Chapter 1

Julie Mortoff loves living on the farm. She questions the concept of working men do death out in the heat of Australia. They didn't literally die from it but they were worked too hard and beaten when didn't or disobeyed their place in anyway. When they tried to run and got caught or returned, they were whipped and chained in the stables until their wounds were healed. It was inhuman. Immoral. She didn't like it but she couldn't stop her father - Louis Mortoff, owner of the farm, Master to all workers.

Julie is now twenty-two. She has long blonde hair that was darker closer the roos and it reached her hips, right above her buttocks. It had its curls but not the fashionable curls. When she was a girl her mother tried to convince her to do something more with her hair to give it more curls. But Julie would have nothing of it. She tried it once and hated it. The things would never stay in her hair. She couldn't even remember what they were called.

She was taller than most women but still not as tall as most men. She had small curves that men overlooked. They didn't really notice her. The few beaus that she had were only because she introduced herself without being spoken to first. It wasn't natural for a woman to start courting a man that much around there. At least not one that most men stayed away from.

She had three older brothers; although they weren't too much older. Henry Mortoff, age twenty-six, was married to Elena Mortoff and had a five year old son named Earl. He lived on his own farm. Percy Mortoff, age twenty-eight, had his own farm and was married to Sarah Mortoff, they had no children, she wasn't capable of it. Jacob Mortoff, age twenty-nine, lived on the farm with herself and their father, he was second in charge whenever the overseer wasn't around and had no wife; but he had many mistresses whenever he felt the need.

Her father was constantly on her case that she needed to let someone court her. He didn't want his only daughter becoming an old maid. They had made an agreement that if she wasn't married off by her twenty-second birthday, she'd accept the marriage to Jeffrey Bertly that he had arranged. Bertly has been after her hand in marriage ever since she was twenty. He was their overseer and he was an arrogant fool. He was so concieted. He was a good guy but she didn't like him.

Bertly never gotten violent with her in any matter but she was not in any way attracted to him. She didn't have anything against him but despised the work he had to do. She wanted nothing to do with it. She stayed out of that dirty business. She left that all to her father and Bertly. Julie only managed the parties, finances, and acted as host when they had guests.

Julie didn't have a good relationship with her father. Her mother died when she was young when she came down with a fever. She had just grew sicker and sicker before she gave her last breath. Her father had grown a temper that even she couldn't escape from. She had lost his love then. He had never remarried but had a mistress that lived with them regularly. Julie never cried for her mother. She never mourned her mother. She wasn't able to. Her father would have her a beating on her backside anytime that he thought that she was thinking of her. Soon she stopped thinking of her altogher. Then when she was finally allowed to think of her, it was too late to mourn. She had too many things to tend to and it kept her busy. Whenever she had freetime; which was mostly when she went for horserides, walks, or went to sleep; she still didn't cry. She didn't know why but ... maybe it was because she didn't know how to mourn.

Chapter 2

Mrs. Jenny Loveless, a servant that Julie was close friends with, found Julie in her room still in her nightgown. She shook her head at her, "You're not dressed yet? You have to hurry now. Your father sent me to fetch you. He's waiting for you in his office." Julie sighed and stood from the window seat, "I know he would be wanting to talk to me one of these days." It was just a week after her twenty-second birthday. A deal was a deal.

"Oh, come on Julie. It'll be alright. Maybe marriage to Mr. Bertly won't be so bad as you think it will be." Jenny always tried her best to get her to look at the light of things when things went other than the way she wanted it. Julie looked up at her and nodded, "Yes it will, Jenny. If I marry him then I will be miserable for the rest of my life. I will be under his control and have to let him make my decisions. I'm not attracted to him. I'd have to have kids with him. Just the thought of getting intimate with him because of a darned paper makes me faint. That's worse than being an old maid for the rest of my life.

"I think he's a nice guy just not for me." She sighed. "But now I have to marry him." Her stomach twisted and her heart beat faster with her growing fear. Her hands shook with nervousness that she hoped she could hide once downstairs.

Jenny went over and hugged her, "I know what you're feeling. And I hate to have to see you so miserable. But your father's doing what he thinks is best for you." I layed my head against her shoulder and muttered, "No he's not. He's doing what's best for him. He hasn't loved me in a long time. He hates me and shows me it everyday."

Jenny sighed and hugged her tighter, "If only your mother were still here. She wouldn't let him treat you the way he does and she certainly wouldn't make you go through with this wedding." I closed my eyes and said nothing. Whether that were true, she didn't know. Whether her father would have listened to her mother if she were here and spoke this, she wouldn't be possible. A man had the power in this world and dad wouldn't let her change his mind on things. He had too much pride in him to be proved wrong by a woman. That's what he would call her changing his mind; he would take it as letting everyone know that he was wrong and that he could be ruled by the likes of a woman. So he simply didn't let that happen. He wore the pants and he made sure that she and everyone that knew them knew it.

Julie sighed and stood, "I guess I can't stall any longer. I'll get dressed and then go plan my wedding. Or sign my prison sentence." Jenny sighed. Her face full of sympathy. Then she smiled and asked, "Well when you are married maybe you could talk him into hiring me as your personal maid? That way we'll always be together and you'll have one friend there with you."

Julie smiled, "I would like that." She chuckled and took her hand. "You always seem to find a way to make me smile whenever I'm down, Jenny. I don't know how you do it but I'm definitely going to need a lot of that once I'm married. Thank you." Jenny patted her hand, "Anytime, Jules. Now why don't I help you dress? It could be my first task as your personal maid." They both smiled and got to picking out a dress. That's why Julie loved her. She was the mother figure in her life but her friend. And she always cheered up somehow.

Julie was tense as she walked down the stairs. She knew this would happen. She knew there was no avoiding it. It was inevitable. She just never thought that this day would come so fast. She hoped that they would drag out the planning process to stall the day they would be wed. She prayed that life was better than what she expected it to be when she was married to him. She prayed things would turn out as great as Jenny said.

She swallowed as she knocked on the door to her father's office. "Come in." Louis called out; gruffly. She let her breath out silently as she opened the door and went inside. Louis was siting behind his desk and Bertly was standing beside him at his flank. He held his hands behind his back and it was like he was a soldier with his hands behind him nad his legs shoulder width apart. He was smiling at her. He knew that he would be getting what he wanted. Her.

"Well close the door. It's about time. We've been waiting a half hour for you." Louis directed. Julie closed the door and smiled friendly at Louis, "Sorry, papa." She turned her smile towards Bertly, "Morning, Mr. Bertly." "Mornin', Miss. Julie." He responded in a tone that was decent enough for Louis' ears but for Julie there was that hidden seductive tone. "It's nice to see you. As it always is."

"Likewise." She responded as she stepped up to her father's desk and turned to him. "You wanted to speak with me, papa?" He nodded and inclined his head towards the chairs, "Have a seat." She did and it was silent for a while. It was like he was trying to find the best way to put this.

Louis finally spoke, "You're twenty-two now, Julie, and you're not married." Julie's composure faltered for only a second before she smiled slightly and nodded, "Yes, that is true." "I won't have my daughter being an old maid for the rest of her life and we have an agreement. And I tend to hold you to that agreement."

Julie cleared her throat; which was very improper for a lady but she just had to, "Just as I tend to follow through with my agreement. As promised, I will gladly allow Mr. Bertly to court me. I should've done this sooner. But they always say the age does the brain some good."

Louis laughed, "Enough with all this nonsense. You're a woman. Your brain couldn't grow anymore than it is now. All you had to say is that you'd do it. Now we won't do it right away. We'll start the courting now but the wedding won't be announced until the sping. That's when our family and friends are more able to visit for the wedding. Agreed?"

"Agreed." Bertly said; he had never once stopped smiling or had he taken his eyes off of her. She nodded and stood, "That sounds great." She turned to look at Bertly. He finally moved from her father's side to approach her. He held his hand out and she set her hand in his. He bent over her hand and kissed it, "It would be my pleasure to take you as my wife. You'll make a beautiful trophy of mine. And I always cherish my trophies." She smiled at him as he stood. But she could not say anything. What kind of compliment was that? She guessed that it was the best he could give.

"Now get of here. I have a lot of work to do." Louis ordered. Bertly followed her to the door and opened it for her. She smiled and stepped out into the hallway. She started heading outside but Bertly called after her, "Miss. Julie."

Julie stopped and turned to smile at him, "Yes, Mr. Bertly." "Call me Jeffrey." He smiled as he walked up to her. "I was wondering if you'd go horse riding with me. I could be ready in fifteen minutes." Julie nodded, "That would be great. I was heading out there to go see Bunny, myself." He smiled showing his teeth; he never stopped smiling. More like he never stopped gloating over his easy victory today. "I'll meet you in the stables in fifteen minutes then."

***


They rode out together side by side. They were completely alone now. "I hope that one day you'll find that I'm not as bad as you think I am." He broke the silence. Julie frowned and looked over at him, "What makes you say that?" He smiled slightly, "I know what you think of me. You think I'm a swine, don't you?" She sighed, "No, I don't. And if we're being honest here then I didn't want to marry you because I wasn't even attracted to you. No offense. You are very handsome. What I mean by that is we don't connect. I'd rather be free but once I'm married to you I'll have to go to you for everything."

"Maybe I'd like waiting on you." He offered. She shook her head and looked ahead, "It would be controlling me, not waiting on me." It grew quiet between them again. But soon Bertly reached over and grabbed her reins, stopping them both. Julie looked over at him and he dismounted his horse. When he turned to her she asked, "What are you doing?"

"I thought we'd walk. Maybe talk out our differences. You're going to become my wife by spring and I'd appreciate it if you acted like it. I've been trying to be gentle about this whole thing." He spat out. What was this? He never showed this side of him before.

Julie let him help her down and then took his arm when he offered it, "I'm sorry if it disappoints you that I'm not as thrilled about this situation as you are. But it's just the way it is. I won't back down from it. I will marry you."

Bertly walked her over to a tree and stopped her by turning her around. She leaned back against the tree and swallowed, "Why are we stopping again?" "Well, since we're going to be husband and wife, I don't find any harm in this."

She saw as he braced his hands on the tree beside her, trapping her in, and bent his head. She was going to marry him. They would have to kiss sometime; especially at the wedding, and she would want to get the first kiss over with without an audience.

She stiffened when his lips touched hers but she did not stop him. His lips moved on hers but she didn't respond to them. But when his hand touched her her arm and squeezed she gasped. He took advantage of her open mouth and his tongue invaded her mouth. Her hands flew up to his chest to push him back but he just stepped closer, crushing her to the tree.

Julie took a deep breath and sighed. She kissed him back. The taste of him was disgusting but she had no choice. They would be married soon. Bertly then pulled back and started kissing her neck, "You're so beautiful." "Thank you." Julie frowned and layed her head back against the tree. She knew it wasn't true. It was just a flattery to get her on his side.

His hand left her arm and he grabbed her breast. Julie gasped and pushed on his chest, "Bertly!" "It's okay, darling. I'm allowed to. You're mine now." He grabbed again and his other hand ran down her spine to grope at her buttocks. Julie pushed him back harder, "Don't! Stop it!"

Bertly pulled back to look at her, "Come on, Julie. We're going to be married soon. There's no difference." She frowned and slapped him across the face, "And we will wait until then. Now get your filthy hands off of me." Bertly's expression changed. He grabbed her face and glared down at her, "There will be a time when you learn not to talk back to me or to hit me again. And for future notice, don't make me angry. It isn't pretty."

A new fear rose in her. She frowned up at him, "Please unhand me. If you don't I will tell my father that you tried to rape me." He frowned and practically threw her face away from him, "Just wait. I may not be in the mood anymore at the moment but later you will obey me. I'll deal with your temper then." He turned and mounted his horse, "And don't think that I'll back down just because you have a little more spunk than I thought you did." He smirked. "I always love a challenge."

Chapter 3

Julie took Bunny further out into the forest. It was dark outside. She should've been home a long time ago but she couldn't go back. She was torn between doing the right thing by going back and running away. She had no where to run to. No one lived around here for miles. They were in a deserted place. And no one would keep her at their place longer than the time it took for her father to come get her.

She knew that it was dangerous to be out here by herself; not just because of dehydration but because of bandits. They traveled in groups and were made of runaway convicts. They robbed houses at night so no one would realize until they woke in the morning and the robbers were long gone. They also had the habit of kidnapping women and raping them before leaving them deserted to die.

Julie climbed down from her horse and sat down beside Bunny. She held her knees up to her knees and layed her head on her knees. She was depressed and didn't know what to do. A branch cracked behind her that made her head pop up. She stood up and turned around. There was a man standing there. He was dressed in rags. He wasn't skin and bone, he had muscle, but he looked like he could use some more weight.

"Wait. Don't be afraid." He whispered. He must've saw the fear on her face. She didn't know what he wanted but she didn't stick around to find out. She tried to mount her horse but he grabbed her arm and pulled her down. "Let go of me!" She yelled and fought back. He grabbed both of her arms and pulled her back against him, "Stop." It was just a low whisper.

She stomped on his foot and then kicked his shin. He yelled and loosened his grip on her. He didn't let go but it was enough for Julie to shake his hold off of her and run. She left her horse and went running into the forest. She couldn't go back because that's where he was so she was forced to run deeper into the forest.

"Hey!" She heard him yelling after her. "Get back here! I just wanna talk to you!" She looked back as she ran and saw him only a couple steps away from her. She screamed and pushed herself faster but that did no good with the dress she wore.

Julie screamed as she felt him grab her dress and heard it rip and she went falling to the ground. She felt his hands on her legs but she was dazed. Her head hit the ground when she fell. "Hey." He turned her around on her back and gazed down at her, "Hey. Are you okay?"

She moaned in pain, "Please. Please don't hurt me." The man touched her forehead and she winced. He sighed, "I'm not going to hurt you. You hit your head awfully hard, little lady. I'll take care of you." Julie realized her eyes were closed and she opened them. Her vision was blurry. "Don't touch me. I wanna go home."

"Trust me, lady, I wanna go home just as much as you do." He whispered as he picked her up and turned around. Julie was powerless to stop him from taking her away. "Stop calling me lady

." She heard him laugh, "You are a lady, are you not? You have breasts and I doubt there's anything hanging between your legs."

She frowned at his inappropiate words and closed her eyes, "Where are you taking me?" "Home. Your place shouldn't be too far from here. I just need you to promise me that you won't let them shoot me on sight. They'll think I kidnapped you when I didn't." She whispered, "You attacked me ... we won't give you any money ... just because you saved me after you hurt me."

"That was an accident. And I don't want your damned money, lady. Stop chattering. You're giving me a headache with your squeeky voice. You'll be out cold in a minute if you keep talking." The man hoisted her up to lay over the horse and got on the sadle. He sat her up and made her lean back against him. He grabbed the reins and turned the horse around, "Try to open your eyes and keep them open." Julie moaned as her head began to hurt even more, "I can't. It hurts too much." He just sighed. His arm was around her stomach as he walked the horse back. He'd have to gallop once she passed out. If he did now then it would hurt her more and she'd feel it. But that sigh was the last thing that Julie heard before she fell unconscious.

Chapter 4

Julie felt a wet cloth laying on her forehead and she also felt the headache that followed with consciousness. She opened her eyes to find herself in her own room. She groaned and squeezed her eyes shut tight.

"Julie." She just became aware of Jacob's prescence as he went over to sit on the bed next to her. She sat up and placed her hand on her head. She felt the bandage that was on her wound. "How did I get here?" "Are you alright, Julie?" He asked.

She looked up at him, "I'll be fine. Just a headache. How did I get here? Where is he?" Before he could answer the door opened and Bertly came in. Hasn't he ever heard of knocking first? But she had no time to say anything about it because Jacob stood and confronted him, "You should've knocked first. Just because my sister is being forced to marry you doesn't mean you get to disrespect her when she's in her room."

Bertly looked at her, "My apologies, Miss. Julie. I was just coming to see how you were doing and wasn't thinking. I was simply worried about my future wife." "Of course you were." She smiled brightly at him. Her smile was sarcastic. Julie turned to Jacob, "Jake. What's happened to that man?"

"He was beaten." At the sound of Bertly's voice her head swung over to look at him. He smiled slightly, "And now he's being hung. Fair punishment for kidnapping you and fondling you. Not to mention the reason you were unconscious when he brought you here."

Julie exclaimed, "What?! He didn't ..." She groaned and threw the blankets off of her and stood. She ignored Jacob's protest and ran out of the room. She ignored the pain and ran down the stairs and outside. She saw the group of people down at the hangman's noose stand. They were so far away. She hoped that she wasn't too late.

She ran to the stables and climbed on Bunny's back with the help of one of the servents. She didn't even wait for him to saddle him up. She kicked his sides and he went running. The thundering sound of his hooves hitting the ground were going as fast as her heart beat, if not faster.

Soon she was able to see everyone clearly. There was a man standing on the platform with the noose around his neck. They didn't drop him yet. The reverend was still speaking. Her father was standing there watching. She sped up. She gasped as she saw her father's arm go up in the air, hold for a few seconds and then drop back down. That was when the hangman pulled the lever and the man was dropped.

She went faster and soon people could hear her. There were more hooves hitting the ground behind her; probably Bertly and Jacob but she had no time to find out. Everyone moved out of the way and she rode to the platform. She stopped and stepped on the platform as if it were ground level, thanks to being on her horse.

Julie grabbed the sword from the handman's belt and looked at the man. His face was a beat red and was heading to purple. His muscles convulsed in the strain. She groaned and swung the sword. As soon as it was cut the man fell to the ground beneath the platform, choking. She dropped to her knees and blew her breath out. Her head was aching.

She just realized that she was in her nightgown. She looked down the square and asked, breathless, "Are you alright?" He coughed and then sat up, sighing, "Yeah, I'm fine. Are you alright, little lady?"

Julie rolled her eyes, "Nothing a little rest won't cure." "Julie! What in god's name are you running out here in your nightgown and cutting him loose?!" It was her father who yelled at her. Julie looked at her father and then saw Jacob and Bertly dismounting their horses.

The man got out from under the platform and as soon as he was standing and was around front, Julie cut his hands free and he turned around. He grabbed her waist and lifted her off of the platform. She stiffened and the fear shown on her face. He set her down on the ground and that's when Bertly pushed him back against the platform and pressed a knife to his throat, "Keep your filthy hands off of my fiance! You won't touch her in any way again!"

Julie grabbed his arm, "Bertly! Stop! He didn't touch me!" "Then what happened, woman?" Louis walked up to her and grabbed her arms. "If he didn't touch you then why was your skirt ripped?" She looked at the man and met his eyes. He frowned at her, "Just tell them." "Shut up, you bastard!" The man now turned to glare at Bertly.

Louis shook her lightly, "If it weren't for your injury I'd slap you out of your day dreaming so get on with it girl!" Julie sighed, "I ... was running away. I got attacked by two bandits. My skirt ripped when they caught me and that's when he came out of the forest and saved me. I was pushed to the ground in the process of their fight. I fell unconscious. He saved me. He didn't hurt me and he didn't deserve to be beaten or hung."

Bertly growled at the man, "Was that the way of it, boy?" The man looked at Julie and then back at him, "Yes. It was. You don't believe your own fiance?" Bertly took the knife away and punched him in the face. Julie shrugged out of her father's hold and went over to him, "Bertly! Stop it! Please!"

Her head started to hurt and she lost her balance. The man caught her as she started to fall to the ground, "Little lady?" "Give her to me." Bertly growled and took me from the man's arms. He picked me up and headed back to his horse. "Here. Give her to me. It'll be hard for you to get her up on your horse and then get up there yourself. She can't hold her weight up." Jacob was on his horse.

Julie shook her head and tried to get out of his arms, "I'm fine. I just got a little dizzy, is all." Bertly held her tighter, "Enough, Miss. Julie. You're exhausted." Bertly lifted her up and Jacob took her. He held her in his arms as he turned the horse and headed for home, "You are one crazy woman, Julie. I would've helped you get to safety if it was so bad that you had to run away."

When they were away from listeners Julie looked up at him, "I went for a ride with Mr. Bertly. He asked me to go. We stopped just on the outskirts of the forest. We got off of the horses and he kissed me. I kissed him back to get the first kiss out of the way. He was awful. Tasted horribly too. Enough to get one sick.

"But he tried to go further. I stopped him but he was persistant. Told me that he was allowed to since we were to be wed. I pushed him back and slapped him. He got angry and told me that in the future I'd be wise to not test his temper and that I'd learn not to disobey him or to lay a hand on him again. He left me there. I knew my way back but I knew for sure then that my marriage to him wouldn't be a toleratable one. I'm marrying a man who is controlling; I always knew he was, and now I doubt that he'd think twice about smacking me around."

