s husband, a lover, or a husband of her own? Sometimes the vivid image of a young, blond-haired, man would coax its way into the murky edges of her memory, only to dissipate before she recognized him. Who was he? Where was he? Most of all, what was he to her? Brother? Lover? Husband? Her gaze fell to her bare hand clenched in the soft folds of her borrowed gown. No ring and no white line to indicate she’d ever worn one.
    Shadows gathered in the room as she contemplated the mystery of her past. Crawling into bed, she pulled the covers up and tucked them firmly beneath her chin. Not from the cold, but to ward off the darkness that stole over her while she slept.
    Why couldn’t she remember? What had stolen her ability to speak? Fear, stark and vivid swept through her. She wasn’t ready to face the reality of what had happened to her. Not yet. She blinked, trying to fight exhaustion. Darkness would claim her if she closed her eyes. Sleep held the haunting memories she couldn’t remember when awake. Terror rippled between her shoulder blades as the dark shadows stole over her.
    Her wounded spirit hovered between darkness and light. She longed for the voice. Her hand reached out to search for the warm fingers that had held hers the night before. It was her anchor, her lifeline. She whimpered.
    The voice came , and a strong grip curled around her hand as whispers in the night drove her fear away. Taut muscles loosened, her fingers released her death grip on the covers. The soft timbre of the voice soothed her, lulled her, until the darkness held no more specters of a past she couldn’t remember.
    Morning light streamed through the window. Arms stretched over her head, Jade yawned. How long had it been since she’d felt this rested. She climbed out of bed and found a newly hemmed dress at the foot. Someone had placed fresh water in the basin. She washed and dressed quickly.
    She walked silently into the room. Margaret stood at the sink, humming as she washed dishes. Her husband and children were outside somewhere. Jade could hear childish giggles along with male laughter. His laughter was deep, spontaneous.
    Not wanting to disturb the softly murmured hymn, Jade stood quietly and waited for the song to end.
    ~~~
    Margaret turned to wipe off the table. Startled, her hand flew to her chest. The girl stood directly behind her. “My, you gave me a fright.” How do you do that? I never heard a sound.”
    To cover her nervous agitation, she became a flurry of activity, pulling out a chair and retrieving a plate full of hot cakes from the stove.
    “Well, never mind. Sit down and eat. The others are outside enjoying the sunshine.”
    The smile that crossed the girl’s face transformed her into quite a beauty. She was wearing the dress Margaret had laid out for her and her clean coppery red hair was a riotous mass of curls around her face.
    The back door flew open. Tyler and Janey rushed in babbling about a swing Jason had hung in a tree. Jason stood just inside the door, hand stilled on the door handle, Emma clutched in one arm, and his mouth agape.
    Oh. Better and better. “Don’t hover, Jason. Come in and close the door. She just sat down to breakfast.” Margaret tried to ignore the way he appeared glued to the threshold. “You can keep her company while she eats.”
    Two sets of eyes swung her way, one with trepidation , the other with a “What are you trying to pull here” glare.
    “You can ask all those questions you forgot about last night,” Margaret suggested with a knowing grin.
    She lifted Emma from Jason’s arms and took the children to the bedroom for a nap. Moments later, she returned to see a frustrated