บททั้งหมดของ The Lansing House: บทที่ 11 - บทที่ 20

MaggieOn Monday morning, Maggie woke up feeling refreshed and happy, as she gingerly touched her lips. She hadn’t expected Asher to kiss her, but it had been wonderful. It had been tender, but also eager, soft, yet exhilarating. It was everything a first kiss should be.With her mattress still on the floor, she stretched her arms out over her head. She could hear birds chirping in the trees outside moments before Melody’s babbles reached her ears. She smiled as she got up from her bed and waded barefoot to Melody’s room.“Well, hello, baby girl. What a glorious day,” she said, with a smile. She was rewarded with a gummy grin from Melody, and picked her up to change her diaper. “Today we need to find Momma a job.”Melody babbled some more, the sounds making her smile.“Come on, little lady, let’s get breakfast on the table, and see what’s in store for us,” Maggie said, smiling at Melody. She smiled more when she realized she had called Melody ‘little lady,’ like Asher did.After break

Asher“If the interview lasted that long, it’s usually good news,” Thomas said.“I don’t know, Pops, she didn’t sound like herself,” Asher said.They were sitting in the living room with Melody playing on the floor, with a bunch of clothespins. She’d had lunch, and Asher checked his watch again. She’d need a nap soon. He’d returned to the house an hour ago to find Melody on Thomas’ hip, yelling at the stall boys to pitch the hay faster.Half an hour later, Asher jumped to his feet, and grabbed his keys from the hook near the front door. “Do you know where she had the interview?”“She didn’t say, son,” Thomas replied, looking worriedly at Asher.“I’m going to go look for her. Something’s wrong; I can feel it.”“Don’t you worry, boy, I got Melody. You go find Maggie,” Thomas said.Asher rushed out of the house and into his truck. He sped away from the house, leaving a trail of dust in his wake. He tapped the steering wheel with the fingers of one hand as he scanned the road ahead of him

AsherHis fury simmered overnight. He’d never been quick to anger, he was level-headed, and calm under pressure, which had made him a sought after sniper in the Army. His anger was taking over now. He’d left Maggie to sleep, and sat up half the night wrestling with the story she’d told him.She wanted to leave Two Bear Meadow because of what Lorelei had said to her. Asher was aware that he’d only known her for a few days, yet telling the doctor they were engaged had come naturally, whereas it had taken him nine years to propose to Lorelei. Was it because he’d felt that it was the natural progression, or because he actually wanted to marry her? He didn’t know, but he knew he wasn’t going to let Maggie just leave.He was invested in seeing where their relationship was going. He was invested in Melody. Even his father had called her family in the hospital, and that told him enough. His whole family had gone to the hospital after they’d met Maggie once, his brothers having been around her

MaggieA loud groan woke her up, and she shifted on the bed. She was still groggy from the painkillers she’d taken earlier, but then she heard Asher in his room.“Guloona, wadrega! Wadrega!” She frowned and shifted her feet to the floor. Her crutches weren’t too far away, so she shuffled until she reached them. “Matah pistaul rakra.” He mumbled something else she couldn’t make out as she stepped into the hallway.His door was open, as was hers, and she moved slowly toward his room. His curtains were open, and the moonlight provided enough illumination for her to see him. He was asleep, but his hands were gripping the sheets beneath him. “Don’t make me shoot you!” His voice held anguish, sounding like he was in pain.Once Maggie had made it to the edge of his bed, she sat down, and lowered the crutches to the floor. She wasn’t sure if she should wake him. She placed her hand over his fist and rubbed his knuckles. “Asher.” His hand flattened against the sheet before gripping her hand in

Asher“Keep the rope steady!” Asher yelled at one of the ranch hands, as he rode closer to him. “The moment you give slack, you tell the horse he’s in charge.”“He’s a feisty one; if you pull too tight, he starts bucking,” Theo, the hand, replied.“Blair hasn’t broken him in yet?”Theo shook his head, and grinned. “He tried a few times to get a saddle on him. That horse bucked so hard, Blair cracked a few ribs. He hasn’t tried again; it’s been about three weeks now.”Asher looked at the young stallion, breathing hard through his nose. His ears flicked, and he snorted, stomping one hoof on the ground. He got off his own horse slowly, giving the reins to Theo. “Back out slowly, and take One Star back to his stall. Rub him down, and give him an apple.” Asher said all that in a low voice, never taking his eyes off the stallion.“Easy, boy,” Asher said, as he took a step closer to him. The horse snorted again, and flicked his mane. The horse neighed, and lifted his front legs, standing on