Jacob glared at the road ahead, "I'm going to kill him if Papa doesn't kill him first. He won't touch you. And you're not marrying him." She grabbed his shirt frantically, "No! You mustn't tell Papa! He wouldn't believe it and then he'd whip me for making up such stories. As is, I'm already in it deep for trying to run away."

He looked down at her, "But you can't marry him." She swallowed, "I have to and I will. I don't have a choice. I'll make do. I won't get him angry. I'll just do what he says. After we're married, of course." He frowned and looked ahead, "I don't like this. I don't like this at all." He held her tighter to him. "Neither do I, Jake." She closed her eyes, "You have to make sure that they don't harm him, Jake. I don't even know his name and he saved my life." After he tried to kill me

, she thought.


***

The next day Julie went to her father's office to find him doing his paper work. He looked up at her and asked, "What is it you wanted?" She took a deep breath and closed the door, "I'm feeling as good as new and I wanted to apologize for running away. It was foolish of me and it won't happen again."

"That's very good of you to apologize to me but I believe that your betrothed deserves your apology more than I do. You're lucky I don't have your backside for it. But it seems that the bandits handled the job for me." Louis stated.

Julie frowned, "Papa. What are you going to do about the man?" "That man's name is Daniel Horminion. I sent for the authorities. They'll be here to pick him up at the end of the week to throw him in jail."

"Papa! He saved me! You can't let them take him!" She yelled. "Don't you dare raise your tone with me! You got out of one spanking but you won't get out of this one if you keep it up!" She stepped up to his desk and yelled, "Papa! Please! I won't marry Mr. Bertly if you do this!"

He stood and slapped her across her face making her screech, "Yes you will and I'll make sure of it!" Julie looked at him and held her cheek, "If you want me marrying him then you better make sure that Mr. Horminion isn't thrown in jail. At the very least, let him work here for the time being." She turned and stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind her.

Chapter 5

Julie went out to the stables where she was told Mr. Horminion was being held. She walked to the back, past the horses. she found him laying on his back and he seemed to be fast asleep. His face was relaxed and she could get a real good look at his features. She remember his eyes being a muddy brown and he had this look in them that she swore saw deep into her soul. They always seemed to be focusing on her whenever he looked at her.

His dark brown hair was long; almost as long as hers. His shirt was open and hid nothing but his shoulders and arms. The hair on his chest that seemed as black as night glistened from the heat. His trouser outlined the muscles in his long legs. He was much taller than she was. He was very attractive. Daniel Horminion. The name fit him well. His boots were put aside and his ankle was chained to the wall, it had some length to it.

"Well are you going to say something or just stand there staring at me?" He announced making her aware that he was awake. He looked so comfortable laying there on the hard ground but at the same time he didn't. He opened his eyes to look at her. He frowned and he immediately sat up, "What happened to your face?"

She reached up and touched her cheek, self-consciously. She looked away and sighed. "Are you going to answer any of my questions, little lady?" She snapped her head back around to frown at him, "I told you to stop calling me little lady! It's Julie Mortoff but you can call me Miss. Julie. Mr. Horminion."

"Ah. So you do speak and you know my name." He stood and asked, "I'll ask again. What happened to your cheek? Whose handprint is that? Was it that fiance's of yours?" Julie shook her head, "No. It was Papa. He sent for the authorities to put you in jail. I yelled at him not to and then told him that I wouldn't marry Mr. Bertly if he didn't keep you out of jail. That's when he slapped me. He hasn't made a decision yet, but he'll most likely make you work on the farm instead of jail."

He frowned, "The authorities are coming for me?" Julie frowned and folded her arms, "I came here to talk to you. Why did you attack me in the forest?" "I didn't. I didn't mean for it to seem that way. I was running from the authorites for two weeks now and I just wanted some water and food. Possibly a place to stay for the night. I saw how afraid you got and tried to calm you down but you ran. I was only trying to talk to you and you were the only person I came across. You don't run into people often around here."

Julie asked, "Why are you running from the law? What did you do?" He shook his head, "It's not important. I didn't kill anyone, if that's what you're worried about." She sighed. Mr. Horminion stepped closer to her, "Tell me, little lady, why did you cover up for me if you thought that I had attacked you? I nearly told you to rat me out. Why did you save my life?"

"Because I'm a lady and couldn't stand the thought of standing aside while a man was hung. And you saved my life when you could have easily left me there to die, myself." She told him. Mr. Horminion smiled slightly and turned around, "Well I'm not going to say thank you to a little lady like you." She frowned, "I don't care if you thanked me or not but don't you insult me."

"Who's insulting who?" She stiffened when she heard Mr. Bertly's voice behind her. She saw the smirk on his face as Mr. Horminion leaned against the wall. Julie turned and went over to him, "It's nothing to worry about. Can we go outside and talk?" She took his hand and brought it up to her lips and kissed his palm. She had to kiss up to him. She didn't like his temper and didn't know where it would lead to; and she didn't plan to find out.

He smiled slightly and took his hand back, "Of course. You do have something to say. You owe me something." She took his arm and followed him outside. She knew that Mr. Horminion's eyes were following her out but she didn't dare look back.

They went behind the stables and Mr. Bertly leaned against the wall and folded his arms, "I'm listening." Julie grabbed his arms and sighed, "Mr. Bertly. I-" "I asked you to call me Jeffrey." He interrupted. She nodded, "Jeffrey, I'm sorry I ran away yesterday. I was just overwhelmed with everything and I wasn't thinking straight."

Jeffrey smiled and grabbed her arms. He spun them around to where he pinned her against the wall. He framed her face and sighed, "I forgive you. And I also have something to apologize for. Yesterday ... what happened between us ... I'm so sorry. I just wanted you so bad and well ... feel for yourself, don't take it as I'm pushing you, I just want you to understand what I'm talking about."

He took her hand and pressed to his pants between his legs where she felt the bulge. She gasped, "Jeffrey!" It wasn't a place where she'd touched a man. She never touched a man in any intimate way at all! He kept her hand there, "Don't panic, my love. This is what happens when I'm with you. I'm not able to control myself. When a man is hard like this and they want a woman, they're inner-animal comes out. It's not something we can control. I hope you won't hold it against me."

She swallowed as he began to move her hand up and down the length of the bulge, "No. O-Of course not. What are you doing?" If this is what happened when a man wanted a woman then she wanted nothing to do with it. Jeffrey leaned down and kissed her lightly, "I'm sorry. I just want you right now. And if I find out that that beast in there insults you again I'll tie him to the tree and beat him senseless."

Julie frowned, "You will not. I agreed to marry you but like I told my father, if he's harmed in any way or is thrown in jail then I won't." Jeffrey frowned, "Why are you so ready to save him when he's rude to you?" "Why are you so ready to condem him after he saved my life?" She asked. Jeffrey just dropped her hand and stormed off toward the house. She sighed and wiped her hand on her dress trying to get the feel of him off. She could still feel the heat of him on her hand and the pressure of him as if she was still touching him.

Chapter 6

Julie ran downstairs and outside where they the authorities were standing outside their coach. She gasped and looked at her father and Jeffrey. She saw a two of the workers escort Mr. Horminion out with his hands chained together.

She ran over and grabbed her father's jacket, "Papa. You can't do this. Don't send him to jail. He saved my life. Doesn't that count for something?" He shook his head, "The authorities confirmed that he's a runaway convict. He has to go." "You shouldn't be concerned with this, Miss. Julie."

"But he saved my life!" She complained. "If it weren't for him I wouldn't be here to be able to marry Mr. Bertly ... Jeffrey. So if you don't do something then I won't marry him. Papa please. At least get him signed to work out his sentence here. I've heard stories and it's hard in the prisons. I'm not saying you're easy here but at least he won't be locked in a cage and he'll be put to use. Please Papa."

She sighed and went over to Jeffery, "Jeffrey. Please. I'll do anything you want. Anything.

Just let him stay here." Jeffrey asked, "What is it with this guy? Why is he so important?" Julie frowned, "Nothing that you should be concerned about. But he saved my life. You owe him just as much as I do. He saved your wife."

Jeffrey sighed and looked at Louis, "Mr. Mortoff? As it seems that it would please my fiance so very much, I'm asking you to let him work here." Louis sighed and went over to the officers to make the arrangement. Julie turned to smile at Mr. Horminion. When the officers got in their coach and left Mr. Horminion looked at Louis. Louis explained to him and Horminion looked up at Julie. He frowned and turned to go back into the stables.

Julie sighed and turned around to find Jeffrey smiling slightly at her. She forced a smile on her face and looked up at him. She reached up and kissed him lightly on the lips, "Thank you." He smiled and inclined his head, "You're welcome. You kissing me on your own as a reward, I'll do you favors more often."

***

Julie rode Bunny out to crops where the workers were working. Jeffrey wasn't there but Herley was there in his place. She was grateful for that. When Herley saw her he smiled and tipped his hat to her, "Afternoon, Miss. Julie. I would never expect to see you around here." His face was beat red from the sun.

She smiled back, "Afternoon. I wouldn't have usually ventured down here but I was curious and wondered how our new worker is doing. His name is Mr. Daniel Horminion." "Oh, well he's working slow but it's his first day. If he doesn't pick up the pace by tomorrow then Mr. Mortoff will deal with him."

She nodded and looked out at the working men with no shirts on and sweat glistening down their backs. Most had scars on their backs from being whipped for either not working, disrespecting their masters, or running away and coming back. The only reason they would come back is dehydration and no where to go. They would have nothing to drink, be disoriented and decide it was better to come back.

"Where is he? I'd like for him to work with me." She asked. Herley frowned in confusion, "Miss. Julie, are you sure? He's new and it's very likely that he doesn't know his place yet. I could assign one of the better trained ones for you." She shook her head, "No, that's quite alright. Mr. Horminion won't hurt me."

He hesitated but soon he complied and sent someone to fetch him. After about fifteen minutes Mr. Horminion came up in only his trousers and his boots. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail. He frowned up at her, "What can I do for you, Julie?"

She frowned back at him, "It's Miss Julie.

And you can come with me. I brought another horse for you to ride. I need your help with something." "You needed help with something and you couldn't get someone who was closer to help? Now is there something you specifically wanted to talk to me about because we can speak right here. I have a lot of work to do."

"You better watch your mouth before you get a whipping, boy!" Herley spat at him. Mr. Horminion sent him a glare before turning his glare to her. She grinded her teeth, "Fine. I wouldn't want to keep you from your work. Herley, do you know where my Jeffrey is? I would really like to speak with him." She asked him while staring at Mr. Horminion.

"I believe he went into town. Said he'd be back tomorrow night." He answered. She internally glorified in the night free of him. She smiled slightly when she saw Mr. Horminion's jaw clench, "That's too bad. It'll have to wait 'til tomorrow then. Good day, Herley. You can get back to work, Mr. Horminion. And pick up the pace."

She looked back at Herley who tipped his hat at her and she turned to head back to the stables. Some how that man got under her skin and she knew he did it on purpose. But she didn't know why he hated her. He's the one who attacked her and she saved him from being thrown in jail! He'd starve there! She sighed but it sounded more like a growl. Only he could get her to act less of a lady.

Chapter 7

Julie ventured into the stables late that night. She wanted to speak with Mr. Horminion and she'd be damned if she let him and his tongue get the better of her. She wasn't afraid of words no matter how filthy they were.

She walked back to his stall. She found him sitting on the floor wide awake. Unchained.

She swallowed as she looked down at him. He stared back up at her and frowned, "I'm not in the circus so take your damned eyes off of me." She frowned and put her hands on her hips, "I can stare at you all I like! I'm your mistress and am tired of you speaking like that to me!"

His mood changed and he stood up and stalked towards her. Her lips parted on a silent gasp and backed up. He walked around her and caught the door to the stables and closed it. She turned around and looked at him, "What are you doing?"

He turned and went over to her, "You like staring at me, huh? Is that why you came over? You wanted to use your power over me to have your wicked way with me, little lady?" She frowned, "No. That's gross and I have a fiance who will have your back if you threaten me." "Oh, I'm going to do more than just threaten, little lady." He smiled crookedly as he stalked towards her again. She backed up until she was against the wall, "Look, I just wanted to talk to you! You're being very rude to me when I very likely saved your life! Most people die in prison!"

Mr. Horminion stepped up to her where her chest was against his, "You want to stare at me? I'll have you trapped in something you may not be able to handle but I can assure you that you'll like." Her breathing quickened as he bent his head to hers. She tried to turn her head but then he grabbed her face and turned her to him.

His lips pressed roughly to hers and she reached up to claw at his face. She felt him wince as she scratched him and he wrapped his arms around her, pinning her arms at her side, and pulled her against him. His lips moved against hers so roughly that it hurt. Her lips were being pressed hard against her teeth. She could taste the blood as her teeth sliced her bottom lip.

She moaned in protest and struggled to get out of his arms. But soon he gentled the kiss and the butterflies in her stomach flew even more rapidly. As much as this assault had her fearful it also enticed her. She felt his tongue reach out and lick her bloody lip.

Mr. Horminion pulled back and looked down at her lip, "Sorry bout that. Too rouch, I guess." She whispered, "Please let me go." He smiled and bent his head again. She gasped when his lips touched hers again but he was so gentle. Soon she was kissing him back. He nibbled at her to lip and her lips parted and his tongue swarmed in her mouth, feeling all of its surroundings.

A shiver of excitement ran through her. His arms loosened from around her and she could feel herself being pulled to the ground. She layed on her back with him on top of her. He pulled back to look down at her, "Your hair is hideous."

She frowned and pushed on his shoulders, "Get off of me. I shouldn't be here. And you shouldn't be getting familiar with me like this. I don't want you to." "Of course you do. And don't worry, I wasn't insulting your beauty. Just the way you hide it." He pulled some pins out of her hair and loosened it. He brushed his fingers through it and it sprawled across the straw that was beneath her. "There. A lot better, little lady."

"Get off of me and stop calling me little lady! I'm not even little!" She yelled at him. Mr. Horminion smiled and grabbed her breasts in both of his hands, "No. You're certainly not little." She gasped at the feeling it gave her but now she really became afraid. The last time Jeffrey started doing things like this to her he became angry and very close to being violent and he said that all men became like that when they wanted a woman. There was a sign to prove that he wanted her in that way but she was too much of a coward to find out.

"Don't be afraid of your feelings, Julie. Let it happen. I won't hurt you." He must've seen the fear on her face. He leaned down and kissed her. She groaned as she kissed him back. He shifted to where he lay next to her with his leg drapped over her and between her legs, separating them. His upper body still hovered over her, his elbow propped him up so he could do so.

His other hand ran down her leg to the bottom of her skirt and then back up, under her skirt. She shivered underneath of his touch. His hand ran up her leg and touched her. She gasped and pulled back from the kiss, "Mr. Horminion!" "It's Daniel. And shh. It's alright." He whispered.

She wreathed underneath of him as he fondled her. She really should wear undergarments. But she saw no need to when she changed for the evening because she would be going to bed soon. He just looked down at her as she squirmed. "Please. I can't." She gasped loudly when one of his long fingers entered her. She bit her lip and threw her head back. He smiled and leaned down to kiss her neck under her jaw. It was the only part of her throat that wasn't covered because of her dress.

She looked down at his pants and saw a bulge. She swallowed and reached out to touch that bulge. He groaned and nipped at her jaw as his hand continued to do wonders to her. She closed her eyes tightly and brought her hand back, "Oh, no. You want me."

"Of course I want you. You just proved that for yourself." He said. She started to really beg him, "Daniel ... please ... stop. I can't do this with you. I have a fiance. I can't. Please stop." She grabbed his shoulders when she hit the point where her whole body shook. His hand froze before leaving her.

"Julie. Don't be upset. It's fine. He's not here." He comforted her as tears came out and ran down her cheeks. "He won't be home until tomorrow night." "Then isn't a damned shame that I'm home early."

Chapter 8

They both jumped at the sound of Jeffrey's voice. Mr. Horminion was now sitting up beside her, glaring up at him. Julie could do nothing but just lay there shaking and crying. Jeffrey went over and pumbled Mr. Horminion with his fists. Mr. Horminion didn't fight back. He just let him beat up on him.

When Jeffrey had finally stopped Mr. Horminion was laying on the ground next to her, curled up in a ball, holding his stomach, a couple moans of pain escaped his lips. Blood ran down from a cut on his cheek. He looked at her and she could see the wariness in his eyes.

"Julie." She looked up to see Jeffrey standing by her feet. He reached his hand out for her and she took it. When she was standing he frowned, "Did he rape you? If he did, just tell me and I'll have him shot right now."

She looked at Mr. Horminion and sighed. She looked up at him and cried silently, "He didn't." "I heard you telling him to stop before." He said. She shook her head, "I just didn't want you to find out." He straightened and sighed, "I see." She bit her lip and stopped when it stung from her already cut lip.

"Get in the house. Go through the back and up the maid's stairway so no one will see you. I have to speak with your father about business but I'll be up as soon as I'm done. You better be cleaned up by then." He ordered in a low voice full of anger.

Julie nodded and ran out. He followed her more slowly towards the front of the house. She ran right up to her rooom. Jenny was in there waiting for her. This was around the time that she liked to go to bed.

"Oh, my lord. Julie. What in the world happened to you?" She rushed over to her. Julie closed the door and cried, "I have to get cleaned up fast. Jeffrey will be up here soon to punish me for what happened."

"What? What happened? Go to your father! He won't let him lay a hand on you!" She protested. "No! I can't! He doesn't care for my well being! I gotta get a bath and be quick!" Jenny nodded, "Well I already have your bath ready and waiting for you. Let me get you out of this dress."

After she was in the tub she took a deep breath and held her knees to her chest. Jenny gently rubbed her back with a wet cloth, "Dear, please tell me what's going on?" She sighed, "I went to talk with Mr. Horminion. He kissed me. At first I fought back but ... I ended up kissing him back and he layed me down. When he wasn't kissing me I tried to get him to stop but he would just kiss me again.

"Well he touched me down there and I begged him to stop again but he didn't. It's not that I don't want him but he's a convict and I was afraid of Jeffrey finding out. And he did. Jeffrey walked in at the last moment and caught us. He beat him and asked me if he raped me. Said that he'd shoot him. I told him that he didn't because ... it was but it wasn't. I can't explain it. I said no and he continued but I wanted him to continue. I was also afraid of how Mr. Horminion would react to wanting me like that. Jeffrey doesn't act very kind when he does."

Jenny sighed and closed her eyes. When she opened them she started washing her up, "It doesn't mean that he has the right to lay a hand on you. If he hurts you too bad you just scream and I'll get your father." Julie nodded, "Thanks, Jenny."

Julie waited on the bed in a day dress. It straight and outlined her body. She didn't want to be in her nightgown when he came up. Jenny had went into her room and was sworn to secrecy and to stay in there unless she called specifically for her to get help.

Footsteps sounded out the door and she stiffened. The door knob twisted and the door opened. Jeffrey came without his jacket, his shirt was out of his pants and his hair was pulled out of the ribbon that held it behind him.

She watched as he closed the door. Jeffrey walked over to her and looked down at her, "You've made acts of indescretion. You wanted me to stop because you didn't want me but you let him touch you. A convict. You only asked him to stop when you got scared that you'd be caught."

"Jeffrey. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean-" She screamed when he backhanded her across the face, causing her to fall back on the bed. "You didn't mean to! You didn't mean for it to happen! One thing led to another!" He yelled. His anger clearly taking over him.

He realized that and took a deep breath. The reddening in his face going down. He backed up a step, "Get up and get undressed." She sat up and looked up at him, "He didn't ... I'm still a virgin. You have my word."

He frowned, "You won't be for much longer. Get up. And you'll excuse me if I don't believe you after what I just saw." She sighed and got up. Tears rose to her eyes and when she blinked they ran down her face. Her hands shook as she undressed. She hated that Mr. Horminion. This was inevitable but when it did he wouldn't be punishing her for something, so maybe it would be a little nicer, and it wouldn't be happening now.

When she was finally naked she folded her arms around her stomach and itched to curl up in a ball and cover herself completely. "Lay on the bed on your back." She did and she bent her knees so that they pointed up and covered her from him. She wished she could get under the blankets. She tried to turn her head when he started to undress but then he growled, "Look at me."

She swallowed and looked over at him. More tears ran down her face. He had his shirt off and on the floor already and was working on his boots. Once they were off he undid his trousers and pulled them down. She looked up at his face when he was totally naked.

