A Convict's Lover by Kayla Trautman (best ebook reader for surface pro txt) 📖

awake. He looked so comfortable laying there on the hard ground but at the same time he didn't. He opened his eyes to look at her. He frowned and he immediately sat up, "What happened to your face?"

She reached up and touched her cheek, self-consciously. She looked away and sighed. "Are you going to answer any of my questions, little lady?" She snapped her head back around to frown at him, "I told you to stop calling me little lady! It's Julie Mortoff but you can call me Miss. Julie. Mr. Horminion."

"Ah. So you do speak and you know my name." He stood and asked, "I'll ask again. What happened to your cheek? Whose handprint is that? Was it that fiance's of yours?" Julie shook her head, "No. It was Papa. He sent for the authorities to put you in jail. I yelled at him not to and then told him that I wouldn't marry Mr. Bertly if he didn't keep you out of jail. That's when he slapped me. He hasn't made a decision yet, but he'll most likely make you work on the farm instead of jail."

He frowned, "The authorities are coming for me?" Julie frowned and folded her arms, "I came here to talk to you. Why did you attack me in the forest?" "I didn't. I didn't mean for it to seem that way. I was running from the authorites for two weeks now and I just wanted some water and food. Possibly a place to stay for the night. I saw how afraid you got and tried to calm you down but you ran. I was only trying to talk to you and you were the only person I came across. You don't run into people often around here."

Julie asked, "Why are you running from the law? What did you do?" He shook his head, "It's not important. I didn't kill anyone, if that's what you're worried about." She sighed. Mr. Horminion stepped closer to her, "Tell me, little lady, why did you cover up for me if you thought that I had attacked you? I nearly told you to rat me out. Why did you save my life?"

"Because I'm a lady and couldn't stand the thought of standing aside while a man was hung. And you saved my life when you could have easily left me there to die, myself." She told him. Mr. Horminion smiled slightly and turned around, "Well I'm not going to say thank you to a little lady like you." She frowned, "I don't care if you thanked me or not but don't you insult me."

"Who's insulting who?" She stiffened when she heard Mr. Bertly's voice behind her. She saw the smirk on his face as Mr. Horminion leaned against the wall. Julie turned and went over to him, "It's nothing to worry about. Can we go outside and talk?" She took his hand and brought it up to her lips and kissed his palm. She had to kiss up to him. She didn't like his temper and didn't know where it would lead to; and she didn't plan to find out.

He smiled slightly and took his hand back, "Of course. You do have something to say. You owe me something." She took his arm and followed him outside. She knew that Mr. Horminion's eyes were following her out but she didn't dare look back.

They went behind the stables and Mr. Bertly leaned against the wall and folded his arms, "I'm listening." Julie grabbed his arms and sighed, "Mr. Bertly. I-" "I asked you to call me Jeffrey." He interrupted. She nodded, "Jeffrey, I'm sorry I ran away yesterday. I was just overwhelmed with everything and I wasn't thinking straight."

Jeffrey smiled and grabbed her arms. He spun them around to where he pinned her against the wall. He framed her face and sighed, "I forgive you. And I also have something to apologize for. Yesterday ... what happened between us ... I'm so sorry. I just wanted you so bad and well ... feel for yourself, don't take it as I'm pushing you, I just want you to understand what I'm talking about."

He took her hand and pressed to his pants between his legs where she felt the bulge. She gasped, "Jeffrey!" It wasn't a place where she'd touched a man. She never touched a man in any intimate way at all! He kept her hand there, "Don't panic, my love. This is what happens when I'm with you. I'm not able to control myself. When a man is hard like this and they want a woman, they're inner-animal comes out. It's not something we can control. I hope you won't hold it against me."

She swallowed as he began to move her hand up and down the length of the bulge, "No. O-Of course not. What are you doing?" If this is what happened when a man wanted a woman then she wanted nothing to do with it. Jeffrey leaned down and kissed her lightly, "I'm sorry. I just want you right now. And if I find out that that beast in there insults you again I'll tie him to the tree and beat him senseless."

