The Mercenary's Claim (13 page)
Read The Mercenary's Claim Online
Authors: Chula Stone
“Well, he let me know in no uncertain terms that I am never to do such a thing again. He blistered my bare backside until I was kicking and screeching at him to stop. I tried to get away from him, too. Of course, it availed nothing at all. He went right on. When he finally let me up, he even made me stand at the mantel. He only does that when he really wants me to remember the lesson.”
“Will you remember?”
“Yes, indeed. Next time you come here, it will be with his full knowledge and consent.”
“He’ll give it when you ask, you know. He’s completely smitten with you.”
“Is he? I suppose so.”
“As you are with him.”
Kirsten nodded, but before she could answer a grinning Gustav came into the sitting room followed by an old woman in a plain white cap. “Kirsten, meet my newest acquisition. This is Griselda. Griselda, meet my lady wife, Kirsten and her cousin, Frena, here on a visit.”
“Most pleased to meet you, I’m sure,” said the little woman, bobbing up and down trying to courtesy.
“Pleased to meet you,” the other ladies chorused.
“This is the case I told you about, Griselda.”
“She don’t look silly to me, my lord,” replied the older Griselda. “Maybe she has her reasons.”
“Reasons for what?” Kirsten asked.
Gustav flashed them his jovial grin. “For trying, unsuccessfully, I might add, to keep your husband in the dark about your condition.”
Kirsten gasped. “What condition? What do you mean, Gustav?”
“Still trying to play coy? Come now, Kirsten, give over.” Gustav took her hand and kissed it sweetly.
Frena laughed. “He knows.”
“He can’t!” Kirsten replied. “Speak plainly, my lord! What are you talking about?”
“Tell them, my dear Griselda. Tell them the occupation of my latest acquisition for our village.”
“Me, my lord? Why I’m a mid-wife, I am.”
“Yes, indeed, a mid-wife. We’ll be needing her soon, won’t we?” Gustav leaned over and gave his wife a hearty kiss on the lips to still her exasperated fussing.
The End
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More Books by Chula Stone
A Bride for Ben
The last thing Ben Tate was expecting to find deep in the Tennessee woods in the middle of winter was a beautiful young woman trying to plant seeds in the frozen ground. When he discovers that she is feverish and delusional, Ben takes her to the home he shares with the rest of the Tate family.
After her fever breaks, Maggie awakens in a strange house in a strange bed. She finds that she is under the care of a firm-handed man who has no intention of letting her run off before she has fully recovered, even if that means a good hard spanking will be required to get the message across.
As winter melts into spring and she is nursed back to health, Maggie grows fond of her strict but kind-hearted protector. Although he is hesitant to admit it, he seems to have taken quite an interest in her as well. Furthermore, she learns that her goal of stopping her uncle Milton from stealing her younger brother’s land is entwined with Ben’s quest to find the man who saved him from a prison camp during the Civil War. Will they find happiness together, or will their own stubbornness and Milton’s scheming tear them apart?
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