"I can see someone's embarrassed. Look at it, Julie." Her eyes widened at him and she shook her head. He stormed over to her and grabbed her face. He yanked her head down and growled, "Look at it!" She whimpered and looked down at it. It was pulsing and was hard like the other time. He yanked her head back by grabbing a fist full of hair and yanking it back. She gasped.

"You like looking at him so much you can look at me too. You like touching him so much you can touch me too so do it." He growled. When she didn't he grabbed her hand and pressed it to his penis. He wrapped her fingers around it and moved her hand up and down it.

She cried tried to pulled her hand back but he wouldn't let her. He leaned down whispered in her ear, "You're gonna regret ever fooling around with him. Because I'm going to fuck you until you hurt." She gasped at his profanity. She never knew Jeffrey to swear like some of the convicts. She's heard comments with such profanity from them but not from a respectful

man like Jeffrey. "You can be his whore all you want but I claimed your hand in marriage so I'll be damned if I don't claim your body first."

He finally let her hand go and went to the foot of the bed. He climbed on the bed to where he knelt on it looking down at her. He touched her knees and spread them. She hesitated at first but then let him open her legs. She had no choice but to let him do what he wanted with her.

He reached up and stuck two fingers inside her. She gasped and sat up. He didn't ease the intrusion! She cried, "Jeffrey. Stop! Please! It hurts!" He laughed, "So you are still a virgin. Good." He put another finger inside her and she pulled back away from him. She crawled back to the bed board and never took her eyes off of him. She couldn't let him do this. She thought she could just go with it but she couldn't.

Jeffrey grabbed her legs and pulled her back down and she yelled, "Jeffrey! Stop!" He covered her mouth with his hand as he pinned her to the bed with his body, "If you don't cooperate with me then I will tell your father that that bastard raped you and he'll hang. Usually a very slow and painful death."

She cried out and stopped fighting against him. She was going to let him rape her so that Mr. Horminion could live. Jeffrey left his hand there and ordered her, "Open your legs and let me lay in between them." She did and when he was between them he looked down and reached between them. She soon felt something thick touch her womanhood and push through. She whimpered as it burned.

Jeffrey looked up into her face and smiled. That's when he pushed hard and fast inside her and she screamed into his hand. The pain was excruciating. It felt like something had ripped inside her. He didn't stop to give her time to recooperate but just kept pulling out and pushing back in with what seemed to be all the force he had.

He groaned and started punching her in her stomach. She squirmed beneath him and cried loudly into his hand. She wanted to scream for Jenny to get her father but with his hand over her mouth she couldn't. The pain between her legs intensified and she tried pulling away from him but he held her there. There was no escape.

Chapter 9

Julie groaned as she woke from her sleep. Late in the middle of the night, hours after he had stopped, Jeffrey had left. She was glad but now she was disoriented and tired and in pain. "Oh, Julie. Look at you face. Are you alright? I heard a few muffled screams. How bad did he hurt you?" It was Jenny who asked.

Julie opened her eyes to find her sitting on the bed next to her. She was covered in the sheet. She started to cry and held the sheet to her, her hands tightened around the sheet in fists. They were so tight that they started to hurt.

"Oh, dear." Jenny stroked her hair as she tried to soothe her. "Shh. Shh. It'll be alright. Where are you hurt? Just show me." Julie closed her eyes and removed the sheet from her. "Oh my god! Julie! Why didn't you call for me?! I knew I should've gone to get your father!"

"I-I couldn't. He held his hand over my mouth." She cried. Jenny stood from the bed, "Well I'm going to go tell your father right now! He can't get away with this!" "No! You can't. He'll kill Mr. Horminion if Papa finds out." Julie tried to sit up but couldn't. She sighed. "As much as I despise him right now I cannot condone a man killing another man out of jealousy."

"But look at yourself, Julie." She complained. "You can't even sit up." "It takes effort but if I just try I can. Really Jenny. I'll be fine. Just help me get to the tub." It hurt but Julie managed to sit up and place her feet on the bed. The place between her legs was very sore. she looked down and saw liquids and blood all over her legs.

Jenny sighed, "Well then I guess you're lucky that I had guessed as much and had hot water brought up and a tub prepared for you." Jenny put her arm around her waist and pulled her to her feet, "I swear, if this becomes a continous event of you waking up almost crippled and disoriented the way you are, then I'll take a gun and shoot Mr. Bertly myself." Julie smiled at her compassion and obvious love for her.

***

Louis had asked her what happened to her face at dinner and easily believed her when she said she fell and hit her face on the dresser. He wasn't concerned at all and when he believed her so easily Jeffrey threw a smile her way. She has been in pain all day and she knew she was overworking herself but she had no choice but to go through with her everyday duties.

Now she went for a walk. It was dark out and mostly everyone went to bed. She didn't go to bed yet like she usually did. She hated having to sleep in that bed again. The pain grew to be unbearable and when she got behind the barn she collapsed to her knees. She wrapped her arms around her stomach and and bent over crying. The pain ... it just intensified. She needed to relax but how could she?

"Julie?" She sat up and looked up. Mr. Horminion was standing there looking at her in shock. She asked, "What ... are you doing here?" He went over and kneeled beside her, "I was going for a walk. What's wrong?"

He tried to put his arm around her but she pushed away from him and plopped on her bottom so that she faced, crying, "Stay away from me! Don't touch me! I swear I'll shoot you myself! I can't go through that again!"

He frowned and asked, "Julie-" "Miss. Julie!" She cried bringing her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs. She layed her chin on her arms. He sighed, "Miss. Julie. What did he do to you? Was it because of me?"

She shook her head and whispered, "I can't." He grabbed her arms and growled, "I will check you myself for the injuries that he caused you because of me if you don't tell me yourself." She looked into his eyes, "Why does it matter to you? You're set on being rude to me yourself." "But I would have never hurt you. And ... I was only rude to you because ... I wanted you. I wanted you in every way that a man could want a woman. Especially a woman like you. But I couldn't have you because you were already taken and I'm a convict. I thought it would be easier to avoid you. But that didn't work out."

Julie sighed, "He was going to kill you so I told him that I had started it all on my own. I waited in my room for him. He hit me in my face and then forced me to undress. He made me touch him and look at him. I knew that it would be easier if I just let him do what it was he wanted to do. But then I couldn't. I fought back but he covered my mouth and told me that he'd kill you if I didn't cooperate.

"I couldn't let him kill you out of jealousy or for anything. So I let him rape me so that he wouldn't kill you. He punched me in my stomach in the process and ... I'm ... well ... sore. Very sore."

It was quiet for a couple minutes. She could see the anger rising as he sat there. He finally took a deep breath and asked, "Why didn't you stay in bed? Or tell your Pa?" She shook her head, "I couldn't. He knew what he could use against me and he used it. He threatened to kill you if I told him. And I couldn't lie to Papa without going around as it was a normal day."

He groaned and stood up. He picked her up and started walking. She wiped her cheeks and asked, "Where are you taking me?" "Away from here. You need to heal. And you can't just stay here with an abusive fiance and an uncaring father."

"No. You can't. I can't go. Put me down." She ordered but she wrapped her one arm around his neck and her other around her stomach. She couldn't fight against his hold. He shook his head as he headed towards the stables, "You're coming with me. You're in no condition to walk on your own."

He sat her on a chair that was in there and got right to work on saddling up two horses. Joey and Bunny. She groaned and forced herself to get to her feet. She couldn't just let him kidnap her. But as soon as she went to take a step went falling towards the ground. She was weaker than she thought.

Mr. Horminion grabbed her by her waist before she could hit the floor and pulled her against him, "Hey, little lady. Where do you think you're going?" She layed her head against his chest, "Mr. Horminion. Please. You're going to get me in trouble. And then all of this would have been for nothing because he'll kill you no matter what I do now."

"Don't worry. I know a place where we can go. It's time for me to go home." He picked her up and placed her on Bunny, "Can you ride on your own?" She looked down at him and shook her head. He nodded and climbed up on the horse behind her, "I'll ride with you then."

Mr. Horminion slowly walked the horses out of the stables, checked for anyone who could see them, and then started galloping towards the trees. Julie cried and grabbed Mr. Horminion's hand that was around her waist, holding her up. He wasn't hurting her more than what was neccessary; her stomach would hurt either way.


He had placed her on the horse to where she straddled the horse instead of riding sideways. He whispered in her ear, "I'll stop when we're far enough way to give you a break. I'm sorry." "It's not my stomach. It's ... sore." She cried. "Oh. I'm sorry. I'll fix it when we get far enough away."

Chapter 10

Daniel sat by the bed as he watched her sleep. She had fallen asleep on the way here and hasn't woken up since. That was last night and it was now in the afternoon the next day. He was worried about her. He would send for a doctor if she didn't get better soon.

"Is there anything I can get for you, sir?" Mrs. Johnson asked. She was his maid that he had assigned to be her personal maid. He shook his head and smiled at her, "No thank you, Mrs. Johnson. I'll let you know if I do. Thank you." She smiled back at him before leaving.

"Where am I?" He turned to find Julie laying there looking around the room with a frown on her face. He smiled, "You're safe, Miss. Julie. You're at ... my house." "This is your home? I thought ..." She started. He chuckled, "Yeah. It's a long story but this was mine before I ran off."

"Won't the officials find you here?" She asked. His heart beat faster at her concern. "They don't know about this place. They only know my name. But I have some very loyal friends here." Julie sighed and sat up. She seemed to have her strength back. "You shouldn't have brought me here. He's going to kill you and nothing I do will be able to stop him. And-"

"Hey. Stop." He interrupted her. "I don't care what he would do to me ... if

he found us. But he won't. He won't find us here because no one knows about this place. And I won't let him hurt you anymore."

She frowned, "Why do you care whether or not ... I get hurt anymore or not? It shouldn't! I'm his fiance! You had no right to kidnap me!" He groaned, "Will you stop badgering me for helping you?" "I seem to remember you doing the same thing!"

Daniel sighed, "Julie. I've already explained that to you. I'm sorry that I was rude to you before. Is that what you wanted? An apology?" She sighed and looked away from him, "Stop addressing me like that."

He stood and pulled the chair to the wall by the door, "Miss. Julie, are you still in pain?" "No. So if you don't mind, I'll be going home now." He turned around to see her standind beside the bed, but her back was to him. She was leaning on the end table that was beside the bed.

He went over and grabbed her arm, "You're in pain. You lied to me." "I am no in pain. I just stood up too fast. I just woke up and ... what time is it?" "Around two thirty. Miss. Julie, you don't fool me." He answered.

She exclaimed, "I slept that long? No wonder I lost balance when I stood up! You let me sleep to long!" He glared at her, "If you don't get back in that bed I will make you lay down and tie you to the damn bed." "Don't you dare." She glared back at him.

After a few moments of trying to stare him down she sighed and slowly sat on the bed. He saw how the movement made her uncomfortable. She must have been in more pain than he thought. She twisted her upper body around to one side and then the other and she did it with ease. She looked up at him, "See? No pain."

He frowned, "Miss. Julie, stop fighting me. You're not getting out of this. You're staying in bed. I'll lock the bedroom door and you'll be forced to stay in here. You can't stand all day." She sighed and dropped her shoulders and turned her head away from as if to hide her embarrassment, "My stomach isn't what's hurting."

He frowned and sat on the bed next to her, "It's your vagina, isn't it?" She nodded. He stiffened and closed his eyes. He couldn't let the anger take him over here in front of Julie. He took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. He turned to her and touched her back, "Hey. Look at me."

She turned around to look at him and he saw the tears glistening in her eyes. He cupped her cheek in his hand, "Don't worry. I'm gonna take care of you." She looked up at him, "But you can't. And why would you want to? I'm not anything special."

"Yes you are. You're kind, caring, and strong. And even though you may not know it, under this do-what-I'm-told mask you have on you are strong and difiant. And you're so beautiful." He smiled down at her. She frowned, "I'm not beautiful. I'm plain and ordinary."

He nodded, "Yes you are. You may not realize it because you've been abused all your life but you are." She shook her head, "I am not beautiful. And I very much dislike being called it when I know I'm not. It would be just a lie and I don't like lies."

Daniel frowned and sighed. He leaned down and went to kiss her. But she turned her head and his lips met her cheek instead. He sighed again and whispered, "Miss. Julie? What's wrong?" "I can't be with you. Now please ... don't do this." He groaned and stood. He left the room silently and shut the door behind him.

***

"Mr. Horminion? What are you doing here? I thought you were in prison?" Dr. Kelsh asked when he saw him. Daniel nodded, "Yes. I was. It's a long story but I ended up working on a farm with a man who owns convicts for their sentence. His daughter and I have become closer than we should have and she has this fiance who's a bastard and I have half of a mind to tie him to a tree and horsewhip him myself.

"He caught us in an inappropriate manner and punished her for it. She's in more pain than she lets on. I brought her here because she wouldn't tell her father about it because her fiance threatened to kill me."

Dr. Kelsh frowned, "What did he do to her?" "He raped her and beat her. Her stomach and her vaginal area is where he hurt her. She hasn't mentioned anywhere else but I was hoping that you could take a look at her. And tell anyone who asks that one of the footmen was ill." He asked.

Dr. Kelsh nodded, "Yes, of course. The poor thing. How could her father let her marry him?" "He's not letting her. He's making her. But I'm not letting her go back to him. She's staying here until I figure out what to do next." Daniel led him up to her room, "Thank you, Dr. Kelsh. She went through all of this to save my life. It's my fault. I thought that the least I could do was return the favor."

Daniel knocked and opened the door, "Miss. Julie?" He saw her jump and push her dress down, quickly. She had a hand-held mirror in her hand. She sat up and jumped to her feet. She was steaming. She turned to him and yelled, "What do you think you're doing?! You knock and wait for an answer!"

"What were you doing?" He asked. She frowned and tossed the mirror at the wall. The glass shattered. "That's none of your business!" He went over and grabbed her shoulders, "What the hell is wrong with you?! You're going to break things and possibly hurt yourself because I didn't wait for you to answer?!"

"Because now you've gone and embarrassed me in front of someone I don't even know and you can't see that part of me! It's not proper and you have no right!" She yelled back. He could see why she'd be angry and let her go. He stepped back and she looked at Dr. Kelsh.

Daniel sighed, "This is Miss. Julie Mortoff. Miss. Julie, this is Dr. Kelsh. He's here to check your injuries. All of them.

" She looked at him, "Even ...?" She didn't have to finish the question for him to know what she was talking about. "Yes. Even there." He answered.

"No way! I won't go through with it!" She exclaimed. Dr. Kelsh put on a friendly smile on his face, "My dear, I'm only here to help you. You're in pain and I might be able to ease it a little bit." "I said no! I won't have it!" "Do you want me to stay here with you and hold your hand?" Daniel folded his arms across his chest.

Julie gasped and turned to glare at him. He inclined his head, "Because that is exactly what's going to happen if you don't cooperate. I'm going to save you from your father's damned future from whether you like it or not. Starting with this. Make your choice."

She took a deep breath and muttered, "Get out." "Wise decision." He remarked as he turned and headed for the door. When he got to the door something soft hit his head hard and fast. He turned around to find Julie with her arms crossed under her chest with that same glare on her face. He looked down to see what she threw at him. A pillow? Dr. Kelsh could hardly hold back the laughter that took over his face. He shook his head and left, closing the door behind him. She could be mad at him for this all she wanted but he couldn't just stand around and do nothing while she was in pain.


***

Daniel stood up from leaning against the wall when the doctor came out from the room. He shut the door and turned to him. Dr. Kelsh answered his unspoken question, "She'll be fine. Her stomach is healing fairly quickly and she a couple abrasions in her vaginal area, inside and out."

"Is there anything you could do about the pain?" He asked. "I gave her some pain medication but she'll heal in time. She just needs some rest and no sexual activity for at least two weeks. I mean it, Daniel. I saw the look you had in your eyes when you looked at her. You have to control yourself."


Daniel laughed, "I'll do my best, Dr. Kelsh. Thank you." "Your welcome. Stay out of sight until everything's taken care of. I would hate for you to have to go back to prison or to working on someone's farm."

Chapter 11

Julie sighed and looked down at her toes. She was sitting in the middle of her bed with her knees up to her chest. She was so embarrassed when Mr. Horminion and Dr. Kelsh caught her looking at herself down there with a mirror. She was only trying to see what was causing the pain and discomfort there. But that was two weeks ago and she had no more pain there and the bruises on her stomach were long gone.

She hasn't spoken to him in a ... polite manner since he brought her there. Especially after he brought that doctor here and made her show him that part of the body she never wanted anyone to look at. She's been treating him with the utmost rudeness. She was actually grateful that he took her away from there. The four days before he took her away she had wanted so badly to runaway. But she couldn't.

She knew she'd have to do what was right. Not because she wanted to do what was right but because they'd always find her. There was no escape. That's why she was trying to avoid Mr. Horminion; she hasn't left her room more than necessary.

She also remembered the way he had kissed her once before. She remembered how it felt. How his lips moved along hers. How his tongue explored her mouth and how she wanted to do the same with his. She remember what his hands could do. She remembered how much pleasure she had felt then and wanted it all again. But she had to remember what happened when men became aroused.

But she had to go see him now. She couldn't stand being so distant from him anymore. She got up and opened her door. She suddenly grew nervous. She didn't really know why she felt that way; she just did. She looked out in the hall and no one was there. She slowly and quietly tip-toed down the hall and down the stairs.

She saw a couple maids cleaning but they just ignored her. She took a deep breath and went down the wide hallway that led to many rooms. She shook her head and decided that she couldn't go through with it. She turned around and gasped when she bumped into Mr. Horminion.

He grabbed her arms gently and asked, "So you've finally come out of your room? Where do you think you're going?" She jumped back from him and shook her head, "No where ... I was just ... looking for ... something."

Mr. Horminion smiled brightly, "Miss. Julie. Why are you acting so ... odd around me all of a sudden?" "I don't know." She whispered. He took her arm and led her down the hall, "Well while you're searching for the answer, which you will tell me later, join me in the library for a game of chess."

She took her arm back and folded her arms across her chest, "And if I don't want to play chess with you?" He shrugged, "Then I will be left to boredom and at a loss without your company." He tilted his head slightly to smirk at her. She sighed and looked ahead, "Fine."

***

"Okay. Game's over. I win." Mr. Horminion announced on a sigh. He put the game away and headed for the door, "I have ... other business to attend to that I put off for too long today. Feel free to roam the house." She sighed. There she was being rude to him again. From the moment she bumped into him in the hall and throughout the game she was behaving in a matter that would bore a horse.

"Wait. Mr. Horminion, stop." She sighed and stood. He stopped and just stood there with his back to her. She went over to stand a couple feet behind him. "I haven't been as appriciative as I should have been and I'm sorry. I just ...

"I'm so used to doing the right thing and the right thing here would be to go back and marry him no matter what my feelings towards him is. I wanted to run away from that place and you allowed me to do that but I know that he's going to find us here one of these days and I don't want him to hurt you. That's why I've been cruel towards you these two weeks. I'm awfully sorry."

Mr. Horminion turned around and she stiffened. He frowned and walked up to her. She backed away from him and he watched her intently. Soon her back was against the wall and he stopped with just a breath between them. He placed his hands on the wall beside her so that his arms trapped her there.

"Julie. Why are you afraid of me?" He asked in a whisper. She shook her head, "I'm not afraid of you." He sighed, "Then why are you acting nervous and wary around me? If you're not afraid of me then why?"

Julie stammered, "M-Mr. Horminion-" "Call me Daniel." He ordered. She swallowed, "Daniel. I'm not afraid of you. But ... ever since that night in the stables with you ... I wanted you to kiss me like that again but I know it's wrong. I've been trying to avoid you and I don't know why I'm telling you this-"

Daniel's lips came crashing down on hers in a manner that made her screech. His kiss was rough and it still sent excitement running through her all the way to her toes. He pulled back and his one hand cupped her cheek. He smiled as he breathed rather heavily, "All you had to do was say so. There's no need to avoid it."

She started to shake her head but whimpered when his lips met hers again; gentle this time. Her lips moved along with his and her hands went up to frame his face. She felt him moved closer to where his chest pressed up against hers. She felt trapped here with him and she was completely content with it. She was more than content with it. She was welcoming it.

Daniel buried his hand in her hair and and tilted her head back, deepening the kiss. She sighed against his lips and he took the opportunity to enter her mouth with his tongue. She ran her hands down to his chest and dug her fingers into him when the pleasure and excitement running through her increased. She decided now was the time to taste him.

Julie let her tongue venture into his mouth and he tasted of sweet honey. She was unfamiliar with this and and didn't know what to do but was surprised when it came so easy to her. She felt him tighten his grip in her hair and his other hand ran down her back to grip one of her buttocks.

