Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Samantha continued to watch Trent through both of his bedtime stories. She needed to talk to him, but they hadn’t had a moment alone since he’d left the barn.
Finally, he walked her to her own room. “Will you come in and talk for a few minutes?”
He nodded but hesitated before stepping over the threshold. She’d definitely gone too far, and probably more than once.
“I owe you an apology, Trent. Perhaps half a dozen of them.”
He smiled, and the tension in her heart lessened. “You don’t owe me any apologies.”
“I do, but first, are you alright? I mean, after the… sketchbook?”
He nodded and reached for her hand. Somehow, his were always warmer than her own. “Thank you for that. I’ve wanted to tell him how I felt for a long time, and I didn’t know how. Who knows if I ever would have if you hadn’t forced me to.”
“I didn’t force you.”
He raised his brow. “Didn’t you?”
“There may have been a little coercion involved.”
His body seemed to relax some as he laughed.
“That’s not what I’m apologizing for, though.”
“I can probably guess the things you think you need to apologize for, but you don’t need to.”
“I just don’t want you to retreat from me.”
“I’m not retreating.”
It was her turn to raise her brow. “Then why the hesitation to step into my room?”
“I’ve probably been a little more casual in my interactions with you than was wise. For instance, I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to sleep in your bed again.”
“I won’t do anything inappropriate. I promise.”
He squeezed her hand. “You are not the one I’m concerned might do something inappropriate.”
He was trying so hard to be noble, and she was making it difficult for him. He might be a perfect gentleman, but he was still a living, breathing man.
He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Will you be alright if I leave you tonight?”
“Of course.” She forced her mouth into a smile. She never knew when Norman might haunt her dreams, so it wasn’t exactly a lie.
“You know where to find me if you need me.”
She looked up into his eyes. “I want to confront him.” She swallowed as fear constricted her throat. “I want to confront Norman.”
Without a second of hesitation, he nodded. “Go get your sketchbook.”
He was heartachingly sweet. Ready and willing to drop everything and help her with anything she needed. “That’s not what I meant. I want to actually confront Norman.”
Trent simply stared for a moment, seeming to struggle with how to respond. Slowly, he blew out a breath. “I very much doubt he’s still alive, Samantha.”
“He’s still alive.”
“Have you seen him somewhere?”
“No, but I made my brother promise me he’d let him live, and Simon always keeps his promises.”
“Do you know where he lives?”
“No, but Simon does.”
“Alright.” He nodded. “I’ll send your brother a telegram in the morning.”
“You will?” She hadn’t thought he’d take her seriously. Just assumed he’d say she was being ridiculous.
“Of course I will.”
“I could kiss you!” She quickly held up her hands. “But I won’t. It was just a turn of phrase.”
His smile deepened into laughter, and he shook his head. “Goodnight, Samantha.”
* * *
Samantha’s door was open when Trent approached the next morning. He tapped softly on the doorframe.
“Come.” Her voice echoed with the word.
Trent looked around the door into the room. She wasn’t there, so he walked through to her dressing room where he found her on her hands and knees, half inside the wardrobe. With a huff, she sat back on her heels and looked over her shoulder.
“I’m trying to decide what I should wear to confront Norman.”
He held out a hand and helped her to her feet. “About that—”
“No.” She shook her head. “No.” The second time was more forceful, and she poked him in his chest. “You are not allowed to change your mind.”
“I haven’t changed my mind. I decided you need a few more days to practice your punches. When you’re finished with Norman, I want him black and blue.”
She nodded resolutely, even though he could see fear in her eyes. “I’m ready for my next lesson whenever you are.” She threw a playful punch into his stomach.
He doubled over with a groan, and she gasped. “Oh no! I didn’t mean to hurt you!”
Trent chuckled and winked.
“You,” she said with a huff, swatting his shoulder.
“I’m going to get Maggie up. Will you be joining us for breakfast?”
“And then we’ll practice my punches?”
He nodded. “After I get everyone started for the day.”
After getting Theo and Stanley working on the last part of the fence, he waved Brennan over.
“Samantha wants to confront her abuser. I’ve been teaching her to punch, but I want her to have the best form possible, and I assume you have far more experience than I do. Will you help us?”
“Are you sure you’re not looking for a chaperone?”
“Perhaps a bit of that, too.”
Brennan shrugged. “I’m here to do whatever you need, boss.” He held up a finger. “Except chaperone.”
Trent hurried up to Samantha's room, but Sandra said she’d gone outside. Perhaps she was already in the barn waiting for him.
“It’s about time,” she said when he walked in, but when she saw Brennan, her smile faltered.
“Brennan is our resident expert and agreed to help us with our form. Is that alright?”
She nodded, her smile creeping back. “I’d like that.”
“Get that jacket off and show me what you’ve got, kid.”
He draped it out of the way and stepped up to the bag.
“Wait,” Samantha said, unwinding the strips of cloth from her hands. “You need these.” She didn’t hand them over but wrapped one around each of his hands. How could something so innocent feel so intimate? He wasn’t sure whether to be glad Brennan was there or to wish he wasn’t.
As he faced the bag, he could feel both pairs of eyes watching him, and it made him nervous. He threw a punch with each fist.
“Not bad,” Brennan said with a nod. “I prefer a little bit wider stance, like this.” Trent copied him. “Good, now settle onto that back foot just a touch more. That’s it. Now really drive it forward with that hip.”
The next punch landed with far more force. He smiled at Brennan. “Thank you.”
“Will you show us one of yours, Mr. Brennan?” Samantha asked, her smile shy.
