by Annie Boone
“Ah,” she stammered finally. “I should go change and then I’ll finish the chore.”
But he grabbed her arm before she could leave. “No, that’s all right. It’s a warm day. The sun will dry it.”
She nodded obediently, knowing it was better to obey without question than talk back to them now. Selina waited, expecting him to leave. It was only after she turned and stared at his arm on her that her uncle finally pulled away. James stepped back a step, and leaned against the tree.
Taking a shaky breath, she realized that he wasn’t about to leave. He was settling in. Self-conscious she glanced at her top again, wondering if he truly intended to… but what was she to do? For several heart beats she just stood there, dreading the moment she got back to work.
“Selina! Get in here! I need an extra hand. Leave the laundry for now!”
Aunt Mary didn’t need to ask her twice. The hand towels went back into the basket, and Selina wrapped her arms around herself as she ran into the house. Uncle James was left behind, standing there in the shade. The stove was a two-woman job and the laundry was finished once Selina’s shirt was dry.
The looks didn’t stop, but Selina tried to be more careful about her clothes. While most of her things were old and too small, she did what she could to be quieter and smaller, hiding from James’ leering. She thought she was being careful until one day, nearly a month later.
Most days she started her mornings off with carrying up four buckets of water from the river. When she returned with the first two, she found James and Mary arguing heatedly in the kitchen about running to the store for more grain. She claimed they had enough, but he was telling her that it had been ruined in the night. Selina thought nothing of it until she returned with the other two buckets, and found Mary exiting through the front door.
“I’m off to the mart. James is getting ready to leave as well. Get the bread started with what grain we have left, and make sure you clean up your mess. I want the floor nice and tidy when I return.” There was no chance for Selina to say anything as she watched the woman head down the road.
She wasn’t often left to herself, since Mary preferred to stay home. Besides, she told herself, there was no reason to worry since James would be heading off to work as well, in the factory. Stepping inside, she set the buckets down on the table and went to put one in the sink just as she heard footsteps coming up behind her.
He was right there as she turned, startled at the sound of creaking floorboards. James stepped up close, close enough that their hips touched even though she leaned back against the sink. Her breath caught as she met his gaze with her wide eyes, trying not to shake. Disgusted and petrified, Selina tried to think. Gripping the counter with all her strength, she found that darkness in his gaze, a hunger that sent pure unadulterated fear through every nerve in her body.
“Finally. Took us long enough to be alone,” he scowled, and grabbed her around her waist.
“Wait, no,” she gasped, clumsily trying to pull free. The looks had been enough, she could have endured that. She had done so for years. But he was touching her, and the unfamiliar and greedy grips made her shudder as she attempted to push him away. “Please, don’t!” Her breath strained as she felt his mouth on her bare neck, and tried to squirm free.
She yelped as he bit her ear. “Don’t think you haven’t wanted this,” he huffed, shoving her hands away. His breath was hot against her as he found her lips, pushing himself against her. Writhing, Selina frantically looked for any weak points before finally getting a hand in his face, and she kneed him in the gut.
The man grunted, and she cried out as his teeth ripped her lip. As he clutched himself, it left her just enough space to step to the side, and start running. Touching her lip, she saw the blood come away on her fingertips and glanced back. To her horror, James was leaning against the door, staggering after her. Selina turned back only to run into the laundry line.
Crying out, she found the blanket fall over her, trapping her. Gasping for breath, she stumbled and tried to escape the folds. “Please oh please oh please,” she cried out, finally free but already she heard his heavy breathing much nearer now. She turned towards the river, hoping to dash across it, only to have her hair yanked and Selina fell backwards.
James clumsily grabbed at her throat, his dirty nails scratching her as she kicked him hard on the shin. But he was a big man and hardly winced, barely phased. “Shut your trap,” he ordered her. “I don’t have much time.” But it only made her move more quickly, shaking as she tried to free his grip on her braid.
That’s when he released her neck and walloped her hard in the stomach. It was like a boulder, and all the breath left her body. Selina doubled over painfully, clutching herself as she tried to fill her lungs once again. Before she could do so, he grabbed her wrist and twisted it. Forced to stand, she gasped and found his fist headed for her face. She tried to duck, but it caught her on the shoulder.
With her uninjured arm, she tried to do the same and punch him in return, but Selina knew she was weak and James sidestepped her easily, shoving her away. She nearly toppled over, but managed to stay upright. Still wheezing, however, she didn’t see his kick soon enough and fell to the ground.
“Just because you’re pretty doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want,” James grumbled and kicked her.
Selina cried out, her eyes watering. “Please! Please stop! Stop it, please.” She put up her hands in defense as he crouched over her. For a moment she clung to the hope that he would help her up or at least walk away, but he only slapped her face. The man crouched down, his knee digging into her hip. Her leg went numb and pain was everywhere. He continued to beat her, even after she fell unconscious.
* * *
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Also by Annie Boone
If you like stories like this one be sure to check out Annie’s other books including the newest book in the Cutter’s Creek Series, Committed, and dive deeper into the quirky historical world of Cutter’s Creek.
Annie’s sweet historical romance stories will help you step back in time to simpler days. Escape the stress of every day life and live in the past for a while through more than fifty books to carry you away.
Annie is a bestselling author with books in series and stand alone stories. Each series is a set of books with a common thread, but stories don’t have cliff hangers and every couple finds their own path to lasting and true love.
Find all of Annie’s books on her Amazon Author Page.
Cutter’s Creek Series
A collaboration with Kit Morgan, Vivi Holt, and Kari Trumbo – Read about the fun and quirky people of Cutter’s Creek, Montana, a fictional town where the residents have lots of stories to tell.
God Bless the Children Series
Children are often the heart of a home. Especially in the old west, children didn’t always join a family the typical way. Enjoy these heart warming stories of open hearts, open minds, and open arms as children enhance these sweet love stories.
Kansas Mail Order Brides Series
Set in Derby and Wichita, Kansas, these sweet stories tell of loss, tragedy, and disappointment and how the women and men triumphed over it all. Watching these couples find love in spite of difficulty will make you believe that love is worth the struggle.
The Parson’s Daughters Series
Be inspired as you come to love the three sisters who strike out to make their way in California after the Civil War. Though they’re different, these girls have a strong bond forged in faith and family. Go with them as they fall in love and make choices that will take them far away from their Georgia roots.
Hero Hearts Series
Heroes are all around us. Find sweet, Christian stories of heroes past and present in this collaboration series created with Kate Cambridge and Hayley Wescott.
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About Annie Boone
Bestselling author Annie Boone admits that sweet historical love stories are a passion for her. Writing about days gone by, the struggles and victories faced by people of an earlier era, and falling in love in spite of their circumstances, is a dream come true.
Annie has always had a quiet story teller hiding inside and now she has the time to put those stories on paper and share them. Her hope is that her stories will entertain readers and her words will inspire the ones who need it most. The Christian elements she includes often help remind her of her own faith as she writes.
Annie lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and the two most wonderful cats in the world. She loves to travel, cook for her family and friends, and watch as much sports as possible. She also loves to read – of course!
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