by Lauren Wood
She wistfully thought about what Elizabeth’s life must be like on the outside. Was it fun? Could she ever do it? There were so many things she was beginning to wish she had experienced during rumspringa. But the truth was that she would never have done anything that she thought her parents might find out about later. She liked them to look at her with pride.
For that reason she hadn’t gone on rumspringa but for a few days. But when she had come back only her parents had known. She had asked them to just allow her to let everyone think that she had been gone.
They hadn’t understood her reasons for it. But she had known. She didn’t want Elizabeth to be right about her. Of course her and Elizabeth had planned to do all sorts of things together on rumspringa. But as the time had gotten closer Sara was more nervous about the adventure. She didn’t say anything to Elizabeth though, and just acted like she was excited. Sara had hoped once they were in town she would become excited about the prospect.
However, after they had gotten to town, Sara found that she was too nervous. Elizabeth had talked her to at least going to a bar for a drink. Sara had felt guilty the whole time; she had taken a small sip of the alcohol. The only reason had been because Elizabeth had been watching her so closely.
Sara had excused herself saying she hadn’t felt well. Elizabeth had stayed in the bar. When Sara had woken up the next morning, Elizabeth still wasn’t back. She had been scared, thinking perhaps Elizabeth had been killed.
A few minutes later when Elizabeth came in, Sara had first hugged her friend, but then became angry.
“Do you have any idea how worried I was about you?” Sara had asked.
“Look if I wanted my parents here with me, I would have stayed at home. I think I’m going to get my own room, or maybe stay with a friend. Your just a chicken and you won’t do a thing, you’ll probably turn and run back to the community once I leave.” Elizabeth had said.
So as far as Elizabeth had known Sara might have stayed. Even though after that night their relationship had never been the same; Sara had still stood up for her friend.
The truth was she had honestly believed Elizabeth’s story about Seth raping her. Why would her friend lie to her? When all this started her parents died so suddenly, they couldn’t share the truth about what they also knew. Sara had been telling the truth when she hadn’t been with Elizabeth.
Well there was nothing she could do about that now, why focus on it?
Ben on the other hand, she had to get these feelings under control. If she kissed him, and anyone found out, she would be banished for sure.
Though she was curious about the outside, she feared it more. She didn’t think she would have a chance to survive. Most likely she would end up like those destitute women she had heard the old ladies talk about. “All women who are banished end up on the streets selling their body, they have no hope of any redemption.” Sara had heard more than one time.
“I can’t allow that to happen.” She cried. “I will be strong; I will not allow these thoughts to come into my mind again. He’s a movie star, he’ll be gone soon, and I’ll go back to my normal outcast life.” She pepped herself up before she went to collect the eggs outside.
She opened the door and began to make her way to the hen house. She sees him walk around the corner of the hen house; he’s collected the eggs already. Sara feels her resolve melt instantly. I wish he would have kissed me; she thinks and smiles to herself.
Chapter Eight
“Hey how are you feeling?” He asked her.
“I’m okay, thanks for getting the eggs.”
“It wasn’t a problem. I’m trying to pull my full share now. A decent woman once told me I was lazy. I listened and wanted to prove to her that I wasn’t.” He smiled at her.
Sara looked down at the ground quickly, her heart fluttered. “I have to go into the market, your welcome to come if you want.”
The truth was she was sure it was a bad idea to invite him. She would explain to him on the way into town that he would see a few things he might not like. But he needed to just ignore it all.
“Sure sounds fun.” He said. “Let me just put these eggs in the house.”
She watched him run into the house. Would he be worth leaving this life for? She thought it and then remembered his words, how much he didn’t want to be married. So why would he want to marry her? Sara laughed at herself. Her flight of fancy had made her realize just how far out of her league Ben really was.
As they headed to the market, Sara broached the subject lightly. “So when we get to market there may be a few people there who don’t like me much.”
“What do you mean?” He asked.
“They think that I should have been banished with Elizabeth. None of them know that I came back home early. The only two people who knew that are dead now.” She explained.
“Okay so they think you should have been banished, the hell with them.” Ben said.
“Ben please don’t say that.” She said quickly.
“Oh I’m sorry.” He watched the scenery go by.
As soon as they got to the market the trouble started. “Whore.” An old man walked passed her and said.
Ben looked at her quickly and asked, “Did he call you what I think he did?”
“I didn’t hear anything.” She lied.
“Well I heard it clearly.” Ben muttered. “If anyone else says something like that I’ll make them pay for it.”
“Please Ben don’t, you’ll only make more problems for me.” Sara pleaded with him.
“Fine, but only because of that, trust me I’ll be thinking of doing it.” Ben said his teeth clenched tightly together.
“You are a whore; you should have been kicked out with her.” And young man came and stood in front of Sara. Ben was okay, until the man spit on her.
