Page 79 of Wager for a Wife

Samuel grabbed the horse’s bridle, his face like granite. “Not until ye’ve heard me out.” He pointed his finger at William. “I’ve known ye since ye were but a babe in arms. I know better’n anyone what ye’ve gone through all these years; I saved yer hide plenty o’ times, so I should know. Ye were the boy I never had, though I be puttin’ meself too high and mighty to be sayin’ so.

“Even so, it’s with the love of a father that I tell ye this: ye been dealt a bad hand all yer life, one ye never deserved. Ye’ve earned a bit of happiness after all that. Go to the girl. Look at her face. Ye’ll see what I’m sayin’.”

“If what you say is true,” William replied, “that is all the more reason why I cannot go to her. I have nothing to offer her. Nothing, Samuel. She was betrothed to the heir to a dukedom. If we were in London, we would have read the announcement of their betrothal in the papers already. I cannot take that away from her again and offer her poverty and debt in its place. Now, let me go.”

Samuel let go of the bridle. “Ye’re makin’ a mistake, son. I think ye’re afraid, afraid of really lovin’ someone an’ lettin’ ’em in here.” He thumped on his chest. “’Tis past time for ye to love someone who isn’t dead or a servant o’ Farleigh Manor. Ye have plenty to offer the girl, for there’s nothin’ of more value she could have than yerself, Will Barlow. Deep down, the girl knows it too. An’ if ye don’t believe I’m tellin’ ye true, ye can ask anyone else here, an’ they’ll tell ye. Now, off wi’ ye.” He slapped the rump of William’s horse, sending them on their way. “Go.”

William was more than happy to comply; he urged his horse to a gallop and let the wind blow hard in his face. How dare Samuel talk to him that way! He knew nothing of the situation with Louisa.

He eventually reached the home farm. It was past time William arrived; Matthew was already there and hard at work. An afternoon of heavy labor would do William a world of good. William had two good hands and a strong back, and if he was going to make Farleigh Manor survive, it meant giving his all.

It would be hard penance, good for the soul—and it would keep him from his thoughts of Louisa and Samuel’s haunting words.

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