She crept closer as tears streamed down her face. The door was half open and that made her spying easier. Why was she torturing herself? Her hands were shaking and her heart ached, it wasn't fair! She should be there, she should be enjoying that intimacy.
Sam woke up with tears in her eyes, dreaming about her memories opened that wound she tried to ignore because she didn't know how to heal it. Loneliness gnawed at her bones, maybe it was what she deserved after all. She was presumptuous to desire love, companionship, passion. Why? She shook her head trying to throw out those harmful thoughts, it was amazing how the evil words of others could hurt so much that, you end up believing them. No, she shouldn't feel guilty for wanting to love and feel loved, she shouldn't think so low of herself and blame herself for wanting to have passion in her life, for wanting to experience pleasure, if it existed.
What would that experience be like? Everyone talked about it as if it was good, plus she witnessed her cousin enjoying it, it must be good. But she didn't feel that way, it was painful and violent. It was humiliating. She had dreamed so much of that encounter, of his kisses and caresses. Why did he hurt her so much? She loved him and thought she was the happiest woman in the world when they married. But her happiness did not last long, her father died at the celebration and her world went with him.
She could still remember his green eyes, as she believed they sparkled with love. She could remember…
Flashback
“Samay,” Daniel approached her with a smile that was inevitable not to blush. “I have to go now. It's late and it's not right for me to be visiting you at night, I don't want bad tongues to tarnish your good reputation as a decent lady.”
“I understand,” she pouted. It was difficult to have him all to herself since her father was almost always talking to him when he visited her. They rarely went out and it was always a short walk in the park. She tended to watch him from afar as he worked alongside her father, he was her man of trust and who helped him manage the ranch, which is why Mr. Fraga was very pleased with her engagement.
“Be patient, soon we will get married and we will be together forever. I love you, Samay,” Daniel pronounced taking her hands, she blushed instantly, but she was very disappointed. She didn't want a kiss on her hands, as usual, she wanted to taste his lips. They had been dating long enough and would soon be married, but she had never been kissed. Curiosity and desire were taking away her peace; however, as a decent young lady and of her house she should not have to ask for it. She moved closer to him in the hope that he would give her more that night, she only asked for a kiss on the lips, to taste the flavor of his mouth, to know why couples enjoyed that.
“Daniel…” she pulled him when he said goodbye with the gesture on his hands. She was so nervous she felt she would faint, her cheeks were red and her heart was pounding intensely. “Can you kiss me on the lips? We're sweethearts, it's okay if we kiss…”
“No!" she got excited at his interruption. “It's not okay, Samay. You should go to church more often and stop talking to your cousin. She is a bad influence on you. I love you, but I will not accept such behavior from you, you will be my wife, a chaste woman, and of her house. I will only kiss you on the lips after we are married. I bid you farewell,” he waved his hand coldly and left in anger. Samay could not help crying, she felt so ashamed. She shouldn't have asked for that, she was too bold.
End of flashback
Sam wiped away those tears that escaped her. Remembering her past still hurt; the cruel way they shattered her innocence and joy, how her illusions were trampled, and what she thought would be her greatest happiness, was her misfortune.
Six months later...
Arthur kept up his fight against the crooks of his region and tried to imprison Henry Jones for the crime against Anabela, but he had not succeeded; even so, he continued to fight for it.
He succeeded in getting the governor of that place full of corruption and abuse to at least lower taxes on wage earners and to pay them a fair day's work. Many women were harassed in small businesses in the region so he created an institution to protect them so they could complain without losing their jobs. He was allied to the Ben family, who were influential people in the nearby region and fought for justice and social integrity. Arthur visited the family very often by mandate of his father and it was time to assume his responsibility as the only Connovan heir and participant of the vigilante alliance, which rather than doing justice, focused on their benefits; however, it was the only thing he had at hand to bring some peace and resources to his region.
Arthur was returning from visiting the Ben family and arrived at a small town with his men for the night. The sun had not yet set, so he took the opportunity to find available inns. Murmurs of men and pleas from a woman caught his attention. He rode to that desolate alley and his men followed him, understanding that he would help whoever needed his help. That was the way he was, he would risk himself to help others. He jumped off his horse indignantly when he saw some men harassing a helpless woman she was a beggar, probably one of those women who lost their minds and had no one to take care of them, then wandered the streets begging for food and enduring all kinds of abuse. He walked determined to smash the faces of those bastards who laughed as they beat and wanted to undress that young woman who begged for mercy. His men drew their weapons and pointed them in the direction of the thugs, who raised their hands perplexed and pale with fear. For his part, Arthur went to the beggar girl who was on her knees crying, knelt in front of her, and extended his hand to help her to her feet.
“Calm down, I won't hurt you,” she reacted nervously at the sound of his voice. She raised her face in disbelief and Arthur froze in shock. It was her. His heart pounded with agitation and his eyes glazed over. The woman who had saved his life and healed his wound, who took care of him for a whole month and gave him unforgettable moments was in front of him. Although her face was covered by that horrendous cloth that was not the red veil he remembered, it no longer had her exquisite aroma of spices and herbs, rather it reeked, he recognized her. She was sad and lost, her clothes dirty and torn, her extreme thinness from malnutrition was noticeable and her hair was more matted than he remembered it. It was her, despite her stench and neglect, it was that woman who took him in, it was the woman with the veil.