He drew back his arm and connected square with the man’s jaw.
“Ben don’t stop please. Get off of him; he has a reason to be mad.” He could hear her yelling, but didn’t want to stop hitting the man.
“Hey look that’s Ben North!” He hears a scream coming from his side.
“Where?” Ben hears someone else.
“Over there, fighting that Amish guy.”
Ben stopped immediately. He stood up and looked around.
“Hey your right, Mr. North can I get your autograph.” Ben hears as the people swallow him up.
He tries to find Sara and spots her for a minute, and sees the Amish who are standing around her. Their looks are unmistakable, she’s crossed the line, and they will make sure she pays.
Ben tries to push out of the crowd, “Come on folks I have to get through. I’m sorry I can’t sign any autographs right now.” When he’s on the other side, he sees the carriage going as Sara runs away.
Chapter Nine
Sara slowly makes her way back home. She had been mortified that she would be banished. However, she had stopped at her grandpa’s home and talked to him. She had told him about everything, and he had assured her that he would see she could stay. She had felt so happy, like her prayers had been answered.
She sees Ben watching her approach as she draws the buggy up to the barn.
“Look I’m sorry about today; I know I’ve made it so awkward for you. What can I do to fix it?” He had covered the space so quickly, she jumped when he talked.
“My grandpa said it will be okay. Some of me is sad about that though. However, I can’t leave because of the kids. I’ve never felt like I fit in her anyway. It just proves to me more than ever after today. Even if he has talked them into it, that doesn’t mean they’ll be any nicer to me.”
“What about when the kids are old enough to move out? Would you move out of the community after that?” He asked. Ben wasn’t sure why he wanted her to say yes, but his heart felt like it was on fire as he waited.
“Yes I would.” Sara answered.
Ben couldn’t hold himself back; he covered her mouth with his. It started as a light kiss, but soon deepe
ned. He felt rocked when he stepped back. He’d never felt that way from a kiss in his life.
Sara looked up at him. “You can’t stay, there is no reason, and we would only be tortured.”
Ben wanted to argue, but he knew she was right. He wanted to kiss her again and do much more with her. He shrugged his shoulders and walked away from her.
Sara felt like she would break down as he left. Her knees were going to buckle. She made her way back to the house after he was gone. She couldn’t bear to have been there when he had his suitcase in hand.
Maybe they would see each other again one day, but she didn’t know. If she had been hoping anymore to hear the words, she might have asked him. “Ben can I come stay with you when the kids leave?” But she hadn’t said it. She had wanted him to ask her.
But how could she expect that from him, he didn’t want long-term. He would surely go back to LA and forget she even exists. Sara felt like she was going to cry.
Finally making it to the house she went to her room and crumpled on the bed. Now she let the tears come freely and she did. Her sobs came in loud sounds from deep inside of her.
Chapter Ten
Ben had left Lancaster what seemed like ages ago now. He had gone straight to the ranch that was now all his. This had been his first visit in years though, and he saw how run down the house had been.
He spent any free time he had at the farm house fixing it up. He had plans to be in this house soon, and hopefully Sara would be with him. There hadn’t been a day that passed that she wasn’t on his mind.
He woke up in the morning and thought of her. He pictured Sara as the woman who he was playing opposite in the movie. On screen it had been pure magic.
The Oscar was his almost before the movie was even in the can. The talk had been all about how Ben North had pulled off an amazing drama role. He had even seen one review, after the movie was out, that said, “If I didn’t know better I would swear Ben North used to be Amish.”
Tonight was the big of the event, and his nerves were up high. Even though he had almost been assured the win was his, he still wondered if he would win.
Ben wished that Sara could be by his side for the event. He wanted everyone to know who had truly inspired his performance. He knew how true it was.
During the filming he had pictured Sara and how he would feel being betrayed by her. His heart had felt like it was ripped apart while they were filming the scene of his breakdown. Not a tear had been left dry after he was done with the scene. It had taken the director several minutes before he could even call cut to the scene.
Ben thought at that moment that he deserved the Oscar. He hoped everyone else had the same experience when they had watched the movie.
He walked into the event, several cameras flashed in his eyes.
“Mr. North, do you think you’ll win tonight?” He heard a reporter call out to him.
“I’ll win if God is willing!” Ben smiled and moved on.
He hated all the glitz and glamor now, he had once loved it so much. Now he couldn’t wait for this to be over and be back in Texas. He wondered how the world would feel when they heard Ben North was retiring?
Ben would do that for her. He wanted to spend his time with her. So if she did come, he would spend his days with her.
“The Winner for Actor of the Year is, Ben North, for his work in Amish Love.” He heard announced and stood up automatically.
