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“Strip now? But it is so cold,” she softly said.

“I’d think the heat of your bottom would keep you warm,” he smirked. “Besides, it is not cold; that’s just your fear speaking.”

He leaned against the door and waited for her to act. His gaze was neither threatening nor soft. A playful twinkle in his eye gave her hope, but it was too soon to tell if he was kidding or if she should be careful what she said and did. At least his rage and hers had passed. In her belly all she could feel was lust, both his and her own. They had lived through such moments before; her only choice was to obey and see it through.

While watching him warily, she began to unbutton her dress. Shrugging it off her shoulders, it fell to the dusty woodshed floor at her feet.

He nodded for her to continue and soon her chemise and underclothes joined the pile of soiled fabric. While feeling the cool air of morning start to invade her body, she daintily stepped from the wad of clothes and waited for her husband’s next move. When had the weather changed from the summery heat to this chilling atmosphere? she wondered silently. Or perhaps it was just her fear that made her cold.

“I’m sorry, sir,” she tried again, though her voice was faint and her spirit guarded.

“What do you suppose I thought when I show up and find you gone?” Daniel finally spoke.

“I’m sure you were worried,” she said.

“Indeed. Although worry hardly describes the terror I felt.” His flaming anger had given way to a steely calm that worried her more than another bout with the razor strop. His eyes dug into her center. “My only hope, my only hope,” he repeated for emphasis, “was that you were off, as before, looking for your fool of a brother, even though I couldn’t imagine you’d disobey me so soon after I forbid such foolish attempts to find him. I actually prayed that you were that reckless, that unthinking, that foolishly impulsive, even after so many fights about your brother. If so, then maybe you weren’t taken by thieves,” his scorn began to surface again, “or lying dead in some ditch. But what a thing to wish for?” he bit off scornfully.

His comments hurt like the blade of a knife ravishing her guts. Daniel was rarely given to mockery; it was not like him.

“I am so sorry.”

He shook his head. “How can I believe you, when you promise time after time then fail to keep your word?”

“But I have learned my lesson this time. I swear.”

“Oh? Why should I believe that?”

“Because it was a horrid night, Daniel…everything I deserved for disobeying you.” If only she could cry, but she long ago learned that such theatrics were not becoming to her, and they would only insult her husband. He was well within his bounds to admonish her. Every bit of anger was justified, his hurt was real and right.

“Perhaps you’d like to explain your night?”

She looked down at herself, at her nakedness, and felt the shame as her only garment. What better way to confess her misdeeds.

“I was stupid,” she started.

“I’m sure.”

“Some rough men, the Tremaine boys, I think, hassled me in Somersby’s store. My worry got the best of me. I took off to find Millie Peacock in hopes of finding Beau. She sent me miles away, to Mendon, I think it was… I know it was wrong and dangerous and against your wishes, but I just hoped that if I could find Beau, talk to him, talk some sense into him. I had every reason to worry. They talked about Jarrett Cain.” She stopped and let that one sink in, staring up curiously to see his reaction.

His eyes barely flickered. “Is that so?”

“Daniel, if it’s Jarrett Cain who Beau has crossed, well…” She looked at him desperately hoping to see some sign of mercy.

“Then you have no business getting involved. So, does that explain your whole night? What more kept you from home until dawn?”

“I got lost,” she said, so faintly that he could hardly hear her.

But Daniel did hear her. “My, you poor creature.”

She gazed up at him through her glassy eyes. He was not unkind, but he was not yet ready to let the matter rest.

He took a deep breath and stood up straight, ready to move on. “I have work to do and so do you. But yours will wait until you serve your penance in the yard. I think an hour or so at the post will give you time to consider the folly of your ways.” He looked around the shed, with his eyes finally lighting on what he wanted. Grabbing a length of rope, a hammer and a spike in one hand, he then grabbed for Hannah’s arm with the other.

“Sir?” she stared up unbelieving.

“You heard me.”

“But I’m naked!”

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