With the hand he had on her buttocks, he pulled her against him and she felt something hard against her stomach. She gasped and pulled back from the kiss. He kissed her cheek and down to her neck. She sighed and it sounded more like a low, high pitch moan.

"Daniel ..." She whispered. His hand in her hair left and ran down her body. She gasped and pushed him back when he grabbed her breast. He looked at her with hunger in his eyes. He asked, "Julie? What's wrong?"

With the distance between them now she felt foolish and distraught. She shook her head, "I'm sorry." She picked up her skirts and ran out of the room. She would have orginally went to her bedroom but she ran out the front door and down the drive.

"Julie!" She stopped when she heard Daniel yell for her. She closed her eyes and sat down on the ground. She wasn't planning on leaving ... maybe in the back of her mind she was but at the moment she was only thinking of getting away from him.

After a few moments she heard his feet on the gravel when he walked to stand beside her. He kneeled beside her and asked, "What's wrong, Julie?" She shook her head and turned her head away from him, "I ... I wasn't ready for that. Not yet. I'm sorry."


Daniel grabbed her chin and brought her face over to his, "It's alright. I can wait for you but I want you to know that I won't hurt you. I'll be gentle and it'll feel good. It won't hurt when we make love." She sighed and hugged him.

Chapter 12

Julie and Daniel have been spending a lot of time together. It has been a month now since they've left. They've shared kisses but Julie stopped him every time he tried to take it further; which wasn't often enough to say that he was pushing her into it. And she never kissed him. He kissed her and she just kissed him back.

Julie was reading a book in the library when Daniel came in. He smiled when she looked up, "You look bored." She smiled back and shook her head, "I'm perfectkly content reading this book." He laughed as he took her hand and pulled her from the couch and to her feet, "Oh, no. You are definitely bored and want to come with me."

She laughed and put her book down on the couch, "Am I now? Why is that?" He just smiled and led her out into the hallway. She sighed and moved closer to him, "What am I going to do with you? You have a habit of just taking me somewhere without my permission and not telling me where."

"You could thank me with a kiss. That's what you can do with me." She could hear the wide grin in his voice. He led her outside through the back door. She tried to ask him where he was taking her but he wouldn't answer her.

Soon they got down the hill and she found a blanket layed out neatly on the ground with two plates set up with sandwiches, two glases of what red whine, and in the middle of the blanket there was a empty basket with only a rose in it. He turned to her and took both her hands, "Lunch is ready." Julie grinned and sat down on the one side.

***

They were laughing over a story Julie told him about when she was a little girl. The plates and cups were put away in the basket and put to the side. Julie sat on her knees and Daniel was laying on his back with his head cradled on her lap.

He laughed, "I could just imagine the look on your father's face when you and your mother walked in soaking wet." She smiled down into his face and ran her fingers through his long hair; she loved the softness of it. She ran the tip of her finger along his face, "You probably couldn't. It was back when he was a good guy.

"He laughed and scooped me up in his arms. We were a family then. And then she died when I was ten and everything changed. No one ever talked of her again and I never thought of her again. It was like she just disappeared."

Daniel sobered up and looked up into her eyes. She chuckled and poked his nose, "Don't look at me like that." He smiled back at her, "I just can't help but to want to just hold you for all the times your father didn't hold you. He was a fool."

He wanted to hold her. Did that mean that he wanted her in that way? But he couldn't because he wasn't acting out in a violent manner. Was she being lied to? Now that she thought about it, Daniel never showed any anger towards her when they were in the stable. Just passion.

She bit her lip and looked up. She wanted to ask him but ... her nerves were running wild. She didn't want to make a fool of herself but she wanted to know. "What is it?" He asked. She sighed and looked down at him, "I was thinking about something. Before ... everything happened Bertly and I went for a horse ride.

"He kissed me and tried to take it further. When I stopped him he got angry and threatened me but that's not the point. He later explained that when a man wants a woman that he loses his anger. That it's what happens to every man when they want a woman in that way. That's why I haven't allowed you to ... make love with me. I was wondering if it's true or if he was just lying to me."

He was silent at first just staring at her. Then he just bursted out laughing. She frowned. She was being honest with him and opening herself up to him and ... he was laughing at her? She was hurt. How could he be laughing at her for this? "He is such a fool!"

Julie slid her knees out from under him, making his head hit the ground. He grunted and looked up at her, with laughter still in his voice, "What was that for?" "Well I guess I'm just as much as a fool as he is." She turned and ran down the hill. She stopped at the tree and placed her hands on it. She leaned against it and layed her forehead against the tree.

"Julie?" She heard Daniel's voice behind her. Laughter was gone from his voice. "Go away. I don't like being so gullable and I don't like being laughed at for it. I made myself vulnerable and you spat in my face." She snapped at him.

He grabbed her shoulders and sighed, "I'm sorry, Julie. I wasn't laughing at you. I was laughing at him. At his foolishness. Your mother died before she could explain to you what goes on between a man and a woman. He took advantage of that. It's not your fault. I'm sorry I upset you."

She sighed and turned around and leaned on the tree, "Well I still feel awful for believing him." He cupped her cheek and kissed the corner of her mouth. He kissed his way to her ear and whispered, "I remember you once touching me in the stables and your reaction was ... a little off. Touch me again."

She reached up and grabbed the back of his neck, "We're outside. People could see us." "We're alone out here. And if any of my servants walked by and saw us they would quickly scurry away." He grabbed her hand and pressed it to his groin. She gasped lowly. He was hard.

"You feel that?" He whispered, sending chills down her spine. She nodded and bit her lip. He was causing her to feel excitement without touching or kissing her in any way. "It's all man. All natural. It won't bite." He chuckled, tickling her ear. "This happens whenever I'm around you. I can't control when it happens but I can control my actions."

She sighed and closed her eyes, "Is it natural for me to tighten ... everywhere and want your touch more than anything else?" She was shocked by her words. It didn't even sound like her own voice. "Yes. It is very natural. You are a natural woman. You're attracted to me just as I am to you. So kiss me." He pulled back to look her in the face. He stepped back a step.

She raised her brows, "Kiss you? Isn't it tradition for you to kiss me and ... then I'll just kiss you back?" He smiled, "Sometimes. I believe it's tradition for the man to kiss the woman on their first kiss and I have. You're a strong woman. Don't be afraid to act on your feelings."

Julie bit her lip and stepped up to him. They were chest to chest. She reached up and just barely touched his face with her fingers on his jaw. She had to do this. She wanted to be able to kiss him whenever she pleased but she was just scared to. The only reason she was going along with this now is because she feared that he wouldn't kiss or touch her until she kissed him.

She got on her toes and still she couldn't reach his lips. She licked her lips and grabbed his hair. He laughed as she pulled him down and then framed his face again. She pressed her lips to his and sighed.

She started the kiss but after a couple seconds of her moving lips against his and him just barely responding, he took over. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off of the ground. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sighed against his lips.

Daniel held her up with one arm while he ran his other hand down her side, past her hip, and hooked it behind her knee. He brought her leg up and wrapped it around his hip. She took the initiative to wrap her legs around his hips.

He leaned her against the tree so that his hands were free. She could feel his hard manhood between her legs at her core. Julie nibbled on his lip until he groaned and she tasted his blood. She licked at his lip and muttered, "I also remember what happened in the stables. You cut my lip and made me bleed. I thought that I'd return the favor."

He laughed lowly and started kissing her neck, "That's my girl." She felt him untying the strings the bound her dress at the bodice. A maid had once worked there and when she ran off with her lover she left all of her clothes. So Julie now used her clothes for now.

Once they were untied he opened the front and pulled the top of her chemise down to expose her breasts; likely stretching the fabric so that it was too loose. Julie sighed as the cool air blew on her bare breasts. She felt her nipples tighten up; if that were even possible.

Then, before she could protest, his hands covered her breasts. Her eyes flew open and she looked down at him. He must've felt his eyes on him because he lifted his head and looked at her, "You feel so good. I was going to let you stay in control but I had to feel you."

She groaned and bit her lip when he started tugging on her nipples. "Daniel ... people could see us." She moaned when he rolled them between his thumb and forefinger. "Oh, Julie. It'll be okay. I told everyone to stay inside unless it was life or death."

She smiled and grabbed his face. She kissed him and wrapped her arms around his neck, winding her hand in his hair. He kissed her back for only a matter of seconds before kissing her down her neck and down her chest.

When his lips touched her breast she grabbed his shoulders. His hands went to the back of her shoudlers to hold her in place. Daniel licked at her nipple once before sucking it into his mouth. She gasped loudly as he sucked on it like a babe.

Her hips started moving on their own accord. She moaned when that caused pleasure to shoot right to her womanhood. She was rubbing herself against his hardness. She stopped herself, not knowing if it was the right thing to do or not.

Daniel groaned and pulled back to whisper, "Don't stop. Do it again." She smiled and continued to move her hips against him. He moved over to give the other breast the same treatment. She moaned and tightened her grip on his shoulders.

Chapter 13

Julie looked up and saw someone. He was running towards them! She started hitting his shoulders, "Daniel! There's someone comning! He's coming our way!" She was yelling it at him in hushed tone.

She dropped her legs and he held her steady as she redid her dress. She wiped her mouth in fear that there would be any evidence of what they had done. "Mr. Horminion!" Samuel yelled. He was his youngest footman.

Daniel turned and met the lad, "What is it, son?" He panted, "Mr. Humbridge sent me. There are men here. They're looking for you. And for her." "Do you know who it was?" Daniel asked, hushed urgency sounded in his tone. She grew with fear and grabbed his hand for comfort.

"I don't know, sir. He said his name was Mr. Bertly. Said he was under orders of Mr. Mortoff. But I've never heard of them. He's searching the premises as we speak. You have to hide." Julie covered her mouth with her hand to silence the cry that came up.

"Thank you, Sam. Now hurry. Get the picnic cleaned up and go on back before they notice you're missing." Sam did as he was told and Daniel led into the forest. He said, "When I used to live here as a child, my mother had an underground room built so that I could hide there. It's still there and no one knows about it except for Mr. Humbridge and a couple of the older maids. They won't find us there. We'll come out Mr. Humbridge comes for us. He'll know we've gone there."

When they were deep into the forest they came across a bunch of leaves that have fallen from trees. There were leaves everywhere but this place seemed to have a lot more of it. He walked around to the other side of the pile of leaves and bent to grab a handle. He pulled open a wooden door. The leaves were attached to the wooden door so that no one would see it.

He took her hand and pulled her over to the entrance, "Go on down the ladder. Be careful." She bit her lip as she went down the ladder. A couple times she had to catch herself before she fell because she'd step on her dress. But once she was at the bottom she was alright.

She stepped back and wrapped her arms around her stomach as she watched him close the door. Then total darkness eveloped her except for only a couple strands of light that shone through the cracks.

"Daniel?" She whispered. There were tears in her eyes, fighting to get out, but she struggled to keep them in. But she could hear them in her voice. That she couldn't hide. "Give me a second. I'll light some candles. But they have to be away from the door." Or else someone could see the light if they dared to venture this far.

She heard his feet shuffling around on the ground and after a minute or two of him grunting and cursing, a candle was lit. He sighed and lit two more. She could now see enough to feel comfortable to walk deeper into the room. It was pretty big for being underground.

Daniel turned and looked at her. She bit her lip and held her arms tighter around herself. He sighed and went over to her. He pulled her into his arms. She cried, "I knew he'd find us. I knew I couldn't get away from him."

"Hey. Hey. Hey. Shh. It's going to be alright. He's not going to find us. I promise. He's probably just searching every house he comes across. But he won't find us here. Mr. Humbridge will come get us when he's gone and he'll never be back here again."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "Is it too late to mention that I have an insane fear of being buried alive?" He chuckled, "Why would you be afraid of that? It's not a common fear." She sighed and pulled out of his arms, "I ... I just am."

Julie sat down by the wall and brought her knees up to her chest. Daniel just looked down at her for a moment. Then he went over and sat beside her. He put his arm around her and asked, "You've been hurt more than you let on, haven't you?"

She shook her head, "No. I haven't. I just don't like being ... trapped." He brought her closer to him, "You don't have to be afraid to tell me, Julie. Neither of us have had the upbringing that we should've had."

She layed against him with her head on her chest, "Things happened that are better left forgotten." He kissed her hair and sighed loudly, "They will never hurt you again. I promise. They'll have to get through me." "That's what I'm afraid of." She muttered.

Chapter 14

It was after dark and no one had come to get them. Julie huddled up closer to Daniel, "It's cold down here. When do you think it'll be safe to leave? And I'm starving. Not to mention any other needs that I might have to relieve."

Daniel chuckled at the last part and rubbed her arm, "You could always go relieve yourself in the corner on the other side." She gasped and smacked his chest, "Absolutely not! Not in here with you! Besides, the odor would fill the room and we don't know how much longer we'll have to stay down here."

A loud noise sounded as the wooden door opened. "Stay here." Daniel whispered as he got up. He headed over to the stairs and looked up. He smiled, "It's nice to finally see you." "Sorry. Those bastards searched every drawer and corner of the house." Mr. Humbridge called down.

Daniel turned to her and went over to her, "Come on. They're gone." He grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. She followed him to the stairs and climbed up with him. She stretched out her arms and legs. She was breathing heavily. Her anxiety wasfinally relieved.

She went over and leaned against the tree. Daniel rubbed her shoulders, "Hey. It's alright. We don't have to be down there anymore." "Can we just go back now? I wanna eat, take a bath, and sleep." Daniel nodded and started leading me back, "Yeah. Lets go. Mr. Humbridge?"

"Yes, sir?" Mr. Humbridge was walking beside them, trying to walk a quicker pace but they kept it a slower pace for him. Daniel asked, "What did they say? Did they find anything?" "No. They couldn't have found anything. She doesn't have anything here and they wouldn't have left. They weren't the type to overlook something. They just said if we know anything or if we see you to send someone for him and then they left. I waited an hour after they left to come get you."

***

Julie was already washed up. Now she was just relaxing in the tub. The water had turned luke warm a while ago but she didn't care. The door opened and Daniel came in, "You can go now, Miss. Sarah. Thank you." The maid chuckled and quickly left.

Julie crossed her legs and covered her chest with her arms, "Daniel! What are you doing in here?" He laughed, "Oh, stop whining. You know you're happy to see me." His charm slid over her and made her smile, "But I'm in the tub. You're not supposed to be in here."

He sat on the side of the tub and took his shirt off. Her eyes ran down his chest and to his trousers. Daniel leaned forward and asked, "What are you staring at?" She pressed her lips together in a tight smile and pushed her hands out making a wave that soaked his face. He jumped back and sucked in a big breath.

Julie laughed as the water dripped down from his face. Some of his hair was wet too. He opened his eyes and looked at her, "You're gonna pay for that." She laughed, "No!" and jumped up. She quickly grabbed her towel and wrapped it around her. She went to get out but Daniel grabbed her waist and put her over his shoulder. She screamed and grabbed his pants, "I'm going to get you! Daniel! Put me down! This isn't right! I'm not dressed!"

Daniel took her into the bedroom and reached up to grip her buttocks through the towel. He smiled when he heard the air she sucked in when he did so, "It'll be fine, darling. You got me all wet. Now I plan to return the favor."

"You're not getting me all wet! You're assaulting me!" She listened to herself and she just had to laugh in the end. He tossed her on the bed and watched the towel unwrap itself when she bounced back up and plopped down on the bed.

Julie quickly grabbed the towel and covered herself with it like a blanket. She bit her lip, smiling, as she looked up at him. He took his boots off and tossed them aside so he could climb on the bed. He crawled up so that he could hover over top of her.

She looked up into his eyes and tightened her grip on the towel. She no longer smiled. She was nervous and it was written all over her face. He looked down at the towel. He reached up and grabbed her hand. She wouldn't budge. He leaned down and kissed her hand. He felt her hand loosen and he lifted it so he could turn it and kiss her palm.

Her other hand still held the towel. He looked up into her face and lifted her hand abover her head and intertwined his fingers with hers. He held her hand there as he grabbed her other hand and questioned her with his eyes.

She barely breathed at all. Her fingers loosened and grabbed his hand. He smiled slightly and brought her hand up to lay on his shoulder. He kept her other hand where it was. He looked down at the towel and decided to sit up.

With him sitting on her, without crushing her, she felt an excitement that she only felt around him. She brought her arms down and rested her hands on his legs. She could've sworn that she saw his trouser tighten at his groin.

Daniel grabbed end of the towel and slowly slid it away from her body. He watched as her tight nipples puckered out from under the towel, begging to be plucked. He tossed the towel to the side and looked down at her with fire in his eyes.

Julie ran her hands up his legs and muttered, "I'm scared." He ran his hands up her stomach and grabbed her breasts, "Why? I assure you, it won't hurt when you're with me. I promise. It'll feel good. Like nothing you've ever felt before."

She sat up to her elbows, "But ... I've never done this before. I only had one experience and it wasn't a very good one. I know it's going to be different than that but ... my mind keeps going back to that time and I can't help it."

Daniel layed her back down on the bed and framed her face. He kissed her until she relaxed against him and her arms went around his neck. He pulled back and whispered, "I understand why you're scared. But do you trust me?"

She stared into his eyes for about a minute and nodded, "Yes. Of course." "Then let me love you. I can show you how it's supposed to be between a man and a woman. It's magical." He explained. Julie bit her lip and nodded, "Okay. But one question ... why am I the only one that gets naked every time we get intimid?"

Daniel smiled and tweaked her nose, "Your wish is my command, my lady." He rolled over and stood. Julie sat up and scooted to the side so she could sit up while she sat there. She watched as he took his took his socks off and undid his trousers. When he started to pull them down she looked away.

After a few moments Daniel came over and touched her chin with his fingers. He tilted her head back so he could look into her face and smiled, "You asked for this but you're too shy to look?" She stood and wrapped her arms around his neck, "I am not looking at ... that."

He chuckled and kissed her nose, "You will in time. You'll become curious." "I saw what it looks like. And it's small and nothing to look at." Daniel raised his eye brows, "Really? Not all men are the same. Take a look. I dare you."

She gasped with a big smile on her face, "No! You can't make me!" He kissed her and ran his hand down her arm. He took her hand and led it down. When her fingers touched him she wrapped her hand around his length and measured it with her hand.

Her hand stilled and she pulled back from the kiss, startled at its size. It was thick and long. She didn't expect anything like that. He smiled, "Now is that small?" "No! That's way too big! How does it not hurt?!" She exclaimed.

He layed her down on the bed and climbed on top of her, "Don't worry. With the right preparation, it won't hurt at all." "What preparation?" She asked. He placed a finger to her lips, "Shh. You talk too much." She frowned. She just didn't understand how this was going to work.

Daniel kissed her and grabbed her breasts. She relaxed to the bed again and he broke the kiss, kissing his way down her body to her breasts. She watched him as his mouth and tongue worked its wonders on both her breasts.

Her hands messaged his shoulders and upper back, feeling the hard muscles and strength of him. She heard and felt him groan lowly as he started kissing his way down her body. She squirmed and moaned when he kissed her stomach. "That tickled." She murmured. She heard him laugh against her stomach and the vibration made her squirm some more.

"If you think that tickles then you just wait and see what this does to you." He muttered in a cocky tone, amusement writting all over his face. He grabbed the backs of her knees and raised her legs in the air. He held them there and wide as he bent to bury his head in her womanhood.

Julie screeched and tried to lower her legs so that she could get up but he held her there, she was unable to move. And she didn't really want to. She was just so astonished at his actions. She was heated from her toes to her cheeks. She would die of embarrassment if it weren't for being too distracted by the repetition of the strokes of his tongue causing her pleasure that she never knew she could feel. Especially in any intimid way.

She reached down and tried to touch him but she couldn't reach. She moaned and grabbed the sheets by her hips, "Daniel ...!" She arched her back, her chest rising off of the bed as her head fell back and her eyes closed; unable to keep still.

He finally lowered her legs and moved up so he could kiss her, making her taste her own ecstacy. She moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck. She gripped his hair and kissed him back with all the passion she possessed.

He nudged her legs aside and layed between them. He reached between them and she felt him at her entrance. She held him tighter as she prepared herself for the intrusion. He whispered against her lips, "Relax. It'll be alright."

She sighed and he pulled back, "I want to watch you as you finally experience what you should've had on your wedding night and a more pleasant one. That was robbed of you but I can give you this." She had a hard time relaxing when the worse was about to come.

Daniel ran his fingers lightly up her arm and across her collarbone. He stroked and messaged the sensitive muscle at her shoulder. She sighed and closed her eyes as she felt her body relaxed and her nerves retreat to only her stomach, leaving only excitement and the residue from his previous actions.