He got to the podium and cleared his throat. “I’d like to thank you all for this award. To the director and all the other people who helped me do so well in this role. The biggest thanks though goes to a woman who will never hear this speech, Sara Albright. She was my in to the Amish community, she taught me many things. She was my inspiration for this film, and thanks to her, I played a tremendous role.” He finished and the room exploded in applauds.
Ben left early, skipping the after party. He didn’t want any questions; he simply wanted to escape to Texas and work. He had sent a letter out yesterday to Sara. He wondered if she had received it yet.
**
Sara wondered every day what was up with Ben. She had now had to resort to having Sally and Henry go to market. Her tainting hadn’t rubbed off on them. She was trying to distance them from her as much as she could.
Sara had been pushing them out the door more and more lately. Telling them to go and mingle. She thought it was working out well, she had heard Henry talking about one of the young girls.
Soon he would be proposing to her. She could hope that she said yes, that would be one sibling out of the door.
Sally would take a bit longer. She was quite shy and wouldn’t talk to many of the young men who approached her. Maybe her grandpa would speed up the process, she could hope.
Today had been the second time she had sent them to the market together. She had no choice. She had tried to go and had found that all of the Amish let her know just how lucky she was, who her grandpa was. They suggested that she not show up at the market again, or she might not make it back. She could feel the anger coming from them, and was sure they saw it as justice from God. Sara had gone home quickly, shaken to the core by the whole thing.
The next market she had convinced Henry and Sally they should go by themselves. They had sold a bit of the food they had taken along. Sara hoped this was a good sign that they were more accepted.
“I hope they don’t turn against them too. Please God if you’ve ever done me a favor this would be the one I want the most.” She prayed allowed.
For what seemed like the hundredth time of the day she wondered what Ben was doing right now. She wondered how many girls he had bedded since he’d been back in LA.
As if a sign from God, she opened the mail box and found a letter from Ben. She held it to her heart for a second, and then quickly ripped the letter open.
My dearest Sara,
I hope this finds you well. I’ve thought about you every day since I’ve left. I don’t know how close you are to having the children out of the house, but please find these tickets for a bus trip to Texas. I went there when I first left Lancaster, and have since been fixing up my childhood home. I would love if you come to live with me here. I want to have you in my life and only you Sara. These tickets can be used whenever you are ready, I’ll be waiting! Just call me from Amarillo and I’ll come and pick you up right away.
All my love,
Ben
THE END
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LAUREN WOOD BOYS!
Bad Boy Next Door Standalone Series:
Only Mine: A Bad Boy Next Door Romance (Book 1)
Always Mine: A Bad Boy Next Door Romance (Book 2)
You’re Mine: A Bad Boy Next Door Romance (Book 3)
Forever Mine: A Bad Boy Next Door Romance (Book 4)
Be Mine: A Bad Boy Next Door Romance (Book 5)
Billionaire and Virgin Standalone:
Be My Sailor: A Single Dad and Virgin Romance
Be My First: A Billionaire and Virgin Romance
Be My Bride: A Billionaire and Virgin Romance
**Every book in these page-turning bad boy romance series can be read as a standalones, there are no cliffhangers, and happily ever after’s guaranteed! Although, I would recommend not to miss book 1. **
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PREVIEWS
Only Mine
A Bad Boy Next Door Romance
ONLY MINE: A BAD BOY NEXT DOOR ROMANCE
“From the instant we met, I could see your innocence. You were both shy and bold, all at the same t
ime. I needed to learn more. I need to know all of you.”
I am going to bring this angel down to my level.
I have a reputation in the city. My bar is always open to the right kind of people and everyone who is anyone knows me. The ladies know me as someone else. I am their lover, bad boy, anything they want me to be for the night.
But then Eve moves in downstairs. She is a preacher’s daughter, innocent and I want her.
She’s my one desire. I can already feel her pull like her namesake. I want to do bad things to her.
I’m going to take her innocence and forever make her mine. I will not stop until I have her screaming my name and begging me for more.
Eve is not made for the city, so I don’t know how much time I had. Her family wanted her to marry another, a gentle man.
But I am not a gentle man and with her right downstairs, I knew it was only a matter of time until I had her bending to me. She can’t resist me for long.
I don’t care that I shouldn’t have her. She was too good for me, but that didn’t matter.
She was warned about men like me for a good reason.
I was going to take it all.
Wrong or not, I would have her and I was never going to let her go.
***
Chapter 1
Carlos
“Hey man, what are you doing up this early?”
I shook my head and shrugged. I didn’t know why I was up with the sun. I hadn’t even slept but a couple of hours. Something loud coming from underneath me was what woke me up and as I took a drag off of the cigarette in my mouth, I went to the porch to see what it was. I wasn’t above cursing someone out first thing in the morning if I couldn’t get some peace and quiet while I woke up.