“Sam…” he stammered in shock. She avoided his gaze and distanced herself, not wanting him to see her so haggard and dirty.“Get away from me,” she uttered almost in a whisper and stood up on her feet intending to leave. This couldn't be happening to her, why did she have to show up at her worst moment? She couldn't stand the embarrassment and awkwardness. Him, so cute and neat; in fine clothes and expensive jewelry, perfumed with that delicious scent. And she, a malnourished, dirty beggar dressed in rags. It was a nightmare that the man she liked -because even though six long months had passed without seeing him, her feelings for him surfaced just by hearing his voice-, would see her in those clothes and with that stench. She had to run away, she couldn't bear to be in his presence a second longer.&ldquo
Three months had passed. Sam had regained her weight and her skin was not pale anymore. Every day she looked more energetic and healthy and she no longer seemed as shy as when she first arrived at the ranch. Raul kept following her around asking her imprudent questions and trying to find out why she was covering her face, but she ignored him and only laughed at his witticisms.“I owe the boss a lot,” the boy sat down on the grass and put a twig in his mouth. “My parents died in a shootout when I was ten and I spent three years living on the streets and stealing in the markets to be able to eat. One day a man selling apples caught me stealing from him and chased me with a rifle. I ran into Mr. Connovan and he assured the man that he would punish me and he did. He demanded I clean the stable and then pulled me by the ears because I wouldn't bathe. When he fed me, bought me clothes, an
Sam lay down on his father's bed and hugged his pillow. She missed him so much! Even though it had been four months since his death, she still wasn't over him. She was alone and with no one to comfort her. Her father was an orphan who got to where he was through hard work and the mercy of a doctor, who trained him in the field of medicine. At that time not so much was demanded of doctors and some people practiced freely, a cause of death for many patients who believed in untrained doctors. Her father not only taught her how the human body worked, but he also taught her about the medicinal power of plants. She became very good at it and even took classes with professionals, she stopped her studies when she got engaged with the promise to resume them after a year of marriage, so she could give quality time to her husband. Her heart ached, for she did not know if their relationship could be called a marriage. Daniel was not the same man she had known yea
“You're useless!” The redhead girl spat with superiority. “Always thinking you're better than everyone else, and look at you, you're nobody, Samay.“What do you want, Barbara?” she simply couldn't stand her and only wished she would leave his room.“For you, Mrs. Barbara. You're just a squatter in my house, I'm tired of you and of you looking lustfully at my husband. Daniel is mine, Samay, don't flatter yourself.”“Stop talking nonsense! Daniel is my husband and this is my house. I'm dad's heiress, the only one who's stuck up here is you.”“Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha..." The redhead girl laughed mockingly. “Your husband? You disgust him, Samay. Just so you know what your place is, Daniel and I have been a couple since before he "pretended" to you. Who do you think he sleeps with all night? Samay, Daniel would never touch you as he does me, he an
Sam sprayed on some perfume and looked at herself in the mirror. She touched her dark blue robe that matched her light blue and pearl-toned wardrobe. She highlighted her hazel eyes with black eyeliner and white shadow. She had put on lipstick, even though no one was going to see her lips, but it was to keep them moisturized. Her hair looked beautiful and silky, although only part of it was showing because the veil covered most of her face including her hair. She had changed a lot since Arthur took her to the estate, she was no longer disheveled and her hair didn't look like a bird's nest.Sometimes it was uncomfortable to wear the veil and she did not know how she would eat with etiquette in front of those people, as it would look strange when the fork went under the cloth. Would she ever get over her trauma? Would she be able to free her face from that veil? Nostalgia overwhelmed her. Before falling into Daniel's clutches she was happy and free. A dreamy young girl without c
Sweats ran down his skin, his chest rose and fell. It hurt.“That's enough!” she cried out in desperation. A thud, blood, and body spilled.She fled. At last, she would be free. She ran and ran regardless of discomfort or pain. Her fate was uncertain and going into the forest a danger for a young girl inexperienced in life, for a woman who never stood up for herself. Tears of bewilderment and fear overflowed from her reddened eyes, she still did not believe she was escaping.The dark forest made it harder for her, however, a light was the sign that told her she was out, but…Sam woke up with a start. She inhaled and exhaled so as not to have another crisis; she got out of bed and went to the kitchen trembling.“Chamomile tea will calm me down," she muttered to herself. With trembling hands, she put the kettle on and walked around the kitchen while she waited. When her tea was ready, she sat down and took a sip. It was diffi
“Hello, Anabela,” she turned and frowned when she saw the big man behind her with a basket of apples. Her brown eyes were averting their gaze with an embarrassed expression, and her lower lip was caught between her teeth. She could notice a slight blush on the caramel-colored skin that caused her much tenderness. But she didn't understand his interest in her and it made her uncomfortable. Like many of the workers at the estate, Samuel was just an acquaintance, a person with whom she could not even imagine a close relationship.“Hello, Samuel," she replied politely, but with a marked coldness. She didn't want to misunderstand him or get his hopes up; it was better to put distance from the beginning.“The guys and I were picking apples. I thought you might want these, they are the reddest and juiciest of them all.”“Thank you, Samuel. You can take them to my grandmother, I'm on my way out," she said. Anabella went on her way, le
Anabela hugged herself and tears wet her cheeks. The images of that guy abusing her flashed in her head in seconds that seemed eternal. She was trembling, she was too afraid to live that again, she would rather die, she would not let him get away with it again. She couldn't stand him, she hated him and wanted to kill him with her bare hands. Why did she leave her gun behind? She could already imagine Arthur scolding them, he had warned them about going out unarmed.She looked at her horse, it wasn't far away! The girls that one kept silent while the men of that foul watched them viciously. She needed to go for help. Henry approached and her nerves got the better of her; no, she would rather die. She ran to her horse and jumped it, luckily she was fast and one of the best riders on the ranch, her skills had won her several races and she had always been admired for her acrobatics and maneuvers. She rode with haste. Henry screamed and his men fired. Pain and burning did not stop