 | MAGGIE'S SONG Texas Brides of Pike's Run Series Book 13 Historical Western Romance In the dead of night, Maggie Nelson flees New Orleans with her five-year old daughter, Iris. Maggie can’t live with her abusive husband any longer and seeks safety in the home and arms of her aunt, Aletta Williamson in Bordersville, near Pike’s Run, Texas. When she arrives, surprising her dear aunt, Maggie tells her Haywood died. She is too ashamed to tell the truth about her marriage. Pete Jerkin, the town blacksmith and livery operator, is a leader in Bordersville. He is taken by Maggie and Iris, especially since the child doesn’t fear him. With his large stature, he usually puts off females and children. As Iris tugs on his heartstrings, his gaze strays to the lovely Maggie. But he’s promised himself he wouldn’t ever court a woman. Not again. However, love is sneaky, and Pete can’t help himself. Neither can Maggie. As the weeks pass, she grows more scared each day that Pete will learn the truth about her husband, that Haywood will come knocking. And ruin everything. PURCHASE MAGGIE'S SONG |
MAGGIE'S SONG
The memory of his arms around her came back like a speeding train. His strength, his solid but gentle hold had melted her, made her yearn like she never had before. His embrace had been the haven she’d searched for, the home she’d always wanted.
How had this happened? How?
And how could she have encouraged him? She had no business letting him believe she was available, no right to engage his affections. She was a cruel, cruel person.
She opened her eyes at the sound of slow, heavy footsteps on the road. A lump formed at the base of her throat, and she knew Pete walked down the lane. She had to apologize. And…explain. Oh, God.
Before she could lose her nerve, she hurried around the side of the house.
He drew up short when he saw her, the lines of his face filled with caution, with confusion.
“Hello,” she rasped.
He swallowed and nodded.
What had she done to him? How could she have upset this wonderful man? She simply had to apologize. “May I speak with you?” Her tone grated with pain.
Worry flashed in his eyes, and perhaps a little fear, but he followed her when she turned to go behind the house.
What to say? What to tell him? The truth. It had to be the truth. Would he keep her secret? Would he understand? Would he…be hurt?
With her hands clenched into fists, she stopped near the laundry line and looked at him. He stood several paces away, his arms loose at his sides. Those strong and powerful arms had held her, sheltered her, given her feelings she’d never believed she’d have again.
Why had she allowed this to happen? Even if she hadn’t hurt him, she had hurt herself. Perhaps this was her penance—finding a man who might be all she’d ever wanted but couldn’t have.
She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”
His face softened.
“I shouldn’t have run away.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but she held up a hand, stopping him.
“I also…shouldn’t have…gone to the creek with you.”
Questions rose in his eyes. And sadness. He looked like a lost puppy. Oh, what had she done?
“Why not?” he murmured, hesitant.
“Because I…I’m not a-available. For c-courting.”
His shoulders slumped, and he lowered his lashes.
A rip rent her heart. Tell the truth. Tell him why. Tell him you want to be with him, to get to know him, to kiss him a second time. And a third.
But she kept quiet, fear making it impossible to find any ounce of courage. For while he deserved to know her reasons behind her explanation, she had a greater obligation to Iris. Bordersville was the perfect place for Iris, and Pete might not keep her secret, and the people might turn away from Maggie when he told them she was married. She couldn’t risk it.
“I guess it’s too soon for you,” he ground out with his gaze still on his boots.
“Y-Yes. I…” But she couldn’t say anymore. The lies twisted in her stomach, making bile burn at the base of her throat.
He lifted his head and forced a small smile. “I understand, Maggie. We can still be friends, though, can’t we?”
His sweetness made the tear in her heart widen. “I’d like that,” she managed to respond through the sobs threatening to choke her.
He hooked his thumbs around his suspenders and pulled them close together, making the muscles in his arms and chest bunch. “All right then. I guess I’ll head on home. See you tomorrow night?”
She nodded, unable to speak for the tears welling inside.
After a dejected tip of his hat in goodbye, he left the yard, and he was unaware that he took her dreams, her wishes and her heart with him.
The memory of his arms around her came back like a speeding train. His strength, his solid but gentle hold had melted her, made her yearn like she never had before. His embrace had been the haven she’d searched for, the home she’d always wanted.
How had this happened? How?
And how could she have encouraged him? She had no business letting him believe she was available, no right to engage his affections. She was a cruel, cruel person.
She opened her eyes at the sound of slow, heavy footsteps on the road. A lump formed at the base of her throat, and she knew Pete walked down the lane. She had to apologize. And…explain. Oh, God.
Before she could lose her nerve, she hurried around the side of the house.
He drew up short when he saw her, the lines of his face filled with caution, with confusion.
“Hello,” she rasped.
He swallowed and nodded.
What had she done to him? How could she have upset this wonderful man? She simply had to apologize. “May I speak with you?” Her tone grated with pain.
Worry flashed in his eyes, and perhaps a little fear, but he followed her when she turned to go behind the house.
What to say? What to tell him? The truth. It had to be the truth. Would he keep her secret? Would he understand? Would he…be hurt?
With her hands clenched into fists, she stopped near the laundry line and looked at him. He stood several paces away, his arms loose at his sides. Those strong and powerful arms had held her, sheltered her, given her feelings she’d never believed she’d have again.
Why had she allowed this to happen? Even if she hadn’t hurt him, she had hurt herself. Perhaps this was her penance—finding a man who might be all she’d ever wanted but couldn’t have.
She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”
His face softened.
“I shouldn’t have run away.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but she held up a hand, stopping him.
“I also…shouldn’t have…gone to the creek with you.”
Questions rose in his eyes. And sadness. He looked like a lost puppy. Oh, what had she done?
“Why not?” he murmured, hesitant.
“Because I…I’m not a-available. For c-courting.”
His shoulders slumped, and he lowered his lashes.
A rip rent her heart. Tell the truth. Tell him why. Tell him you want to be with him, to get to know him, to kiss him a second time. And a third.
But she kept quiet, fear making it impossible to find any ounce of courage. For while he deserved to know her reasons behind her explanation, she had a greater obligation to Iris. Bordersville was the perfect place for Iris, and Pete might not keep her secret, and the people might turn away from Maggie when he told them she was married. She couldn’t risk it.
“I guess it’s too soon for you,” he ground out with his gaze still on his boots.
“Y-Yes. I…” But she couldn’t say anymore. The lies twisted in her stomach, making bile burn at the base of her throat.
He lifted his head and forced a small smile. “I understand, Maggie. We can still be friends, though, can’t we?”
His sweetness made the tear in her heart widen. “I’d like that,” she managed to respond through the sobs threatening to choke her.
He hooked his thumbs around his suspenders and pulled them close together, making the muscles in his arms and chest bunch. “All right then. I guess I’ll head on home. See you tomorrow night?”
She nodded, unable to speak for the tears welling inside.
After a dejected tip of his hat in goodbye, he left the yard, and he was unaware that he took her dreams, her wishes and her heart with him.
REVIEWS FOR MAGGIE'S SONG
"This is a great story. Comfort and family at its best despite the villain. The song created by Pete and Maggie speaks volumes for community and family."
-- Amazon Reviewer
-- Amazon Reviewer
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