Julie frowned, "You will not. I agreed to marry you but like I told my father, if he's harmed in any way or is thrown in jail then I won't." Jeffrey frowned, "Why are you so ready to save him when he's rude to you?" "Why are you so ready to condem him after he saved my life?" She asked. Jeffrey just dropped her hand and stormed off toward the house. She sighed and wiped her hand on her dress trying to get the feel of him off. She could still feel the heat of him on her hand and the pressure of him as if she was still touching him.
Chapter 6

Julie ran downstairs and outside where they the authorities were standing outside their coach. She gasped and looked at her father and Jeffrey. She saw a two of the workers escort Mr. Horminion out with his hands chained together.

She ran over and grabbed her father's jacket, "Papa. You can't do this. Don't send him to jail. He saved my life. Doesn't that count for something?" He shook his head, "The authorities confirmed that he's a runaway convict. He has to go." "You shouldn't be concerned with this, Miss. Julie."

"But he saved my life!" She complained. "If it weren't for him I wouldn't be here to be able to marry Mr. Bertly ... Jeffrey. So if you don't do something then I won't marry him. Papa please. At least get him signed to work out his sentence here. I've heard stories and it's hard in the prisons. I'm not saying you're easy here but at least he won't be locked in a cage and he'll be put to use. Please Papa."

She sighed and went over to Jeffery, "Jeffrey. Please. I'll do anything you want. Anything.

Just let him stay here." Jeffrey asked, "What is it with this guy? Why is he so important?" Julie frowned, "Nothing that you should be concerned about. But he saved my life. You owe him just as much as I do. He saved your wife."

Jeffrey sighed and looked at Louis, "Mr. Mortoff? As it seems that it would please my fiance so very much, I'm asking you to let him work here." Louis sighed and went over to the officers to make the arrangement. Julie turned to smile at Mr. Horminion. When the officers got in their coach and left Mr. Horminion looked at Louis. Louis explained to him and Horminion looked up at Julie. He frowned and turned to go back into the stables.

Julie sighed and turned around to find Jeffrey smiling slightly at her. She forced a smile on her face and looked up at him. She reached up and kissed him lightly on the lips, "Thank you." He smiled and inclined his head, "You're welcome. You kissing me on your own as a reward, I'll do you favors more often."

***

Julie rode Bunny out to crops where the workers were working. Jeffrey wasn't there but Herley was there in his place. She was grateful for that. When Herley saw her he smiled and tipped his hat to her, "Afternoon, Miss. Julie. I would never expect to see you around here." His face was beat red from the sun.

She smiled back, "Afternoon. I wouldn't have usually ventured down here but I was curious and wondered how our new worker is doing. His name is Mr. Daniel Horminion." "Oh, well he's working slow but it's his first day. If he doesn't pick up the pace by tomorrow then Mr. Mortoff will deal with him."

She nodded and looked out at the working men with no shirts on and sweat glistening down their backs. Most had scars on their backs from being whipped for either not working, disrespecting their masters, or running away and coming back. The only reason they would come back is dehydration and no where to go. They would have nothing to drink, be disoriented and decide it was better to come back.

"Where is he? I'd like for him to work with me." She asked. Herley frowned in confusion, "Miss. Julie, are you sure? He's new and it's very likely that he doesn't know his place yet. I could assign one of the better trained ones for you." She shook her head, "No, that's quite alright. Mr. Horminion won't hurt me."

He hesitated but soon he complied and sent someone to fetch him. After about fifteen minutes Mr. Horminion came up in only his trousers and his boots. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail. He frowned up at her, "What can I do for you, Julie?"

She frowned back at him, "It's Miss Julie.

And you can come with me. I brought another horse for you to ride. I need your help with something." "You needed help with something and you couldn't get someone who was closer to help? Now is there something you specifically wanted to talk to me about because we can speak right here. I have a lot of work to do."

"You better watch your mouth before you get a whipping, boy!" Herley spat at him. Mr. Horminion sent him a glare before turning his glare to her. She grinded her teeth, "Fine. I wouldn't want to keep you from your work. Herley, do you know where my Jeffrey is? I would really like to speak with him." She asked him while staring at Mr. Horminion.

"I believe he went into town. Said he'd be back tomorrow night." He answered. She internally glorified in the night free of him. She smiled slightly when she saw Mr. Horminion's jaw clench, "That's too bad. It'll have to wait 'til tomorrow then. Good day, Herley. You can get back to work, Mr. Horminion. And pick up the pace."

She looked back at Herley who tipped his hat at her and she turned to head back to the stables. Some how that man got under her skin and she knew he did it on purpose. But she didn't know why he hated her. He's the one who attacked her and she saved him from being