She felt him enter her slowly and she gasped lowly, her lips parting to form a perfect O and her eyes went straight to his eyes as he watched her intently. He slowly pushed further and further until he was buried deep inside her. She gripped his shoulders and she bent her knees, widening them, to give him better access.

He groaned with the movement of her hips as she resituated herself, "Did that hurt?" She shook her head and framed his face, "Come here. Please?" He immediately bent his head to kiss her and began to rock back and forth, within her.

He kept it at a slow and steady pace at first but the pleasure he felt and the pleasure he took from her moans vibrating from her throat to her mouth and to his mouth ... he lost control. He started to drive into her with greater force and faster.

Julie found this savage-like and very satisfying. She could no longer kiss him. She couldn't breathe, kiss him, and not make a sound all at the same time with the pleasure that was unraveling within herself. She was far too unfamiliar with these feelings. But she had hopes that she would in the future.

She pulled back from the kiss and tilted her head back. He kissed her neck and muttered something soft and gentle but she could not hear the words. She was incoherent as if she were drunk. And she was. She was drunk in their passion and desire. In their ecstacy.

She just realized that her nails were digging into his back but she had no desire or strength to move them. She felt herself drain as relief finally filled her. She grew quiet and so did he. A moment later he collapsed on top of her, not moving, still inside her.

She stroked his hair as they both panted, paralyzed in the aftermath. His head lay on her breast as if it were a pillow. And for him, it was. She whispered, "Daniel ..." "Yes?" He mumbled, aspirated, as if he just ran a marathon or chased runaway carriages. She laughed, "Nevermind. I can't seem to think much at all right now. I'll tell you in the morning." He chuckled and rolled onto his back, pulling her with him so that his arm was around her and that she layed half on top of him. She pulled the covers over both of them and rest her cheek in his chest, a smile settling on her face as sleep immediately found her.

Chapter 15

Julie woke the next morning to pleasure. Drowsiness and sleep still clouded her brain and the pleasure she was feeling wasn't helping. She heard a moan that she thought came from her own mouth. But she wasn't sure.

"That's it, babe. Wake up." Daniel's voice sounded. She opened her eyes and realized that it was actually happening. She was on her back and Daniel was leaning over her with the biggest lazy smile. His hand was between her legs, stirring up feelings in her that she was just beginning to come to know.

Her legs opened on their own accord and her heels pressed into the bed. She was lifting her hips to him. She moaned, "Daniel? What are you doing?" He whispered, "Exactly what I did last night. All over again."

Julie turned her head to the side so that she could bury her face into his chest, "But ... we can't ... it's ... morning." "Yes we can." He contradicted in a arrogant tone. "This is a much ... much better way to greet the morning."

She reached down and grabbed his wrist. She tried to pull it away but he wouldn't budge. "You can't do this. It's not right." He slid a finger inside her where she was tight and she pulled back to glare up at him; although it was more seductive than anger.

He stuck another finger in her and she gasped. He slid them out to where only the tip of his fingers were still in her and pushed a third long finger inside her as he pushed back in. She moaned and grabbed his face.

She pulled him down and kissed him. He chuckled and climbed over top of her as he kissed her back. His fingers left her but was immediately replaced. She opened her legs as far as she could, giving him full access. But she wasn't about to wrap them around his hips for further encouragement.

He pushed in as far as he could go until he was buried inside her. She whispered, "Daniel ..." But his lips covered hers before she could say another word. When he pulled back she pulled back to whisper his name again but he pushed back in so hard that she made a low but high pitch noise. She was shocked by the aggressiveness that he was using.

She looked up at him and he did it again. She gasped asked, "What ..." She pushed her head back, arching her neck towards him, moaning when he did it again. He kissed her throat, "Dont worry, little lady. It's alright."

She wasn't so sure that she was going to be alright. She wasn't so sure that she was going to survive this. "Hold on to me." He groaned as he kept pounding into her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and she could feel his muscles tense beneath her. She buried her face his neck and soon she couldn't help but yell out for him. She was sos unknown to this but whether she died this kind of attack that he brought on her ... she didn't care. It was aggressive but her body was responding to him just as it was last night.

***

When Julie woke up this time she was laying on her back with the sheet over her, covering most of her but some of it was just tangled with her legs. Daniel wasn't in the bed with her. Instead she saw his long hair covering his bare back, reaching a little bit down past his trousers as he stood looking out the window. Trousers were the only thing that he was wearing.

She sat up and held the sheet to her. He heard the movement and he turned around to look at her, "You're awake. Good afternoon." He started to take a step towards her but stopped when he saw her tense. She was scared of what was to come. But she had to speak to him. She couldn't just not talk to him. She swallowed, "How late is it?"

Daniel frowned and walked over to her. Ignoring her moving over to the other side of the bed, he climbed on the bed and crawled over to her. She didn't want to be near him right now. He continued to go over to her but she moved over some more but screeched as she fell off of the bed and on the floor.

"Julie?" Daniel got off of the bed and sat on his knees beside her. He wanted to reach out and touch her, bring her close to him, hold her and tell her how sorry he was for frightening her and asssure her that he would never hurt her but she would have never let him right now.

She sat up and wrapped the sheet around her. She brought her knees up to her chest and looked down. He touched her knee and she flinched. He cursed under his breath and dropped his hand to the floor, "Julie, please. Did I hurt you this morning?"

She shook her head and whispered, "No." He shouldn't have done it. It was too soon. He knew it was but she just looked so beautiful in the morning after a night of sex and a relaxed look on her face. She never looked more relaxed than when she did when she was sleeping. When she was awake she was always so tense, cautious. And he wanted her so bad, he couldn't resist.

But he was wrong and now he was paying for it. She's been traumatized with what Bertly did to her and he could tell that someone had hurt her before. She was fragile and not ready for anything like she had gotten this morning.

"Julie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that this morning. I was rough when I shouldn't have been. I knew you weren't ready for that yet but I couldn't help myself. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." He apologized quickly.

She looked up at him. She didn't move or say anything but the way she looked at him told him that she was welcoming his words. He touched her knee and was relieved that she didn't flinch this time, "I'm really sorry. I won't hurt you. Please."

He could see the tears in her eyes. He had scared her so much. He could see the fear in her eyes. Dammit! He cursed himself in his head. He would never make that mistake again.

Julie took a deep breath and sighed. She had to calm down. He didn't hurt her but ... it scared her. She took his hand that was on her knee and his warm fingers immediately wrapped around hers. He gently started to pull him towards him but let her make her decision.

She got up and moved to straddle him. He wrapped his arms around her as he held her in his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him, "I didn't know that ... it would be like that. I didn't mean to accuse you of ... anything ... you just frightened me. I've seen aggressiveness in my lifetime and I don't wish to see anymore if I could have my way."

He layed his cheek against her breast and sighed, "I'm so sorry. I wasn't planning on being as rough as I was with you this morning. It was too soon. Please forgive me." She kissed his hair, "I forgive you." She wiped the fresh tears away from her eyes and took a deep breath to settle her.

"You know I would never hurt you, right?" He pulled back to look up at her. She looked down at him and started toying with a strand of his hair. She looked at the hair she had in her hand. That hair had been around her like a cocoon when they were making love. It was so long.

She asked, "How come you let your hair grow so long?" "I've been running for a long time and even before that ... I was just against society." He replied in a nonchalant tone. "Julie." He said, a demand in his voice that he knew she would understand.

Julie looked at him and he cupped her cheek in his hand. He ran his thumb along her lips, "I would never hurt you. I promise. I'm going to protect you. I won't let anyone hurt you anymore. I know your father has hurt you. I'll be here ready to listen when you want to tell me but I'm no fool. So don't try to lie to me about that."

She closed her eyes and climbed off of his lap to sit beside him. She hugged his arm to her and layed her head against his shoulder. She sat with her legs folded in front of her. He layed his hand on her knee and squeezed gently, "It's okay. I won't let anything happen to you. You can trust me."

She sighed and kept her eyes closed, "After mom died ... it was like was punishing me for her death. He'd have my hands and feet tied together. Gagged but I could still see. He didn't blind me. My hands were tied behind my back.

"He made a small wooden coffin. He knew it was too small. He had said that it made the impact on me even greater. He was drunk a lot then. I blame it on his drinking making his already bad tempered abusiveness even worse.

"He'd have me tied up like that and have three prisoners put me in the coffin. He would always pick the ones that were either truly sadistic or just wanted revenge for the beatings they got and would take their anger out on his ten year old daughter.

"They'd sometimes drag me by hair or my feet so that I'd bang my head along the way. They'd punch me sometimes, say call me the most foul words. Papa loved it. It made him happy to see the daughter that looked so much like his dead wife suffer at the hands of convicts.

"By the time they had me in the coffin I was exhausted and barely fought as they closed and locked the lid to the coffin. It was completely dark. No cracks. He made it perfectly. My legs were bent and to the side so that I could fit in it.

"They would keep me in there for hours while I screamed and they would do it everyday. They finally stopped when I turned eleven when one of the convicts purposely broke my leg. He had him hanged and then he stopped drinking. Of course he would have a drink here and there when we had guests but he would only take a sip of it. Just for show.

"He was never abusive before when mom was around. He wasn't even bad tempered. But once she died ... he loved her so much and he resented me for looking like her. I resent myself for looking like her. For being that constant reminder.

"I couldn't mourn her and cry for her because if Papa thought that I was even thinking about her, he'd take his belt to my backside."

Daniel put his arm aroun her and brought her into his arms, "I could kill him for what he did to you. It wasn't fair and it was immoral. I swear to god, if it's the last thing I do I will not let anyone say another bad word to you, yet alone harm you.

"All that hurt is locked up inside you. I'll take care of you, Julie. I promise." She hugged him back and cried silently into his chest.

Chapter 16

Julie was curled up on the couch in the library, just lounging there. She's been alone with her thoughts for the majority of the day. Too long, Daniel thought as he leaned his shoulder against the door frame, arms folded across his chest, feet crossed at the ankles. She was so deep in thought that she hasn't even realized that he's been standing there for the past twenty minutes. He decided to make his prescence known now. He missed her today. Far much more than he should have.

"I can't take this anymore." He said. Her head popped up and she looked at him with surprise. She muttered, "How long have you been standing there?" "A while." He answered as he crossed the room to stand a few feet away from the couch. He wanted to be near her but he wanted to give her the space she needed.

She sat up and put her feet on the floor, smoothing out her dress, "I didn't hear you come in. I guess I was just ... distracted. I'm sorry." He nodded and put his hands in his pockets, "Yeah. I've noticed. Julie, please. The distance between us is killing me. Tell me what's wrong so I can fix it."

She took a deep breath and sighed. Finally she looked up at him and spoke loud and clearly, as if she was forcing herself to say the words, "I have to go home. I can't stay here any longer. I have my brothers that I miss and we can't live in this fantasy you've built here. I'm not your wife, nor will I ever be.

"You have to let me go home." Her words shocked him. He knew that he could never be with her or be the man she wanted or deserved. He knew he couldn't have her. He had nothing to offer her but a life of running from the law and danger lurking around the corner if he was found by his uncle. He couldn't do that to her or anyone.

And he knew that he had to save her but he couldn't keep her here forever. But he couldn't let her go home and he had to figure out what to do with her. But he didn't want to. He didn't want this to end. It couldn't. It would. Just not yet.

Daniel went over to her and sat beside her. He took her hand but she pulled back. She even moved over a couple inches, trying to separate herself from him. He sighed, "Julie. You're not going anywhere. I haven't figured out what I'm going to do with you but you can't go back there. He's going to kill you one of these days. And he's likely to beat you for running off with me even though I didn't give you choice in the matter.

"Knowing those things I couldn't just let you go back home." She shook her head, "Mr. Horminion, I can't stay here. I won't stay here. You may not let me go but if Jeffrey comes back I won't hide from him this time."

He frowned and asked, "Since when ..." He stopped as realization hit. She's been putting a distance between them all day today. She was still trying to do that now. He moved over to her and grabbed her shoulders gently, "Julie, stop it. It isn't working. You're not going to push me away. I'm not going to back off just because you feel that you have to go back to him.

"You're afraid but I'm going to save you. You won't have to be afraid anymore." She closed her eyes and when she let her breath out it was shaky, "I can't think ... logically when you're close to me like this. Please ... I have to go back."

Daniel followed her as she tried to move away from him. She finally stopped when there was no more couch to move over on. He framed her face, "Please, don't this to me Julie. I need you right now as you need me."

Julie was trying to stay away from him all day. And it only led to this. She knew she would never be able to go back when his lips came crushing down on her lips and she kissed him back with all the passion that was bubbling up inside her. Now she couldn't think of anything. At least not while he was kissing her like this.

She pulled back and his lips ran down to her neck as he started to undress her. She grabbed his shoulders and asked, "Daniel? Can you close the door first? Please?" He groaned and stood, "Sorry. I forgot where we were."

He went over and closed the door. He also locked it, she knew, when she heard the clicking of it. She stood and started to undo the buttons to her dress. Daniel turned and saw her. He just stood there and watched.

Once she had disposed of all clothing she sat down on the couch and brought her feet up on the couch. She brought her knees to her chest and smiled at him. She was covering her nakedness. She felt awkward but felt that it was oddly right.

Daniel groaned and the place at his trousers grew tighter. He quickly ... almost ripping ... undressed. She looked away as soon as his trousers started going down. Then she felt his hand on her knee, "Please look at me, Julie."

She looked up at him and he sighed, "You know that's not what I meant." Julie grabbed his arm, "I-I can't. Please. Not now. Just kiss me." He didn't kiss her though. Instead he pulled her legs out and moved her so that her upper body layed on the couch and her head was getting pushed ever so much into the cushion. He pulled her legs up to lay against his shoulders.

He kissed her inner ankle, "I want to watch." And he wasn't talking about her face, she realized. He looked down at her and watched as he penetrated her. She gasped and moaned, "Daniel ... why are you doing it like this?" "There are other ways to make love, Julie. It's alright. Don't be afraid."

And she moaned and took pleasure as he plunged into her. Her hands reached up for his and he took her hands, holding them in the air as he continued to watch the place where they connected as one. She was left writhing and crying out in pleasure. She could do nothing but accept the pleasure. She wondered if he took pleasure himself but knew that he always did when he spilled his seed into her again, as he always did when they made love.

Chapter 17

Julie sat at the desk in her room and just stared at herself in the mirror. What was she going to do? She knew she couldn't stay here but she couldn't leave; Daniel wouldn't allow it. She was a prisoner here. A more than willing prisoner. She wished with all her heart that she could stay here and live in solitude and peace with him but she knew that that wasn't possible. He was a convict and she was the daughter of the man who owned him and engaged to a madman. She did not see this for her future when she was young.

There was a knock on the door and Daniel peeked in and smiled, "Hey, what are you doing hiding in here all morning? It's almost mid-afternoon." She smiled slightly and sighed, "Just thinking." He came in, closing the door behind him, and came over to half sit on the edge of the desk as he looked down at her, "What are you thinking about?"

Julie looked away from him and shook her head, "You wouldn't want to know." "Yes I do." He said gently. "I could probably take a guess. You're scared and worrying about what would happen if the bastard overseer were to ever find us here?" She looked at him and nodded, "Along that line. I don't even want to think of what he would do to both of us if he found us but ... if he doesn't find us then what are we going to do, Daniel? We can't stay here and live like this forever."

Daniel reached out and cupped her cheek in his hand, "I have thought about that too and you just let me worry about that. Do you hear me? There's nothing to worry about." She took a deep breath and said, "Daniel, that would be impossible. I can't just-" "What did I just say? Don't worry about it." He cut her off and leaned down, his head was so close to hers and her heart skipped a beat.

She sighed as raised her face towards his, "I can't stay-" He rushed and cut her words off with his lips. She moaned a tiny protest against his lips and her hands reached up to rest her hands on his shoulders. He pulled back to whisper, "And definitely don't say that." Then his lips touched hers again.

They both jumped back when the bedroom door burst open and men came in with rifles pointed at them. She gasped as she saw Jeffrey come in behind them. He found them. Jeffrey laughed, "Well, well, well. Don't look so surprised, Julie. I knew you were here the first time I visited here. I found your dress in the closet but I knew that the staff wouldn't tell me where you were hiding."

Daniel stepped in front of me and asked, "How did you get past my staff here without them warning us? They obviously couldn't have stopped you but they would've warned us." Jeffrey answered, "A stampeded of men with rifles coming through the front door and pointing it at them muted them." He looked over at Julie and smiled, "Ready to go, darling?"

Daniel's muscles tensed and he growled, "She's not going anywhere with you." Julie could hardly breathe but when four of his men grabbed Daniel and fought with him she screamed and covered her mouth. But they restrained him and held a rifle to his throat. "No! Leave him alone!" She screamed.

Jeffrey snapped his fingers and two men headed towards her. She fought as hard as she could as they grabbed her arms and dragged her over to Jeffrey. She pleaded, "Please Jeffrey, just let us go." He grabbed her chin roughly and frowned, "You are mine. You will never be his, darling, remember that." She closed her eyes and swallowed, "Please, please. Leave him alone, then. Just leave him here ... and take me with you."

Daniel growled, "Leave her alone! I'll kill you if you touch her!" Jeffrey chuckled and ran a finger down her cheek, "Why should I let him live when he seems very determined to kill me?" She sighed, "Jeffrey, please. This wasn't his fault. It was mine. It was my idea and I ordered him to take me away from there. Please if you're going to punish someone then ... punish me."

"That's not true and you know it!" Daniel growled. "Leave her alone, you son of a bitch!" The man holding the rifle to his neck removed it from his throat long enough to hit him in his gut with the butt of the rifle and then placed the rifle back at his throat.

Julie cried and looked up at Jeffrey, "Please, Jeffrey. I'll go with you. I will. You won't have to drag me out, I swear. Please, leave him alone." Jeffrey went over to the men holding him and gave them orders that Julie couldn't hear. When he came back over to her he smiled, "Alright, my dear, you have my word, he won't be harmed. Ready to go? Your father's been worried sick about you, you know."

She nodded and when the men let her go she placed her hand in the crook of his elbow. They headed out of the room first and she looked at Daniel. His eyes were glaring at Jeffrey's back but he looked at her as soon as she looked at him. His eyes were horrified at the events that had just happened. This was the inevitable and she knew it was coming.

Once they were outside in front of the mansion two shots ran out and Julie gasped and swung around to look up at the room that was hers. She screamed and started to run back inside but as soon as she did Jeffrey wrapped an arm around her waist and dragged her kicking and screaming over to the horses.

Jeffrey set her down and turned her around, his grip on her arms were brutal and likely to leave bruises, "Enough!" She cried, "You said you wouldn't hurt him!" He laughed, "You didn't think that I'd let him live, did you?"

She muttered a curse and swung at him. He could've easily caught her but it was so unexpected that her hand contacted his cheek in a hard slap. She went to swing at him again but this time he caught her wrist and glared down at her, "Why, you little bitch." He then slapped her across her face and pulled something out of the saddle of his horse; his men were already mounted.

Jeffrey pulled rope out and tied her hands together in front of her, "You'll learn not to even raise your voice to me once we get back." He lifted her up and sat her in the saddle before climbing up to sit behind her, his thighs were on the outside of hers and she could feel every part of him behind her. She sat up as straight as she could, even when he put his arm around her waist for support. She looked at the mansion as the slowly started off down the road. An image of Daniel laying on the floor with blood spilling from his chest appeared in her mind. She turned her head away and closed her eyes as sobs silently broke free.

***

 It was dark by the time they stopped at Jeffrey's mansion that her father had given him as a very early wedding present. Jeffrey dismounted and then pulled her down from the saddle. Her legs were sore and she had to lean on him for support to keep on her feet; although being this close to him made her nausous.

The other men had rode on; probably convicts that were promised to have their sentence shortened if they cooperated. Jeffrey led her inside and handed his coat to the butler, "Have a hot bath ready for me and fetch Mrs. Horris. She'll need to tend to my fiance. Have her wait in her room. Send two footmen downstairs." The butler gave one nod and turned on his heels to obey his orders.

Jeffrey led her downstairs into the basement but it was too dark for her to make anything out. He turned her towards him and her hands became free as he cut the ropes. She rubbed her wrists and asked, "What are we doing down here?"

He turned her around and soon she was pressed against the wall. He lifted her one arm and she heard a metal clink. She tried to bring her arm back down when he let go but the metal around her wrist held her in place. He did the same with the other. Her cheek was pressed against the wall as she tried to see what he was doing behind her. He took a knife out and ripped her dress open, exposing her back before he walked away.