Brennan shrugged. “If you’d like me to.” He stepped up to the bag.
“Here.” Trent unwrapped the cloth from his hand. Brennan waved it away.
“These fists have seen worse than this.” He swung, his fist slamming into the bag, sending it swinging.
Trent blew out a breath. “Remind me to never be on the receiving end of that.”
“As long as you don’t do anything to upset your brother, I think you’ll be safe.” Brennan gave him a meaningful look.
As he wrapped Samantha’s hands, he tried so hard not to feel anything, terrified Brennan could read his thoughts. “Your turn,” he said, giving them a quick squeeze.
She stepped into place and raised her fists, but her breathing was rapid. She looked at them. “I feel like I don’t know how to do any of it right, now that I’m being watched.”
“Don’t worry about me, miss. I’m here as a teacher, not a critic.”
“Close your eyes and take a deep breath.” Trent breathed in slowly through his nose and out through his mouth to encourage her. “Take the first one slowly if you’re nervous. Just like we did in the beginning.”
Slowly, she pushed herself through the move. She’d already corrected for the changes Brennan had recommended to him. The second one, she threw into the bag. She turned hopeful eyes on Brennan.
“Very nice.” He walked to stand beside her, and Trent was so proud when she didn’t step away, or cower. “This time,” he said, matching her position, “I want you to punch through the bag.” He demonstrated with slow movements.
She nodded, her smile filled with excitement. She took a moment to center herself, and then she swung. This time, the bag rocked and swayed.
“That’s it.” Brennan nodded. “Your brother will be proud.”
She gave a happy little squeal and clapped her hands together. Trent wanted to pick her up and swing her around, but he refrained. Instead, he settled for a brief squeeze of her shoulder. “Well done. Are you ready to work on the left now?”
It took a little longer for her to perfect her left, but she was determined. Brennan was gentle and encouraging with each correction, sometimes even teasing her, as he probably did with his sisters.
“Well, I think my work here is done,” he said. “I’m impressed, Miss Allister. I hope I get to bear witness when you put your skills to use against the bastard who hurt you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Brennan.”
“Unless you have need of me for anything else, I’m going to go check on Theo and Stanley.”
Trent walked with him and they stopped just outside the door. “Thank you, Brennan.”
“She’s a strong lass.”
Pride turned up Trent’s lips. “Yes, she is.”
“Careful there, kid,” Brennan warned. “Make sure you’re thinking with your brain, and not your todger.”
Defensiveness made Trent want to argue, but Brennan was right. “Thank you for the reminder.”
He shrugged. “I’d hate to have to give you a beating.”
Trent choked on a laugh. “I’d hate that too.”
“Still,” Brennan said with a grimace. “Better me than her brother. At least you'll still be breathing when I've finished.”
Trent let out a long sigh. “Understood.”
He waited a moment before going back into the barn.
A wide smile stretched across Samantha’s face as she unwrapped the cloth from her hands.
She was proud of herself, and he loved seeing it.
He took the strips and hung them in their place.
He held out his hands and she placed hers on top without any hesitation.
“You were amazing, Samantha.”
She did a happy sort of shimmy and wiggled their hands.
“Do you want to do a few more punches with a sketch?”
“No. My arms already feel like overcooked carrots. Do you think we could just sit for a little while?”
“You mean in the drawing room?” He was afraid she might mean in her bedroom.
She went to sit on the floor, leaning back against the wall of the barn. She patted the spot next to her and he sat down beside her.
For a while, she just fidgeted with a piece of straw. He got the feeling she wanted to talk about something but didn’t quite have the courage for it.
“Will you tell me about him?” he asked.
Her eyes searched his face. “How did you know?”
“Lucky guess.” He held out a hand for her again.
She let out a sigh as she settled her hand on top of his. “I have a whole mess of feelings and thoughts and I don’t know how to process it all. So I thought maybe if I just talk about everything and get it out of my mind, I might be able to organize it in a way that makes more sense.”
He squeezed her hand. “Why don’t you start from the beginning?”
“It feels like such a long time ago. I was only sixteen. Still just a girl. My father was in his cups when he informed me I’d be marrying.
I thought once he sobered up, he’d tell me it wasn’t true.
But that didn’t happen. I didn’t know it at the time, but apparently, he wagered me.
” She hissed a cynical laugh. “And so I married Norman. Or I thought I did.”
Jesus. He hadn’t expected the beginning would be before she even married. All he could do was squeeze her hand. He felt useless.
“Norman was…” She looked up into his eyes.
“Not kind, like you. But he wasn’t cruel.
He would often tell me how pretty my hair was.
He loved that it was so long. Or, at least, he loved that other men would find it appealing.
” She paused for a moment. “He didn’t send me to other men right away.
First, I had to learn how to be both a lady and a whore. ”
“No.” Trent wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side. “Please don’t use that word.”
“But I was. Norman taught me all the best ways to please men.” She turned and lifted up onto her knees. “I could show you incredible pleasure, Trent.”
Trent sighed and shook his head. “Stop it.” She was testing him.
Still not sure that he wasn’t like the others.
It was hard not to be offended, but it wasn’t personal.
After all she’d been through, she had no reason to trust that he wouldn’t hurt her too.
He held out his arm and gestured for her to come back.
After a moment, she sat back down and snuggled against his side. “Do you mind if we spend a few minutes just like this?”
“We can stay like this for as long as you’d like.” Without thinking, he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. He froze.
If he wasn’t careful, he was going to land himself on the receiving end of a beating, or worse.