Share
CHAPTER 20
Mary stood near the kitchen door, peering in through a small crack on the door, she could hear movements going on and on in the kitchen. And the delicious smell of chicken pie waffling into her nostrils, making her stomach quiver. She had expended all her energy on arguing with Jared, she was so famished. Polly was in there as well, mixing flour, while Catherine was steering some sauce in a pot on the fire. She wanted to go in but she knew herself so well, she had never held a kitchen ladle or knife in her life, she knew next to nothing.
Catherine was angry with her as it is, it was unlikely the woman would welcome her into her kitchen and she might get angry, should Mary mess anything up.
Jared was just Jared, it would take heaven and earth exchanging their forms to make him help her. She would have to win over her mother-in-law by herself then.
A small cough at her back made Mary jump, she turned instantly ready to defend herself when she saw who i
Related chapters
THE RELUCTANT GROOM CHAPTER 21
The silence of the yard brought solemn boredom to Mary as she sat in the kitchen on a low plaid stool, the cookbook spread before her, she had rummaged through the pages of the book back and forth yet she had not found any simple meal to cook, they were all complex and several steps to follow, and several ingredients to mix and ground.Sighing deeply, she skimmed her glossy fingers over the book carefully, staring at the pictures on the book, she looked at the ingredients Evangeline had given her, She would use the ingredients to look for the meal to cook and one that had little steps as possible, she was sure she wouldn’t fail.She had never cooked a single meal in her life and her mother had strictly forbidden her from entering the kitchen, not that her mother entered it herself anyway except to give the Cook instructions on what to cook, her mother very much stayed clear of the kitchen.But she was scared, Her Mother-in-law had left with Polly to the ma
THE RELUCTANT GROOM CHAPTER 22
The looming dark clouds gathering above western Creek sky could be said to represent the icy soldier about to penetrate deep into its exterior. Standing idly at the front of the Military gate, Jared watched quietly as soldiers went in and out of the station, he had not bothered to disguise himself, Mike would keep out of the way until the mission was done.He walked in gallantly, receiving greetings here and there from the recruits as he walked in. He got no curious look as he walked in, except greetings and salutes from the soldiers.Arriving at Michael’s desk, he flung the door open, and went in, fully aware of someone stalking him, Allan walked in stealthily, the boy had grown a few inches since he last saw him, his shoulders square and tense, his face wide with trepidationJared lips in a thin line, the boy had no reason to be tense at seeing Michael unless he was at seeing Jared, testing him, Jared acted casual “What is it you want? That c
THE RELUCTANT GROOM CHAPTER 23
Laying in wait was beginning to seem like a habit for Jared, it had been his daily routine since he had left his father in law’s shop two weeks ago. He had managed to keep a low profile at work, not getting into any head-on fight with any of the commanders, he had put on the complete Mike persona.He had noticed that several goods were being brought in through an abandoned part west of the Stone home; The Western Creek jungle had been a second home to him, so he knew all the abandoned and unused paths so well.Taking on the persona of a predator, Jared laid in wait quietly, atop the big Mongolia tree, keeping still as possible, he was dressed in leaf green clothes, which made him natural to his environment.Soon, he began hearing the hollering and shouts of several men passing through the jungle, watched quietly as the carriages passed through, several bodyguards who were all masked manned them and all of them had several other weapons in their hands.
THE RELUCTANT GROOM CHAPTER 24
Mary had been spending all her day in the kitchen, with Polly’s help, she had been able to cook some pottage for her husband and she had even learned how to smoke a fish on the fire.Catherine had added more to her chores when she could not stop Polly from helping Mary with her cooking. Mary was to feed the horses and milk the cow, a chore she most loathed. The cow nearly upturned her one fine morning, but for Jared’s timely presence. He had collected the milking bucket from her without a word.He milked the cow, finished it up, and had taken over the chore for her every morning. He bluntly refused to teach her how.She had busied herself in the kitchen, with every intention to feed her husband a lovely food when he returned, then she would question him on their marriage. He wasn’t the type to open up easily, maybe some good food would help her.She moved the food to the dining area gently, her mother in law, who was sitting in the livin
THE RELUCTANT GROOM CHAPTER 25
As she approached the makeshift slab where the Stone cut up their meat, the purging smell of blood made Mary cover her nose, the smell was unconducive, she restrained the urge to puke at the choking smell, she half-ran back but the need to talk to Jared kept her going. Passing by the barn, she came across Allan and Jared skinning two big antelopes, their hands working effectively, Jared was kneeling holding the knife, deriving the animal of its skin. She walked closer tentatively, scared of his reaction. It was Allan that first saw her, He gave her a startled wave, surprised to see her“Sister in law,” He said smiling at her nervously, his merry eyes dancing like they hid a delicious secretJared stopped what he was doing, he looked at Allan questionably, raising his eyebrow, he guessed their disguise had worked then, he picked up the deer’s head and began cutting it in two, not giving an indication that he was aware she was behind him.Mary gasp
THE RELUCTANT GROOM CHAPTER 26
Mary grimaced at the sight of her husband’s bloodiest chest, it was a mess. He had cuts all over. She would not let him know she did not believe his claim of it being the deer’s, the cuts were from weapons and not from any animal. She cleaned it up without a word.He neither showed it hurts, it was Mary who kept on groaning on his behalf, as she saw how deep some of the cuts were. She bandaged him up nicely, she began cleaning the rest of his body with a wet cloth.Jared caught her hands in his “Are you really going to bath me?”Mary coloured up” What do you take me for? I am only cleaning the blood off” she answered softly, she wondered how many people knew he was not so“Do you know how to do that, have you done something like this before?” Jared asked curiously“There is always room for practice...” she muttered slowly, smiling to herself“Practice?” Jared asked s
THE RELUCTANT GROOM CHAPTER 27
The boisterous activity of the station made Ortom’s blood boil, the giant of a man walked into his office, taking in the scenery outside, it was rowdy and everyone seems to be up to one thing or the other. He sighed and faced his desk, he had no care in the workings of Soldiers as long as his business is not affected in any way.His face jerked up as his door was pushed open forcefully, he looked up lazily“To what do I owe this visit, Cole?” he grounded out, not liking the appearance of the other man in his vicinity.Cole smiled ruefully” Do not address me that way Commander, for I have important information for you, one you will thank me for”“I don’t think I will ever thank you for anything” Ortom thunderedCole continued undeterred, he walked forward, resting his hands on Ortom’s table, his voice rigid “I am your partner in this business, yet you went behind me to carry out raids and k
THE RELUCTANT GROOM CHAPTER 28
Mary was still dreaming of the words Jared had said to her the night before. The way he had loved her body, his gentle caress, he had never been that gentle with her before.She was cuddled up in the embrace of the bed covers, breathing in her husband’s scent. Reminiscing on the way he had kissed her nonstop, she had thought she would die from his ministrations of her body, he could be a gentle lover. She had forced him to stop because of his wounds, of which she was glad, he woke up a more refreshed person.She giggled into the fluffy pillow at the memory of what he had started with her before he left for work.A knock on the room door broke through her daydreaming, she stopped her rattling, more heavy knocks pounded on the door, she hurriedly gathered the bedsheets to cover her body as the door was flung open by her mother-in-law.Mary sat up slowly with the sheets, her gaze never wandering from her mother-in-law's distasteful expression.C
Latest chapter
