Chapter 7 Nash
seven
Nash
Itry to ignore the knocking on my front door, but it only gets louder. “Hold your horses. I’ll be there in a minute.”
I turn Cora onto her side, making sure not to wake her.
She must be exhausted after I took her three more times during the night.
I grab a quilt from the couch, wrap it around my bare body, and stomp to the front door.
“This better be an emergency.” I jerk it open, and standing in front of me are my best friend, Blake, and the other woman in the picture I have of Sara — I mean, Cora.
“Where’s Cora?” The pixie-like girl quickly brushes past me, with Blake trailing behind.
“What are you doing in my house?” I bark. A feeling of unease creeps up my spine.
“I’m here for my sister Cora. I can’t let her handle my problems anymore. I’m Sara. I’m your mail-order bride. I agreed to marry you, and I will.”
Blake growls beside her, and she reaches out to touch his cheek. “It’s okay. You’re right. I need to grow up and stop letting my sister fight my battles.”
“I didn’t mean this.” Blake scowls at the girl.
Wait, she’s Sara? Why did Cora let me think she was my bride?
I see red as anger surges through my body. I glance at where I left Cora sleeping by the fireplace. She’s awake now, her emerald green eyes wide, clutching the blanket to her chest.
“I-I can explain," she stammers, holding her hand out to me. When I ignore it, she stands and faces me, wrapping the blanket around her curvy body.
“There’s nothing to explain. You thought you could pull one over on the dumb mountain man.
” I stare into her beautiful, lying face and go for the kill.
“Was your virginity payment to release Sara from the marriage contract? I mean, your virgin pussy was sweet but hardly worth the price of giving up a bride.”
Cora’s fist hits my jaw, and I nod to Blake. “Come on, Sara, help Cora gather her things so we can leave Nash alone.” Blake guides Sara with a hand on her lower back.
I hear them rushing around the cabin—the bathroom door slamming. Knowing Cora is in there putting on her clothes so she can leave almost guts me.
I watch out the window as the snow melts and drips down the glass. If they don’t leave soon, the roads will turn too muddy to drive, and they’ll be stuck here.
I don’t turn around when I hear my front door open. I can’t. I’m afraid I’ll do something stupid like begging Cora to stay. But how can I trust her after she lied to my face?
“My virginity might not be worth the price of a bride, but I wonder if my heart is worth anything because it’s yours now.” The door clicks shut, leaving me alone. The only sound is the beating of my heart and the ticking of the clock on the wall.
I can’t move. How can she love me after what I said to her? How can I trust her after she lied to me?