The fleeting look in Hart’s eyes made Zelly wonder if he felt actual regret when he pulled away from her. His look gave her a warm feeling inside and she felt almost valuable.
Now, however, she had no time to think about that. Ma’am dragged her toward the edge of the dance floor. “Please Ma’am. Let me say goodbye to Rebecca and her new husband. I’ll just be…”
Ma’am gave a sort of growl in response. The few remaining dancers, who hadn’t already halted at the scene Ma’am created, stopped abruptly.
Hart followed after them, asking permission to see them both home. The woman didn’t spare a glance in Hart’s direction or respond to him.
Zelly’s gaze met Mrs. Hoffman’s. She hurried forward with a conciliatory look on her face. “Ada, I didn’t think you would make it to celebrate with us. Please, let me fetch you a piece of…”
Ma’am neither stopped nor responded, but that didn’t surprise Zelly. She honestly believed that Ma’am hated the entire human race.
Before leaving the barn, Zelly managed a hesitant glance over her shoulder to assure herself that Ram hadn’t seen. With her last look through the door, she caught sight of the nasty man staring after her. He’d thrown his head backward, laughing uproariously.
Ma’am’s actions had merely frightened her. Her enemy’s expression, however, brought on a storm of tears.
To Hart, it seemed like a week of silence passed before the musicians began to play again. Couples moved back onto the dance floor.
Though he saw several people shake their heads in disapproval, he didn’t believe that anyone was shocked by Ada Fuller’s antisocial behavior. After all, everyone in Idyll Wood knew she was a cross old stick.
Hart watched David comfort Rebecca. He, however, stood alone and bereft, gazing out the barn door into the night. Even though he was upset, he still had a difficult time not staring at Zelly’s sweet back end as her mother pulled her out into the field they needed to cross.
Finally, he knew what it was like to touch her. Zelly had been in his arms. Having her pulled away from him produced actual pain.
For the last five years at least, he had been keenly aware of her. He watched Zelly during her visits and listened to her stand up for Rebecca when the Hoffman boys teased her. He loved that she was so loyal.
She must be loyal to stay with her witch of a mother.
How can I help her? His hopes for a wife and family were centered, illogically, around that poor broken girl.
He walked to Rebecca’s side and placed a comforting hand on her arm. “Don’t be afraid for her, Rebecca. She won’t be alone after you leave.”
Releasing a combined sob and sigh, she shook her head. “What will happen to her? She’ll be trapped forever in that house?”
With that, she laid her head onto David’s shoulder. Her face showed weariness from the horrendous scene and the excitement of the wedding day.
But he didn’t share her discouragement. “Rebecca, your leaving might be the best thing. Without you in town, I’ll get a chance to get closer to Zelly.
“But Hart, she won’t leave that wicked mother of hers. It’s like she holds some secret over her.”
Hart smiled. He thought his smile probably made no sense to her. Still he was hopeful.
“Some secrets just have to come out for things to get better.” He felt anticipation at finding out Zelly’s secret and freeing her.
Seeing the forgotten bouquet on a nearby table, he picked it up and fingered one of the roses absently. “Your parents might not agree with me, but I think it’s time for some of Idyll Wood’s dark secrets to be revealed.”
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About Marisa
Marisa Masterson and her husband of thirty years reside in Saginaw, Michigan. They have two grown children, one son-in-law, a grandchild on the way, and one old and lazy dog.
She is a retired high school English teacher and oversaw a high school writing center in partnership with the local university. In addition, she is a National Writing Project fellow.
Focusing on her home state of Wisconsin, she writes sweet historical romance. Growing up, she loved hearing stories about her family pioneering in that state. Those stories, in part, are what inspired her to begin writing.
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A Shadowed Groom for Christmas
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are all products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to persons, organizations, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
The book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. All rights are reserved with the exceptions of quotes used in reviews. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage system without express written permission from the author.
Scriptures quoted from the King James Holy Bible.
A Shadowed Groom for Christmas
©2019 Marisa Masterson
Cover Design by Virginia McKevitt
http://www.virginiamckevitt.com
Editing by Amy Petrowich
A Shadowed Groom For Christmas (Spinster Mail-Order Brides Book 6) Page 8