He lit the candles in the room and she saw him standing there with two footmen standing behind him, just watching. But what caught her attetion was the leather whip in Jeffrey's hand that was used to whip the convicts when they disobeyed them.

Her eyes widened at him as he let the whip unravel. "You can't be serious?!" Jeffrey laughed, "I am very serious, darling. You will never disobey me again after this." She turned her head away as he lifted the whip. She screamed when it came down on her back. And then again. And again. And again. She gripped the chains that held her to the wall. A couple times she hit her head on the wall from her thrashing.

She didn't know how long it was but when he finally stopped she cried and slumped to her knees even though that put a little strain on her wrists, not too much. "One hundred lashes should change your spirit. Unchain her and carry her up to her room."

The two men quickly unchained her and put her arms around their shoulders as they dragged her upstairs. They were tall so only her toes touched the floor and barely. Once in the room they layed her down on the bed on her stomach and left, closing the door. A woman; who she assumed was Mrs. Horris, immediately went to work on cleaning her up and taking care of her back.

Chapter 18

Julie was laying on her stomach in bed in her nightgown with the blanket up to her waist the next morning. She couldn't move without it hurting severely. The door opened and Jeffrey came in, closing the door behind him. She cried, "Please leave me alone." He went over and sat on the side of the bed. She groaned as the shifting of the bed caused a shot of pain to explode in her back.

He held a finger to her lips, "Shh. We have guests. Your father and your brothers are here. All three of them. They're coming up here to see you and they don't know about your injuries. You are to tell them that that convict whipped you when you tried to escape. If you don't then I can always make your punishment more severe. Do you understand?" She nodded, "Yes." He pulled handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped her cheeks, "You need to stop crying. It's bad for your complexion." He chuckled and left. She closed her eyes as she thought of blackening Daniel's name. Could she do that to him? To the man who tried to save her life? To the man who died because of her?

A few minutes later the door open and her father came in, followed by Henry, Percy, and Jacob. Her father stayed near the door and asked, "Still in bed at this hour, daughter?" Julie sighed, "My back hurts but ... I'll be alright." Henry went over and sat on the side of the bed but he stilled when she groaned and squeezed her eyes shut. He frowned, "You've been crying recently. Julie, how bad is your back hurt?"

She looked up at him and just stared at him. Could she do this? Jeffrey didn't come in with them but she wasn't getting away from him so that didn't neccessarily mean that she was safe to tell them. He sighed, "I'm going to have a look at your back. Just stay still."

"It's covered in bandages." She whispered. "What happened?" Percy asked. She looked down at the floor and took a deep breath before whispering, "I-I tried to escape and .... Da-Mr. Horminion ... he ..." Her father snapped, "Well spit it out, girl. What in God's name did he do to you?"

"He whipped me. He gave me one hundred lashes ... Jeffrey found me and killed him." She whispered; a tear escaped from the corner of her eye to be hidden in the pillow. "Then he brought me here and took care of me." Henry stood and went to stand at the foot of the bed; all three of her brothers looked as if they didn't believe her in the slightest.

Her father smiled and took a couple steps towards her, "I knew that convict would be trouble. And I also told you the Mr. Bertly would make a perfect match. Don't you agree with me now?" She sighed, "Yes, Pa." He nodded and left, happy that he had been assured that the marriage would go through.

Jacob came over to kneel beside the bed and touched her face, "Julie, what really happened?"  She looked at him and just whispered, "I told you what happened." He shook his head, "No you're not. You were never happy about marrying Mr. Bertly and I remember what you told me. Did he do this to you?"

When she didn't answer Henry and Percy came over to stand behind Jacob. Henry folded his arms across his chest, "Julie? Is that what actually happened?" She closed her eyes, "Please, just ... I told you what happened."

"I don't believe you, Julie." Jacob contradicted, anger in his voice. "I seen the way you looked at Mr. Horminion. I heard the way you talked about him. He may be a convict but he didn't seem like the one who would hurt you. But Bertly already has said that he would if you didn't listen to him."

She turned her head away and cried, "I was wrong. Mr. Bertly didn't mean it like that. He's ... a good man." Jacob groaned, "No he's not. Why are you-" "Stop!" She cried, interrupting him as tears fell from her cheeks. "Please! I can't! I-I just can't!"

"Alright. We'll let it go. We believe you." Jacob leaned over and kissed her cheek before whispering in her ear, "I won't say anything to him. I won't do anything yet. Just tell me if Mr. Bertly did this to you. Close your eyes if he did do it." She could see him from the corner of her eyes and there was no way that she could convince him. She took a deep breath and slowly closed her eyes. "Alright." He whispered before getting up.

"Let's go. She needs to rest." Jacob said; anger and disgust leaked in his voice. Henry and Percy kissed her cheek before following Jacob out. She gripped the sheet in her hand and silently cried. That was by far the hardest thing she had to do. She just hoped that Daniel wasn't angry with her for branding his name with lies that were inhumane.

***

Julie layed in bed for the first two weeks while her back healed. Then she was finally able to sit up but her movements were constricted. After a month she was able to move without any pain except for her muscles that were sore from being confined.

After that month was over Jeffrey took her over to her home and formally and publically proposed to her. It was humiliating and he knew it and found that quite pleasing. She accepted, of course, but she dreaded the wait to the day that would become even more humiliating, the wedding day.

And the day came all too quickly. She walked down the aisle with her hand gripping her father's elbow. Her brothers stood by Jeffrey as his best men; their wives as her bridemaids. Everyone else was smiling from ear to ear because this was posed to be the happiest day of this year; but to her and her brothers they treated this as a funeral. The only difference between them was that she managed to hide it barely and give a small smile when she reached Jeffrey, they had open frown on their faces and appeared to be very hostile.

Julie's stomach recoiled when his lips lightly took hers to seal the deal. He led her back down the aisle and helped her into the carriage as they headed back to her home ... her old home. He put his arm around her shoulders and kissed the side of her head, whispering in her ear, "You look lovely. I could just devour you." He chuckled and lifted his head, "Tonight." She turned her head away from him to hide the frown that took over her face. She looked out the window and she swore she had just been chained and handed over to the devil himself.

 The reception was an excruciatingly long torture for Julie. Jeffrey was laughing and talking with her father and a group of men across the room. This was her only chance to slip out so that she could have a few moments to herself. She managed to slip out with little difficulty. She was stopped a couple times by women who envied her marriage and congratulated her on her success but when she finally made it outside she breathed in the fresh air. "Julie."

She jumped at the sound of her name and turned around. She sighed, "Jacob. You startled me." Jacob stood there watching her with a look that made her stomach drop because she knew that he knew the hell she was in; he didn't know exactly what the hell was but he knew it was anything but heaven.

He came over and held his arm out to her, "Henry and Percy have joined Jeffrey's little group to keep him occupied. When we saw you escape through the side doors we figured that this was the chance to talk to you without him hanging over your shoulder."

She took his arm, hesitantly, and walked with him away from the house, "I ... just needed some fresh air. You know how the Australia heat can be." "Yeah." He replied; doubt and anger was in his voice which meant that he saw right through her, as always. She was closer to him out of the three of her brothers. They were like twins.

Jacob stopped when they were a good distance away from the house and turned to her, "Julie, why did you agree to marry him? You didn't have to marry him." She sighed and looked down at the ground, "Yes I did. I didn't have a choice, Jacob. Dad wouldn't believe me at any rate if I told him how Jeffrey really is; even if he did he wouldn't care. You know what he did to me as a child. I signed a contract that he would use if I refused. And I live here, Jeffrey's here everyday. I wouldn't have made it with my dad nagging me and Jeffrey ... for too long before I gave in."

"I can take you away from here." He said. "I can take you away from here right now. I'll take care of you. You don't have to be stuck in this hell." She chuckled, humorously, "Yeah, like that worked real well the first time. The first man who tried to save me died doing so." She closed her eyes and turned her head away from him to hide the tears that welled in her eyes.

Jacob touched her chin and brought her face up to look at him, "Julie, tell me what happened? Starting from when Mr. Horminion kidnapped you." She took a deep breath and sighed, "Jeffrey raped and beat me the night before ... Daniel found out about it and took me away to his home and had a doctor care for me. He kept me there and took care of me. He ... he was just trying to help. But Jeffrey found us and he had his men kill Daniel and brought me back to his place. He whipped me that night for running away like I was a convict."

Jacob's hands were fisted by his sides and he was steaming. He growled, "You are not going back to that man. He is not your husband. Dammit, I'll kill him!" She knew that he could curse like a sailor if he chose to but he never did around her before. She looked up at him, "No, Jacob. You can't. Whether either of us like it or not he is my husband and I'm his wife. There's nothing that can be done now. I have to go home with him tonight. I'll ... I'll be okay. As long as I do what he wants I'll be fine. You don't have to worry."

He frowned down at her, "Why, Julie? Why are you just giving up? You have to fight back. You can't just lay down and obey this monster. He's a brute monster! Why don't you let me help you?!" She closed her eyes, "Because I don't want to anymore. I've been fighting against brutality since mom died. I don't want to anymore. And after he killed ... I don't have the will to fight him anymore. I don't want to live anymore. I just ..."

Jacob pulled her into his arms in a tight hug, "Oh, Julie, don't. He already killed your spirit, that bastard. I've never seen you like this before." She silently cried into his chest and held onto him, "Please, Jacob. Just ... don't do anything. Please, I don't want any trouble for either of us. He'll kill you. I'll be fine, I promise."

He sighed and pulled back to look down at her, "Fine. I won't do anything but I will be sticking around and checking in on you. He won't keep you away from your family and if I find that he's hurt you then I'll take you away from here if I have to take you kicking and screaming."

Julie nodded, "Okay." She knew that he meant it so she would have to lie to him if he ever saw any future injuries. He wiped her tears from her cheeks, "You loved Mr. Horminion, didn't you? You've never addressed anyone by their first name unless they were family."

She didn't realize that she had called him Daniel in front of him. She did love him, she realized now that he said it. She loved him with all her heart and now he was gone and her heart was torn into pieces on the ground for Jeffrey to stomp on. She nodded, "Yes. Jeffrey turned violent when he found myself and Daniel in a ... compromisable situation. When Daniel took me away to his place ... I was the happiest I've been since I could remember. He was so gentle and ... he was my safe haven. I felt safe with him." She smiled sadly as she remembered her time with him that brought her a touch of happiness and sadness.

"Julie. I was wondering where you had gone to. I was starting to worry." That voice broke into her thoughts and she felt Jacob's muscles stiffen. It was Jeffrey. She quickly wiped her face and turned to him, "I'm fine. I just needed some air. It's been a long day and I'm afraid the heat's getting to me."

Jeffrey went over and pulled her into his arms, "You should've said something. I would've been more than happy to escort you." He turned to Jacob and smiled, "I hope you're enjoying yourself, Mr. Mortoff. Or should I call you Jacob now that we're family."

Jacob placed his hands behind his back to hide his fists and to keep them from reaching out to strangle the man and smiled icely, "Quite well, Mr. Bertly. As her brother, I am inclined to request that you take care of her as a husband should. I would hate for there to be a conflict between us. Her being my sister, I am very protective of her as you would understand."

Jeffrey met his gaze with just as much confidence and determination and he also had possessiveness when he spoke about her, "Of course, Mr. Mortoff. I would expect nothing less of you. Rest assured that I love Julie and I will treat her as a wife should be treated. She will live a very happy life by my side." Then he turned to her and smiled, "We should be getting back now. People are starting to leave and so should we."

Chapter 19

A bath was ready for her five minutes after they arrived. Her new maid, Miss. Sarah, had helped her out of her wedding dress and with her bath. She was just a young child but somehow she had managed to come to work for Jeffrey. Now she was finished and just relaxing in the bath, or at least trying to. She was dreading going to Jeffrey's room afterwards as he had instructed but she knew that if she took too long that he would come in here to get her and she wanted to keep the privacy she had in her bathroom for as long as possible.

Miss. Sarah dried her off and brushed her hair. Then she helped her into a satin chemise that hugged her body and barely covered her. It stopped about an inch below her hips, barely consealing her womanhood. Her breasts were practically spilling over the top. She slipped on her robe and took a deep breath. Miss. Sarah opened the door and waited for her.

Julie sighed and slowly left her room. As she walked down the hall she held her robe around her tighter, desperately wishing that she could hide underneath a hundred dresses right now. Sure she would look horrendous but her body would be guarded from him.

She paused outside of his room and closed her eyes. She prayed to God to give her strength to get her through this. She swallowed the knot in her throat and opened the door. The light in the room was dim from just a few lit candles. The bed was empty but the blankets were pulled back. Then she saw him and met his eyes. He was sitting in a chair in the middle of the room. He was clad in only his trousers.

Jeffrey took a drink from the glass of brandy that he had in his hand and smiled, "It took you long enough. Take off your robe and walk towards me." She untied the sash and pulled the robe off. She looked up at the ceiling as she dropped it to the floor. Then she started towards him. When she looked at him his legs were spread and he leaned an elbow on his knee, leaning to the side as he looked at her all over.

When she reached him he set his glass on the floor and sat straight up. He reached out and grabbed her hips, just staring at her for a moment before pulling her into his lap, her legs were on the outside of his as she straddled him. He grabbed one of her cheeks in one hand and the back of her neck in the other.

He started to pull her down for a kiss but she pulled back and placed her hands on his shoulders, ready to shove at him with all her might, "Please, don't. Jeffrey, please don't make me kiss you." He grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her head back, "You let him kiss you."

But instead of forcing her to kiss him he moved to kissing her neck. She could smell the brandy on his breath and made her stomach twist. His hand on her bottom moved her hips back and forth, rubbing herself against him.

Julie looked down at him and she trembled as she fought herself for control. She couldn't let her fear and disgust of this man take over. After a few moments Jeffrey picked her up and carried her over to the bed. Her head hit the pillow and she gasped as she felt the weight of him ontop of her.

Jeffrey slid his hand to her throat, his hold on her was loose. He leaned down and his lips touched hers but she pushed against his shoulders and turned her head to the side, "No!" He squeezed a little on her throat and he yanked her head back to face him, "Don't resist me. This is the only time I will tell you before you're punished."

She whimpered a little as she fought to hold back her tears and let her arms fall to her side and held her head still. He looked back down at her mouth and lowered his head. She closed her eyes and just layed still. She didn't stop him this time but she didn't kiss him back. That she couldn't do no matter how much he hurt her. It didn't seem to matter to him. He seemed to enjoy her passiveness.

She felt her chemise being lifted above her hips and soon above her stomach. He lifted up so that he could pull it over her head and toss it to the floor. He kissed her neck and down to her shoulder. He laughed against her skin, "Try to look a little bit more alive. I want you to lay there and let me fuck you but you will respond when I do." She cringed at his words and looked up at the ceiling.

He pinched her rib between his fingers until she cried out and squirmed, trying to get away from the pain. He released her and chuckled, "That's better." He leaned down and began kissing her breasts. She just looked at the ceiling and she felt a tear trickle down the side of her face and into the pillow. She still laid passive beneath him but when he penetrated her and began rocking back and forth on top of her he demanded that she wrap her arms around him and she did. She groaned here and there as her body naturally betrayed her but her stomach still recoiled and she was sickened by what she was letting him do to her.

***

Julie was feeling ill the next morning; not just mentally but physically. Her stomach was cramping and the pain was unbearable. She was still in bed way into the afternoon. She had to say that it was around four by the time the door opened and Jeffrey came in. She was still in his room.

Jeffrey came over and sat on the side of the bed, "Are you going to stay in bed all day?" She turned her head into the pillow and cried, "I can't! It hurts!" "What hurts?" He sighed; sounding a little annoyed. She hugged her stomach even tighter and cried, "My stomach! Something's wrong!"

He sighed, "I'll send for a doctor right after supper but for right now come down and eat with me." She groaned and sat up, hunched over as she could hardly keep herself upright. Jeffrey stood and took a couple steps away, obviously annoyed by the wait.

She stood, still hunched over, and cried out as more pain exploded inside of her. She saw red and realized that her chemise and thighs were covered in blood that had just spilled out of her womanhood.She cried and fell to her knees, "Jeffrey, please!" He rushed over to her and helped her to the bed, "Dammit, now I'm going to need new sheets. I'll go get the doctor." He layed her down and covered her up with the blanket before leaving.

***

She had a miscarriage. She was with child and she didn't even know it. Jeffrey came in and he didn't look happy. Maybe he did have some kind of emotion for his child. He came over and crossed his arms across his chest, "So you were pregnant." She sighed, "Yes, I'm sorry. If you want to try again ..."

"Try again?" He said, with disgust and anger. "Do you think that this was my child?! Hell no! I'm not medically capable of having children, thank god! No, that was the child of that damn convict! You should be lucky! If I had found out about it before the miscarriage I would've beat that thing out of you! You're a damn whore!" Then he turned and stormed off. She was in her own room now.

She gasped and grabbed her stomach. She was pregnant with Daniel's baby?! Of course, it made sense now that she thought about it. How could she even think that it was that monster's child? She had made love to Daniel a lot more than she had let that poor excuse for a man touch her! She was so stupid! She turned on her side and cried into her pillow, soaking it once again with her tears.

Chapter 20

There was a knock on her door that made Julie sigh. She was sitting up in bed in her robe with the blanket up to her waist, trying to read a book to keep her mind off of the recent events. "Come in." She called out. When the door opened Jacob came in, closing the door behind him, "What is this I hear about the doctor needing to make a visit here already? It's the day after your wedding and he's hurting you already?"

She looked away from him and just looked out of the window. She felt the bed shift and then his hand was on her arm, "Are you alright? What did he do to you?" "He didn't do anything to me this time. I was pregnant with Daniel's baby and I had a miscarriage. Doctor said that I was under a lot of stress which is strange for a woman who just got married, in his words." She humphed, the sound leaked with tears that welled in her eyes.

"Oh, Julie. I'm so sorry. Are you in any pain right now?" He asked, more concerned with her physical being at the moment. She chuckled, "Am I in pain? My stomach still hurts, Doctor told me that the cramps will persist for a few day and that I should stay in bed until they go away. But am I in pain?"

Julie turned to look at him, "I was pregnant with Daniel's child and I didn't even know it. I was so far gone that I put the baby in danger and now it's gone. Daniel's gone. I had a piece of him with me and now he's gone. I'll never see him ever again. I was going to have his baby! I would've fought the devil himself to keep it safe! But now the baby's gone and I just ... I feel like I lost Daniel all over again!"

Jacob hugged her and held her as she sobbed. She was so distraught and the pain that she was feeling inside was not easing at all. She knew that it would not get any easier to deal with and having that knowledge made it just that much worse.

***

After Julie was recovered her father invited them over to stay for the weekend. She was withdrawn during any coversation that they had. Her brothers were there as well. She kept her head down most of the time but she saw the glances the threw her way from the corner of her eyes.

It was now Sunday and they were going home that night. They were having dinner and she was barely touching her food. She jumped a little when she felt Jeffrey's hand touch her leg. She glanced up at him and he was engaged in th conversation with her father as if nothing was happening. Why was he messaging her leg under the table in front of everyone? They couldn't see but how could she keep her composure?

His hand started to move up her leg and she slowly moved her hands to her lap so that no one would notice. Then she grabbed his hand and pushed it away. He didn't persist but she did notice the little lift of the corner of her mouth as he smirked.

"What's wrong, girl? Is the food not good enough for you?" Her father asked. She kept her eyes on her lap and muttered, "It's fine, Pa. I'm just not hungry." Her father snapped, "Speak up girl! No one can understand your muttering."

"She'll be fine. It's probably just her back. That convict whipped her something fierce. Now she's constantly complaining about aches in her back." Jeffrey said. Her father chuckled and shook his head, "Women complain too much. If she didn't start complain before then she wouldn't have had to deal with that convict. She was the one who insisted that we save him. He would've been dead before he had the thought to put her body to good use."

Jeffrey laughed and nodded, "Indeed, you're right. Women and they're mouth get themselves into so much trouble. But lucky I found her when I did and killed the dirty convict. He would've likely killed her and I would be wifeless. She's also lucky he didn't get her with child." Her father made a sound of disgust and shook his head, "Thank goodness! I will not have my family disgraced by a bastard child."

Julie set her napkin on her plate and stood, "Excuse me." Jeffrey grabbed her wrist and looked up at her, "Where are you going?" She frowned down at him, "Outside of some fresh air. The air in here suddenly became foul."

His hand around her wrist tightened and he gave her a stern look. She smiled and leaned down to whisper in his ear, "You may have won me as your prize but let me tell you something. Daniel was much more satisfying between the sheets than you'll ever be." His grip on her wrist tightened more to where it hurt and he whispered in her ear, "We'll see if we can change that by morning."

