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"Yes."
"Where did this defiler of pure womanhood touch you?" he asked in a chilling whisper.
Prudence's head snapped up and she stared wide-eyed at the preacher. His lips were wet and heavy with his own saliva, and his look was hungry.
"Don't be afraid to tell me, child. I walk with the Lord and am here to help you."
Prudence was certain he walked with someone, but she doubted it was with the Lord. She had withstood her first glimpse of an Indian without collapsing and had outwitted a gunslinger. She wasn't about to let a preacher—a charlatan, at that—best her.
"Did he suckle your plump breasts with his lips?"
Her mouth dropped open from the shock of his words.
"Did he feast on you like a vile beast?" The preacher's eyes grew wide and shiny. His mouth grew wetter with spittle, some running from the corner. "Did he sully you with his—?"
"Hallelujah! I feel cleansed," Prudence shouted, fumbling on her hands and knees as she scurried to stand. From the corner of her eye, she caught the preacher's hands reaching for her backside. She scrambled away, her knees finally losing their numbness and feeling the hard earth. She pushed herself up, unmindful of the dirt that stained her skirt and blouse or of the thousand tiny pinpricks that ran up her legs.
"Thank you. Thank you, preacher. I feel one with the Lord again," she said rapidly, and just as rapidly walked away in a wobble that looked anything but dignified.
Prudence hurried to the wagon and crawled beneath the blanket provided for her, grateful she shared the children's sleeping area.
"Ellie!" Preacher Jacob's voice boomed. "Come, we pray."
Prudence watched the young woman slowly stand, rub her back, and walk toward her husband, unbuttoning her blouse with each step.
CHAPTER 7
Zac spotted Prudence as soon as the wagon rolled into Alexandria. He had been waiting patiently for its arrival, having shown up several days ago himself by horse. Now seeing her sitting atop the wagon, prim and proper, her hat in place, her clothes perfect, her gloves . . .
His patience snapped like a dried twig. "Damn those gloves," he grumbled. "Doesn't she ever remove them?"
In bed. The odd notion flashed through his mind, conjuring up an image of Prudence wearing nothing but her gloves. Pure white gloves, her flesh naked, her copper-colored hair loose to her waist and highlighted with the fiery streaks of red that danced through the silky strands. That was how she would appear. And, of course, she would touch him with those gloves —no, stroke him, she would stroke him. Slow and sensual would be her touch.
"Damn!" he grumbled again. Zac thought he had successfully extinguished his sexual fantasies concerning Prudence Agatha Winthrop. Yet here he was, thinking . . . thinking the impossible. She would never stand in front of him naked, with only her gloves on.
The suggestion alone would probably cause her to grasp her chest in fright and faint. He had to get her back to Boston fast, for the sake of his own sanity. These flights of fantasy concerning her had to stop. He was a grown man of thirty, not some kid hiding behind the barn enjoying dirty thoughts.
If he wanted a naked woman, wearing only gloves, he could visit the local saloon and get exactly that. He could get anything he wanted for the right price, except Prudence.
He shook the aggravating thoughts away and kept close to the buildings, following and watching the wagon as it meandered down the dirt street. It rumbled along at a snail's pace, a cloud of dry dust following in its wake. It was headed to the far end of town, where there was room to set up camp.
Prudence could hardly contain her excitement. Soon she would be free of this sanctimonious "soldier of the Lord," as Preacher Jacob often referred to himself. On a mission, he was, to wipe out sinners and redeem their blemished souls. He felt Prudence's redemption would be complete upon deliverance of her to her sister. Prudence thought otherwise.
The wagon groaned to a halt, with the wheels squeaking, the children hollering, Ellie sighing in relief, and Prudence set and ready to carry on her adventure. She helped Ellie and her large brood down from the wagon. The children ran off screeching, delighted with their freedom even if it was only temporary.
"Sister Prudence!"
Prudence cringed at the preacher's booming voice.
He walked up to her, slipping his black waistcoat over his white, sweat-stained shirt. "I will see you safely to your sister as soon as I've seen to the horses."
Without a second's hesitation, Prudence reached for her satchel and traveling case. "Preacher Jacob, you've placed me on the path of the Lord. I can walk the rest of the way on my own. Do not burden yourself further with me. It isn't necessary."