Julie pulled her hand back so hard that she knocked the tray out of a maid's hands when she did. She looked at the girl and sighed, "Sorry." She turned to glare at Jeffrey. "Would you stop disrespecting your husband, girl?! He saved your damned life!" Her father demaned.

She smiled and grabbed a glass of brandy that was on the table, "What like this?" She turned the glass upside down and just watched as it spilled over Jeffrey's head and down his face. Jeffrey gasped and looked up at her. He glared at her and she knew that she was in for trouble.

Jeffrey stood and walked towards her as she backed away. In an instant Jacob, Percy, and Henry were out of their chairs and heading over to stand between them. Henry took a step forward, "You won't take one step near her in that mood." "Get out my way." Jeffrey ordered.

Mr. Mortoff slammed his hand down on the table and turned to her brothers, "Get out of his way! She deserves a good slap. It's the only way she'll learn to be a good wife." Percy turned to look at him, "What is wrong with you?! She's your daughter!"

Mr. Mortoff stood and pulled the bellpull, "Move out of the way or I will have you bodily removed." "Then that's exactly what you're going to have to do because we will not just stand by and allow him to hurt her." Percy said.

Julie sighed, "No, no. Just stop, no one's going to get hurt because I'm in a foul mood." She walked around them and grabbed a napkin. She turned and cleaned Jeffrey's face, "There." Jeffrey grabbed her upper arm, "Say goodnight, dear, we're going home. I'm in need of a bath and a change of clothes."

She looked over at her brothers and smiled, "Goodnight." Jacob walked over and grabbed Jeffrey's shirt, growling, "We will be over there tomorrow to see her. If you hurt her you'll have us to deal with." "Not a problem." Jeffrey replied, there was just as much of a threat in his voice as well.

***

The ride home was quiet but she felt his gaze on her. She ignored him as she just stared out of the window. When the carriage stopped she was pulled from her seat and rushed inside. Once inside Jeffrey slammed her against the wall and yelled, "What the hell has gotten into you tonight?!" She frowned, "Maybe I'm just tired of being treated like a piece of property. And maybe I'm done listening to you talk about Daniel that way!"

Jeffrey back slapped her, causing her to screech and hit her head against the wall, "He was a convict so I'll talk about him anyway I please!" He then lifted her dress and bent his head to whisper in her ear, "I remember what you said to me. You're not going to get any sleep tonight. You'll be sore in the morning from exhaustion. You'll be begging for more." "Never." She whispered.

He lifted her chemise up with the dress and lifted her up against the wall, wrapping her legs around him so that he could stand between them. She had to grab onto his shoulders for balance. She felt him enter her entrance a little but then she gasped as he pushed up inside her hard and fast. he smiled and just watched her as he pounded inside her. She groaned and gripped his shoulders, "Please, stop. Don't ..." She was disgusted with this and with her body for responding to him. It wasn't like she could help it.

She saw the butler and her eyes widened, remembering where they were. He glanced at them but he kept to his business. The maids that had chores to do in here came in and went to work, looking up at her once in a while. She started hitting Jeffrey's shoulders, "Jeffrey! Stop!"

He looked over his shoulder and ordered the maid's and the butler to just stand around and watch. She cried as he grinned up at her. She couldn't help the involuntary moans that came from her throat but she cried the entire time. After a while he took her upstairs into her bedroom and bent her over so that she had to lean on the dresser and look into the mirror as he pounded into her as hard as he could from behind.

She cried as she looked at herself in the mirror and saw him behind her. She dropped her head so she could see and just tried to find a place in her mind where she could just hide but it was no use. There was no hidding from this, from him.

***

Jeffrey had forced her to do different positions but he was consistent with the speed. He had continued it long into the the night and long into the morning, taking breaks only to change positions. Now Julie just layed in bed trying to relax. Her legs were so sore; she felt like she just finished running for miles in the Australia heat.

The door opened and Jeffrey came in. He went over and grabbed the dress that was layed out for her, "You can't rest right now. Your damned brothers are here to make sure you're alright." She groaned and rolled over onto her back, "But I can't move."

He grabbed her arm and sat her up, "I'll help you dress and help you downstairs but you have to enter the parlor on your own until you're seated unless you want your brothers thrown out on their asses because they don't know their place."

He helped her into her dress and held her up as she limped downstairs. When they reached the parlor he set her completely on her feet and she started to droop towards the floor. "Dammit, Julie." He whispered as he grabbed her arm and held her up. She managed to get her legs to work but barely. He held his arm out to her and she placed her hand in his elbow. Then they entered the parlor.

Jacob was standing by the fireplace with his back towards them, Henry was standing behind him as they were just talking, and Percy was sitting in a chair nearby. Jacob stayed where he was but Henry and Percy walked over to greet her.

"Hello, Henry. Percy. Jacob. It's nice to see you." She said, mechanically. Henry took her hands and kissed her cheek, "How are you?" She smiled, "I'm fine." Her voice cracked a little as her legs fought the pain to hold her up. Percy sighed and looked at her, "Have you eaten today? You look a little pale."

"I'm fine. But a tray of cakes and tea wouldn't hurt. I'll send for it." She said. Jeffrey kissed the side of her head, "I have some work to attend to in my office so I must leave you but I'll have the cakes and tea brought here." "Thank ou." She said. Percy and Henry headed back over to their seats as soon as he left.

Julie went to follow but her legs gave out and she dropped to her knees, planting her hands on the floor so that she wouldn't fall on her face. "Julie?" Percy rushed over to her and kneeled beside her. Henry was on her other side. Jacob had turned around and looked at her, "What did he do to you this time?"

She sighed and leaned against Percy, "He didn't do anything wrong; at least not in the way that you think. He just prolonged ... what married couples ..." Jacob interrupted her, "Ah, I see. So he hurt you so that you'd be in pain but so that we couldn't see anything wrong with it. Well married or not it's still considered rape."

Percy picked her up and carried her over to the couch. He sat next to her and put his arm around her shoulders, "Are you alright? Really? Is that all he did?" She nodded and leaned against him, laying her head against his shoulder, "I'm just tired."

Jacob shook his head, "What the hell is wrong with you, Julie? You can't keep going on like this. He hurt you and took the man that you love away from you but so what?! You need to get over it! You need to get away from him!"

"Jacob! That's enough!" Henry ordered, glaring at him. Julie frowned at him and sat up, "I need to get over it? So what? Well I thought you would be the first one to understand me but I guess I was mistaken. But I'm sorry if I can't do it just as easy as you can. You may not be able to settle down with one woman but I was ready to marry him if it were possible."

Jacob frowned and turned around to let his back face her. Henry sighed and sat next to her, "Julie, what Jacob's trying to say is that you can't let him keep hurting you. We can help you. Please let us help you." She looked at him and asked, "What would you do if something happened to Elena or Earl? Woud you have the will to live after that?"

He thought about that for a momet, pondering how to answer her, "No, I wouldn't but would you want me to live like that? Wouldn't you do everything in your power to help me?" She sighed and nodded, "Yes." Percy rubbed her arm, "Exactly and that's what we're trying to do. Please let us."

She sighed and closed her eyes, "I can't. What will I do? Where would I go? There is no where else for me unless someone were to kill me." Something crashed and when Julie opened her eyes she had realized that Jacob had thrown a glass vase at the wall.

Jacob yelled, "Dammit, Julie! Stop talking like that! I won't let him kill you but if you don't let me help you then there's the possibility that I might not be here to help you! I can't help you if you don't let me!" She sighed and folded her arms across her stomach, "Jake, he's not going to kill me. I promise."

Chapter 21

Jeffrey had taken her with him to the city for their honeymoon. They stayed at a hotel and she went with him everywhere he went. He said that he didn't trust her not to run off while he was gone. But he did take her shopping a couple times. She picked out anything he liked and that was it. not that she was allowed anything else.

"Where are we going today?" Julie asked as she got into the carriage. Jefferey climbed in next to her and closed the door, "We are meeting a group of my friends at Lord Gorger's. You should pay attention on this visit because they'll be visiting us quite frequently at home." She looked ahead at the wall and inwardly sighed.

When they arrived they were immediately escorted to the parlor. There were three men already sitting on the couch with a glass of brand in their hands. "Ah, Jeffrey. It's been a long time, my friend. This must be your lovely wife that you've been telling us about. She is very lovely. She'll do very nicely." One of the men said, smiling brightly at her. He was older than Jeffrey she noticed by the gray in his hair and the lines around his eyes.

Jeffrey put his arm around her waist and laughed, "I told she would. Julie this is Lord Gorger, Lord Norway, and Mr. Olson." Lord Gorger was the man who had greeted them. Lord Norway was a younger man who had a slight beard and was well-groomed. She couldn't say the same for Mr. Olson. He as a middle aged man who had a beer belly, a long beard that was past due for a trimming and when he smiled his two front teeth were the color of wood.

When Jeffrey had said a group of friends, he was literal. By mid-day the parlor was filled so many men that Julie was forced to sit on Jeffrey's lap. She would've stood but he never gave her a choice in the matter. There was at least thirty men there altogether, including Jeffrey. She felt even more uncomfortable because the men were looking at her with hungry eyes. She never went a second with a couple of them eating her alive with their eyes. Some were handsome and clean and some were too hairy and missing too much teeth to tell if they had once been handsome; some weren't handsome but at least they were clean. When they left for the hotel she was relieved to be out of their spotlight. A group of thiry men and one woman wasn't a good situation to be in.

***

Julie was sitting at her desk combing her hair in that same chemise that she had worn on her wedding night. They've been home for a couple months now. It's been half a year now since she lost the love of her life and was forced to marry a monster. It's only been half a year but for her it felt like a lifetime ago.

The door opened and Jeffrey came in, "Come on, honey. We have to go downstairs for a moment." She stood and set her brush down on the desk. She went for her robe but stopped when Jeffrey held his hand up. "You won't be needing that." He said.

She went over to him and asked, "What are we doing?" "You'll see." He grinned and took her arm as he led her our of the room and downstairs. She sighed and just followed him. They entered the parlor room and she gasped when she saw that the same thirty men that they met on their honeymoon were sitting and standing around their parlor. They threw whistles her way and winked at her.

She darted in the direction of the door but Jeffrey grabbed her arm and yanked her around to face him, "Where are you going, sweetie?" She looked up at him, "What the hell's going on? What are they doing here? Why did you bring me down here?"

He ran his finger dow her neck to her breasts, "This is just a business meeting, honey. A sale." She frowned, "And what are you expecting to sell them?" "Your services, of course! Now turn around and show us the rest of the merchandise!" One of the men yelled.

Julie gasped and started hitting at his shouldrs, "You're insane! How dare you?! No!" Jeffrey grabbed her arms to restrain her, laughing the whole time, "Oh yes, Julie, you will pleasure all of them tonight and any night that they wish. And you're struggle is giving them a most pleasant view of your ass." She gasped as she realized that her chemise was pushed above her hips. She quickly pulled it back down and glared at Jeffrey.

He turned her around and let her go. The moment he let her go she made a run for it but he grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her back to stand next to him, "You're not running anywhere." He turned to the men, "Alright, who wants to buy her first?" Lord Gorger sat forward to lean his elbows on his knees as he looked her over, "I don't know. Maybe we'd like to see a little more of the merchendise before we pay for it."

"Very well." Jeffrey turned to her and smiled at her, "Undo the front some, darling." "Go to hell." She muttered. "Now." His hand tightened on the back of her neck and a cry escaped her lips. He didn't stop until her hands went to the top botton of her chemise at her bodice. She undid the top three and held her hands in front of her. "More." Jeffrey demanded. Julie closed her eyes and undid more until she got close to the last one.

Jeffrey turned to them and moved her a step forward, "There. Now who's first?" "I'll pay to go first." Lord Gorger announced. They continued to discuss what order they would all go in and laugh about what they would do. Julie stood there trembling as Jeffrey just held her in place; her neck was becoming extremely sore. She was standing there with her breasts out for everyone to see and they're eyes were constantly on her, devouring her.  This was humiliating and degrading. They were even discussing the price for them to watch while the others had their turn!

"Alright, let's get this going before the night leaves us." Jeffrey said. He pushed her into Lord Gorger's lap, "Hold her while I gather the money." "My pleasure." Lord Gorger wrapped his arms around her waist and his hands slid up her stomach so that his fingers barely touched her breasts. Julie sat straight up and tried to hold her chemise closed as much as possible.

Jeffrey gathered everyone's money and then stopped in front of Lord Gorger. He took his money from him and smiled, "Excellent. Lord Gorger, you're first. Follow me." Jeffrey took Julie's hand and stood her up. He took her upstairs and the men were following behind them like puppies.

When they got to her room she turned to him and pleaded, "Jeffrey, please don't make me do this. I can't do what you're asking of me. Please, please." He smiled and opened the door, "Plead some more, it's very attractive for a woman." He disregarded her request and pulled her into the room. He took her chemise off and went over to stand in the corner, "Come on in."

The men entered the room and stood around to watch but left the area that around the bed clear. Julie held her arms around her, trembling from head to toe. The door was closed and Lord Gorger stepped forward, smiling at her. She backed away from him but stopped when her legs connected into the bed.

Lord Gorger ran his hands down her arms to her elbows and leaned in to whisper into her ear, "You're so beautiful. You have a sexy little mouth that I want you to put to good use." He picked her up and set her on the bed on her knees. He unbuttoned his shirt and undid his pants. He climbed on the bed in front of her and grabbed her arms when she tried to back away from him, "You're not going anywhere."

She gasped when he yanked her forward onto her hands and knees. Her head was just inches away from his penis. He tried to guide her head towards it but she turned her head away from him and tried to sit up. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her head down to where his penis stood right at her mouth. He nudged her lips a couple times, "Open up, babe, don't be shy." "No!" She cried out. He pulled her hair so hard that she couldn't help but cry out and grab his hand that was on her head. He took advantage and pulled her head down before she could close her mouth.

Julie cried but it was muffled by his penis. He tasted horrible and it grew worse when he started to move back and forth. She bit down on him hard and he gasped, pulling away from her. She heard loud laughing coming from the men that watched. "You better get control of her, Gorger!"

Lord gorger sat her up and hit her across the face with the back of his hand causing her to yell and fall to the bed on her side. He turned her around and avoided the swings she took at him as he lowered himself ontop of her, "I was going to be nice but you're going to pay for that." He pried her legs open and quickly shoved himself deep within her that she cried out and froze. He began to move inside her so fast and hard that she didn't have the time to fight back. It half felt like her first time because she wasn't ready for it; she was completely dry but her body soon made the lubricant that was needed.

Julie cried and pushed her hands against his shoulders, keeping her head turned away from him. He was grunting in her ear and she squeezed her eyes shut, wishing for him to stop but he didn't. It seemed like forever but when he finally climbed off of her she relaxed to the bed, forgetting about the others that were in the room. The cheering started up again and she tensed back up.

When she felt a hand on her ankle she turned around and tried crawling away, "No, no, no, no, no!" She heard a man laugh behind her and he pulled her ankle down so that she layed on her stomach. She screamed when he entered her from behind. The weight of him pushed down her like rock. She feel his beard on her cheek and smell the stench of his breath in her face. She cried and looked over at the other men. Her stomach dropped even more when she realized that with each of them having one hour and there being thirty of them; they were going to be at his all night and into the next day.

Chapter 22

Julie was groggy when the man who was on top of her got off of her. By the sixth man, she had given in. By the tenth, she was going in and out of consciousness. When she looked around she saw that the men were leaving the room and that the sun was shinning brightly through the window.

"Darling, you look a little tired?" She heard a man say. She looked over and saw Jeffrey standing beside her bed, smiling down at her. "You made me a lot of money. You should be happy." He said and chuckled when he didn't get a response.

Julie reached up and grabbed his jacket in a loose grip, "Please ... please help me." "You just need some sleep and you'll be as good as new by tomorrow." He reached down and kissed her, "Don't worry, darling, I can wait until later for my turn." He covered her up and closed the curtains to block out the sunlight before leaving. She just layed there and her eyes were as heavy as bricks. She closed her eyes and didn't remember what happened after that.

***

It's been a week since the horrible night that reaped her nightmares every night since then. She still had the bruise on her cheekbone that covered her entire cheek; although it was more of a tanish-greenish color that bruises get when they're healing. Her brothers were frequently trying to visit her this week but she had Jeffrey send them away. She just couldn't face them after what had happened. She was afraid of allowing them to take her away but she was also ashamed of what she had been turned into. She didn't want her brothers, her only true family, to see her as a whore.

It was the weekend and Jeffrey was on a business trip that he opted to leave her behind. She was thankful for that; although it wouldn't lessen her pain or shame but she would be able to be alone with her thoughts for a couple days and not be bothered by him at night. She was sitting in the parlor room on one of the couches reading a book when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in." She called out. Mr. Thorn, the butler, came in and announced, "Ma'am, your brother, Jacob Mortoff, is here. Would you like me to show him in?" She sighed, "No, just ... tell him I went out for a walk and to come back another time."

"I'm tired of being asked to come back another time." Jacob stepped into the doorway and came into the room. Julie turned her head away from him so that her cheek with the bruise was hidden for now. "Ma'am?" Mr. Thorn stood there, asking her what he wished him to do. Jacob interrupted before she could answer, "Don't even think of having me escorted to the door because it's not happening."

She sighed, "It's alright, Mr. Thorne. You may go." He bowed and left, closing the door behind him. "Julie." Jacob came over and sat on the couch next to her. He took her book away from her and took her hands. She jumped off of the couch, snatching her hand back from him, stiffened, and closed her eyes, "Please, Jacob. Don't-"

"Julie, what in God's name is wrong with you?" He interrupted. "I only grabbed your hand. You've ... is that a bruise? He hit you again, didn't he?" She opened her eyes to find him standing in front of her. He reached up and grabbed her chin so that he could turn her head to the side to view the bruise. She jerked her head back, "It's fine. It's almost gone but it wasn't him."

He frowned, "Julie, what the hell is going on here? What has he done to you? You won't see us anymore and it's like it hurts for you to be touched anymore. He has you living in fear so much that you can't stand any contact at all and he's obviously hurt you again. The proof is right there on your face. Julie, talk to me. I'm your family."

She backed up a few steps and turned away from him. She couldn't bare to look him in the face anymore. She fought tears as she crossed her arms across her chest, "Jacob, please leave. And this time ... don't come back. Tell Henry and Percy ... that I said to stay away."

"Julie, I can't do that." He said. She felt his hands on her upper arms and jumped, "Don't!" When he removed his hands he made a loud noise that was heavy with aggravation, "What did he do to you?! Nevermind, it doesn't matter because I'm taking you away from here. I don't care what he's done at the moment, he's not going to hurt you anymore."

"No!" She said, sternly. "I am not going anywhere and if you try to take me with you anyways I will have Mr. Thorn and any needed footmen to physically escort you to the door. Now just leave and don't come back, Jacob. I mean it."

"What has gotten into you, Julie? This is just crazy. I can't do that and you know I can't. We're family." He argued. She could hear the pain and pleading in his voice. She closed her eyes as a tear escaped her eyes, "No ... Jacob, we're not family ... not anymore. Now I'm telling you one last time ... go home and don't ever return to this damn place. Just leave me be."

She could feel the air being sucked out of the room as he just stood behind her. "Julie ..." He whispered but broke off in mid-sentence. After a few long moments she heard his footsteps on the floor and the door close, quitely. She tried to gather herself together but after a few minutes she broke and fell to her knees, sobbing.

***

"So I've heard that you've sworn off your family and that you never want to see them again?" Jeffrey asked her as they ate supper. Julie kept her eyes on her plate as she answered, "You heard correctly." He chuckled, "Why? I would've thought that you'd be nagging me to take you to visit them constantly. Do you blame them for shackling you into this marriage? I don't pretend to be ignorant to your opinion of this marriage or of me."

"I'm very content with this marriage. You're a great husband." She said. "Well, that's sweet of you to say, darling. Tell me why you don't want to see your family? You're going to have to see them once in a while, you know, it's only polite. Your father will be wanting to see how you are from time to time." He asked.

Julie nodded, "I know but I just ... it bothers me when my brothers talk down to me about my husband so I've decided that I won't stand by it anymore. I'm sure you understand. I'm proud of my husband. I'll always stand by you. I'll manage to see them when I have to but that's it."

She looked up at him to find him smiling. He quietly laughed and said, "As you should be proud of me; I give you everything you could ever need or want. I'm a perfectly good husband. They can think of me what they will because it won't come between us, will it, darling?" "Of course not." She replied as she looked back down at her plate.

Chapter 23

It has now been two years that Julie has been married to Jeffrey. She went on business trips with Jeffrey but she only went when Jeffrey told her that he had some business that involved her and some of his friends. On those trips it was only a small group of his friends that she had to entertain.  The group of thirty only came to visit maybe once every two to three months. It was still a short break for what it was but she was still grateful for the break all the same.

When Julie wasn't going on business trups with Jeffrey she was home reading a book, planting flowers in the garden, or taking a walk outside; just doing things at home. She never went to visit her father or brothers more than she had to. When she did have to go she kept to herself and barely spoke to anyone. She spoke when she was spoken to but otherwise she did her best to keep to her thoughts. Her brothers were there on only a few occassions here and there. The tension grew even thicker between them when they were there. She figured that they only went to the family gatherings from time to time to make sure she was still breathing but otherwise they didn't want to see her anymore either.

"Honey, we have some guests tonight." Jeffrey said as soon as he entered her room. She frowned, "Again? I thought they were just here the night before yesterday?" He smiled and leaned in to kiss her, "Apparently they liked the entertainment and can't help themselves."

She has been in bed all day yesterday and half of today. She was still bruised and sore in that area. She sighed, "Jeffrey, please ask them to come back another night. I still haven't recovered from their visit." He slapped her across her face, "Don't disrespect me. They're here for entertainment and they'll get what they paid for. Now they've asked that you just pull your dress up tonight. It allows them to use their imagination as well so you don't have to change into your chemise."

She held her cheek and nodded, "Alright. I'm sorry." He took her hand from her face and kissed her cheek, "It's alright. Just lay down and I'll send them in here one at a time." She nodded and watched as he left. She sighed and layed back on the bed. She waited until the first man entered the room and closed the door to pull her skirt up. He smiled and undid his trousers.

***

 Julie had tears stained on her cheeks as the last man rolled off of her. He sighed and did up his pants before leaving. He was just in there for fifteen minutes but she knew he found no pleasure with her. She couldn't help but cry, pleading him to stop. He usually made sure that he was one of the first men to have her so that he avoided anything like this. He liked his women lively and wild even if being wild meant being relunctant as she had been before she had finally given in; but even when she stopped fighting he liked the woman to be responsive and tear-free.

After about thirty minutes the door opened and Jeffrey came in, leaving the door open. He wasn't happy at all. He walked over to her and grabbed her face, "I thought we had an understanding? They pay me and you please them? I lost money because of you. I had to give him his money back because you were a lousy whore and couldn't please him even a little."

She cried, "Please, Jeffrey. I-I'm hurting. I can't ... I need ..." "A break? All you have to do is lay there. You're muscles may be exhausted but you will do what I tell you!" He yelled. He punched her in her stomach and she screamed. He ran his hand down and underneath of her dress and touched her roughly, "Does that hurt?" She cried and moved her hips away from him but he only followed. She grabbed his shirt, "Please, stop!"

She gasped when Jeffrey was pulled fast and hard away from her. She looked over and saw two men fighting. She pushed her dress down and rolled off of the bed just to fall flat on her front on the floor. She cried when she heard the door slam shut and footsteps coming her way. Hands grabbed her shoulders and turned her around on the floor. "You bitch!" He yelled and started punching her all over her body, her face included. She screamed and floundered around on the floor.

The man pulled off of her and thrown across the room. Another man now stood just a few feet away from her with his back turned to her. She turned on her stomach and managed to crawl under the bed. She screamed when she heard gun shots ring out and covered her ears. She was hurt and barely able to move and she was scared. She didn't know who this man was nor of what he wanted.

She screamed when she was pulled out from under the bed. She tried to fight as he turned her around but her efforts were as good as hitting him with a feather. "Hey, hey hey! Stop! It's alright!" A familiar voice yelled over her screams. She stopped and looked up at the man who was kneeling and holding her in his arms. He ... he resembled Daniel Horminion except that his hair was cut off; his hair just touched the back of his neck. She frowned and whispered, "Daniel? No, it can't be. Jeffrey killed him. Please ..." She licked her lip and she tasted the blood that was there. She also felt the blood that ran down her forehead.

"It's me, my love." He stroked her cheek. "I'm here. You're safe now. Everything's going to be alright. I told you that I'd save you." She turned her head away from him and closed her eyes, "No ... just ... leave me alone ... Jeffrey will be mad." She felt him pick her up and carry her through the room but she just let her head fall back over his arm, her hair falling towards the floor; she just couldn't keep her head up and soon she was out cold.

***

"I couldn't really tell you what Jeffrey has done to her these past two years. She doesn't tell us anything. She hasn't spoken to us at all in the past two years. For the first few months of their marriage she talked to us but then she changed because of him and he didn't want to talk or see us anymore." She heard her brother, Jacob, say to someone.

"She wouldn't talk to you at all? That's hard to believe because she wouldn't let me take her away before because she didn't want to leave you. She was very fond of the three of you." That was the man who had intruded into their mansion and beat Jeffrey up. Did they think that she was still asleep?

"She's changed so much. He broke her spirit completely. The very last time that I visited her she wouldn't let me touch her at all. She was a completely different person." Jacob said. A pain in her head  exploded and she groaned.

"Julie?" Jacob said. She opened her eyes to find Jacob standing beside the bed and the man on the other side of the bed. She frowned, "Where am I? What am I doing here?" Jacob touched her hand but let it drop when she quickly brought her hand back from him. He sighed, "You're safe, Julie. You're at my place. How are you feeling?"

"What?! No! I can't! I have to go back!" She sat up and tried to get up but Jacob sat on the bed and wrapped his arms around her from behind and held her back against him, "Julie, stop. You're not going back there." She put her head down and tried to get out of his grip but it was a feeble attempt, "Please let me go. I have to back to him. Jeffrey will be mad. He'll ..."

"He's dead. I killed him." Came the voice from the man who brought her here. She stopped and frowned, "Why did you do that? He's my husband ... you shouldn't have done that." Jacob let her go and sighed, "Julie, snap out of it. You're not in his control anymore. That son of a bitch is in hell where he belongs. He hurt you and I know the real you is rejoycing and relieved to hear that he's dead."

She tried to stand but her legs wouldn't support her and she almost fell to the floor but instead she fell onto a hard chest and arms were wrapped around her to hold her up. She grabbed onto the arms that held her and kept her eyes down.

"Julie, please look at me. It really is me. I'm alive." He said. She slowly and very hesitantly looked up at him. His features were the same but different at the same time. He had a scar on his right cheek; it was clearly noticable but it wasn't big. Her lip trembled as she realized that it was Daniel. All that time she was with Jeffrey ... all that time that she had given in and given up on life ... all of that time ... he was alive.

She covered her mouth as she cried, "But he shot you ..." "No, he didn't. He just wanted you to think that he shot me." He interrupted. Daniel reached up to touch her cheek but she pushed away from him to sit on the bed. She layed down on her stomach and hid her face in the pillow, "Get out! Both of you just get out and leave me alone!"

"Julie?" Jacob touched her back and ignored her when she tried to shake him off of her, "What's wrong? Why won't you just talk to us?" "I said get out! I don't want to see either of you!" She yelled. He groaned and stormed out of the room. Daniel went over and kissed her hair right behind her ear, "I love you, Julie. I wanted to tell you before but we couldn't be together then but now we can. The moment I kidnapped you I loved you and I always will." And then he was gone.

***

Julie just stayed in her room for the entire week. She never allowed any of her brothers or Daniel into the room, no matter how much they tried. She was feeling considerably better but she was still drained of all of her energy and she was still sore in that place between her legs. She just sat on her bed and held her knees to her chest.

The door suddenly opened that made her head pop up and Percy came in. He said, "Don't tell me to go away because I won't. We need to talk." She turned her head away and sighed, "Please just leave me alone. I can't do this again today."

Percy came around the bed to face her and sat on the side, "Then don't push me away." She turned her head to the other side. "Why can't you just look at me? What did we do to you for you to hate us? Do you blame us for this marriage?"

"No. I don't blame you and I certainly don't hate you. It's not what you did ... it's what I did." She whispered. Percy touched her hand that was on her knee and was relieved when she let him hold her hand, "Talk to me, Julie. Tell me."

She brought her hand back so that she could rest her elbows on her knees and lay her forehead in her hands, her fingers tangling in with her hair, "I can't. Please don't ask me to." "I'm asking." He said. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as her vision became blurred with tears, "I tried to fight back but ... I just couldn't. He was too strong and so were they. A group of his friends came to the mansion late at night. Jeffrey made me wear only my chemise and held me in front of him like he was selling a new suit.

"There were thirty men and they all ... they all paid to have sex with me. I was forced to sleep with all of them. He turned me into a whore." She began to cry and she bowed her head, "I was so ashamed of what I had done ... so I couldn't bear to see you, Jacob, or Henry. I couldn't bear for you to touch me or to look at me and see a whore. After that I just gave in and just ... I started being the woman he wanted just to get through the days as best I could. He'd take me on business trips with him and he'd sell me to any man who was willing to pay.

"The same thirty men would come to the mansion every two to three months for their entertainment. They were there the other day and this time they only gave me one to relax before they came back ... that night that Daniel saved me. I haven't even been well enough to take a bath and wash their filth off of me. I'm so dirty. And Daniel ... that whole time I thought he was dead so I had nothing more to fight for ... I was broken. I didn't want to live anymore but ... if I had known that he was alive then I would've ..."

She lost control of her sobs and she couldn't talk anymore. Percy moved to sit further on the bed and pulled her into his arms, "Why didn't you just tell us what he was doing? Why didn't you let us save you? Oh, Julie if you would've just told us ... Julie, you're not a whore. This isn't your fault. What he did was brutal and inhumane. He raped you himself and then let numerous men rape you as well. You didn't do anything wrong. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Do you hear me? We're your brothers and we love you. We will never stop loving you."

Julie hugged him and cried into his shoulder, "I didn't think that you would see me as your sister if you knew the shame I've done!" He held her tighter and kissed her hair, "How could you think that? We'll always be family no matter what."

Chapter 24

Julie was finally able to take a bath the next afternoon. She scrubbed herself clean and just continued to scrub her skin. "Julie! You should've sent for me! Didn't they tell you that I was here?" Jenny exclaimed from the doorway to her bathroom.

Julie continued to scrub her arm, "I just ... I just had to get the dirt off ... it won't ever come off!" She cried as she continued to scrub. Jenny rushed over and kneeled beside the tub, "Give me that, dear. You're rubbing your skin raw."

Jenny took the sponge from her and set it aside so she could work on rinsing her off, "I took it upon myself to eavesdrop when Percy was talking to the rest of your brothers and that fellow, Daniel. I knew that they wouldn't tell me what that monster did to you because it's not my place and you're obviously too distraught to go through that again so I took the liberty to find out on my own."

Jenny washed her hair and helped Julie out of the tub so she could dry her off, "I'm so sorry, Julie. I wish I had been there for you but you never sent for me. Of course I didn't expect you to with all of what you had to deal with. I just wish that there was some way that I could help."

Julie hugged her and whispered, "Just be there for me now. I've missed you so much." Jenny wrapped her arms around her and sighed, "Oh, I've missed you too, deary. I was so worried about you. I feared that he might kill you."

***

Once Julie was dressed she left her room and knocked twice on the parlor door before opening it. She found Jacob sitting on the couch with a glass of brandy in his hand and Daniel was sitting in a chair across from him. Daniel stood and turned around.

She met his eyes and a hundred questions popped into her mind at once; questions that she didn't have the nerve to ask him right now. "Are you alright, Julie?" Jacob asked. She tore her eyes away from Daniel and looked at the wall, "I'm fine. I just wanted to talk to you but I'll come back later."

"No, stay." Daniel said. "I have a couple errands to do anyways." She stepped to the side to let him through and watched as the door closed behind him. "Do you plan to avoid him forever?" Jacob asked her. Julie turned to him and sighed, "No, of course not. I don't know what to say to him. It's been two years. He's changed. I've changed."

"Do you still love him?" He asked, coming around to stand in front of her. She sighed, "Of course I do but you can love someone and still let them go if the circumstances change." "Like you tried to let your brothers go?" He asked.

Julie nodded, "Exactly. You know, I never meant what I said about us not being family. I just ..." He reached out to place a hand on her shoulder, "I know. Percy told us. Julie, let me get one thing clear now, you have nothing to be ashamed of. The only possble thing that you could be ashamed of is father. I know I'm ashamed of him for the way he has treated you your entire life and for shipping you off into that damned marriage. Do you understand me?"

She hugged him and took a deep breath, "Yes. It's easier said than done. Is he ... is Jeffrey really dead?" "Yes." He chuckled, "His corpse was left to rot in that room unless his servants think he deserves the decency of a burial. You don't have anything to fear anymore."

"What about Pa? What does he have to say about all of this?" She asked as she looked up at him. He shrugged, "I don't know. I haven't been out to see him yet but it doesn't matter because there's nothing that he can do about it. And if he were to try to do anything to you then I'd be more than happy to set him back on his ass."

She smiled and pulled back, "That would be a sight to see. Well ... I'm going to go for a walk. I'll see you at supper?" He nodded, "I'll see you at supper." She turned and left the room. She closed the door and turned around only to stop in her tracks when she saw Daniel leaning against the wall next to the door with his arms fold across his chest.

Daniel stood and turned towards her, "Mind if I go on that walk with you?" She frowned, "You were eavesdropping on me?" He shook his head, "Just on that last part. I wanted to talk to you so I waited out here for you." Julie sighed, "I thought you had errands to run?"

"That was just something polite to say so you could have your privacy with your brother." He held his arm out for her, insisting that she take his elbow. She hesitantly took his arm and walked with him outside. They were both silent as they walked. Her fingers spread across his arm, feeling the muscles that were there and she felt a familiarity settle in. A small smile tugged at her lips but it was wiped right off when they reached the garden and Daniel stopped her.

She backed up and leaned against the wall, hoping that he wouldn't try to kiss her. Daniel placed a hand on the wall by her head and bowed his head to look down at her, "We need to talk. Tell me what he did to you. I know only what you had just told Percy."

She didn't want to talk about that either. She turned her head to the side and sighed, "I don't want to tell you." "Why not?" Daniel asked. "It's been two years that I wasn't there when I wish I was. I couldn't save you then but I want to be there for you now."

"I just ... don't want to. It doesn't matter anymore. Jeffrey's dead and I'm ... here; although I have no clue where I'm to go from here." She shook her head, "I don't want to be a burden to my brothers. They're constantly fussing over me."

Daniel reached up with his other hand and caressed her cheek in his hand, her lips lightly brushed his wrist, "First off, you're not a burden to them. You're their sister and they love you very much. They would do anything for you just like I know you would do the same for them. And you could go with me. I love you and I want us to be together and now we can."

Julie's eyes were closed and she felt herself leaning her cheek into his hand, "It's been two years, Daniel. Things have changed. I've changed and so have you." "But I still love you. That hasn't changed." He said, yearning dripped into his voice.

She opened her eyes and glanced up at him but immediately looked down at the ground, taking in the view of his long, thick muscled legs, "Where were you? What did he do to you?" Daniel moved his thumb back and forth on her cheek, stroking it gently, "In order to tell you I have to explain how I came to be convict.

"My parents died when I was just a child in a carriage accident. They were run off of a hill by a drunkard. My uncle became my guardian and the temporary Earl of our estate. He became attatched to the title so when I became of age he tried to kill me. I ran away at that point and with the skills I picked up off of the streets I avoided the men he hired to kill me. He finally got tired of those failed attempts and paid a few officers and Jeffrey to have me arrested for theivery.

"After Jeffrey took you away he had his men escort me to my uncles. For first few months he had me locked in the basement and he gave me this hideious scar on my cheek. Then he decided that he was going to try to work me to death. It took me a good long while but I finally made a few friends and they set me free in the middle of the night. I found the evidence that I needed and had him turned in but instead of going to jail he attacked me and was shot and killed. I got freed of all charges and I immediately came back here. I searched you out because I knew that you wouldn't be living with your father and ... well you know what happened then."

Chapter 25

Julie looked up at him and stared into bright blue eyes that looked back down at her, "I fought back at first. I was so furious when I thought he killed you. But ... things happened and I changed. I started to act like the woman he wanted me to be. I just gave up. I never kissed him though. That was the only thing that I stuck to. He would try but I wouldn't kiss him back.

"I had lost the will to live. I didn't have anything to live for." She closed her eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks, "I think deep down I prayed that he'd one day just kill me. I wanted him to so bad." She opened her eyes and looked up at him. She placed her hands on his shoulders and shook her head, "If I had known that you were alive then I would've fought back everyday. I swear I would've ..."

"I know. It's okay. You don't have to feel guilty about anything, Julie. None of this was your fault and I think if you had fought back everyday that he would've killed you and I would've never been able to save you." He said. She bowed her head, "I know but I can't help it. I slept with Jeffrey and ... all of those other men. I've done things with them that I never even knew was possible and it was just vile and disgusting. I'm nothing more than a ..."

Daniel grabbed her chin and lifted her head. She saw his head descending and she gasped, making a high pitch sound, as his lips touched hers. At first she just stood there, frozen and stiff, but when that butterfly feeling in her stomach came back she was suddenly alive in his arms. She groped at his hair and used her arms to lead his body towards her. His arms went around her and pressed her body to his.

After two years of torture she didn't think that she would react this way. The thought passed through her mind and she remembered everything, making her sick to her stomach. She jumped away from him and brought her hand up to her mouth to try to hold her sobs back.

"Julie? Are you alright?" He reached out for her but she turned and ran inside. She ran blindly so she didn't see her brother and ran right into his chest. He put a foot back to balance himself and grabbed her shoulders, gently, "Julie? What's wrong? What happened?"

"What did you do to her?" Jacob asked. She then heard Daniel's voice behind her, "We were talking and then ..." "It's not his fault. I just ..." Julie backed up and ran upstairs to her room. She closed the door and leaned against it, looking up at the ceiling, crying.

***

There was laughter echoing through the room. The men surrounded her from every angle. They were grabbing at her, pulling her in every direction, gropping at her, ripping her clothes. She kicked and screamed but her struggles and protests were useless. She was suffocating. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't break free from them. She was thrown across the room and slammed into the wall with a force that wasn't humanly possible. But as soon as she hit the floor she got to her feet and ran out of the room; only to be caught in the arms of Jeffrey. She threw punches at his face and chest and kicked at his legs but he just threw back his head with laughter.

"Julie! Julie, wake up!" She felt hands on her shoulders and heard her own screaming. She opened her eyes and went still as she looked around; breathing very heavy and fast that she barely got any air at all. She was in her room, sitting up in bed. Jacob was standing next to the bed and Daniel was sitting on the side of the bed, holding her wrists up in front of her; her hands were in tight fists.

"Julie?" Daniel let go of her wrists and reached out to frame her face in his hands, "It's alright. You're safe. It was just a dream." She looked around the room again, she could barely comprehend what they were saying. When a hand touched her shoulder Julie jumped and looked over but it was only Jacob. "Hey, take a deep breath. You're perfectly safe. No one's going to hurt you anymore."

She closed her eyes and immediately opened them with a cry when she saw the men reaching for her. "Every time I close my eyes I can see them!" She cried. "They'll never go away! They're always there!" She brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs, crying.

Daniel pulled her into his arms and held her in a loose hug, "It's going to take a while for you to get past this and it won't ever heal completey but it will get better. You'll be able to live your life and be happy for once. With everything that you've been through I know that sounds impossible but you will know how it feels to be happy and carefree, I promise."

Julie felt a warm blanket lay over her body while she was in his arms but she was very hesitant to respond to it. She took a few deep breaths until her sobbing settled to sniffles and she layed her head against Daniel's arm, "I'm okay."

Jacob placed a comforting hand on the back of her head, stroking her hair, "Are you sure?" She nodded but when Daniel started to move she grabbed his arm to still him. He rubbed her back and asked, "Do you want me to stay in here with you?"

She nodded and kept her eyes down on her lap. Jacob leaned down and kissed her head, "Try to get some sleep. Everything's going to be alright. You're safe." Then he left and she was alone in her bedroom with Daniel.

Daniel layed her down in bed and climbed in next to her before covering them both with the blanket. Julie hesitantly moved closer to him but didn't go into his arms. Instead, she took his arm and hugged it to her body, using his shoulder as a pillow but that was the closest that she was getting to him.

Julie whispered, "I'm sorry about earlier ... when I ran off like that. I didn't mean to ... I just ... it's hard to have physical contact like that. They're always in my mind and I can't get them out no matter how hard I try." "Don't be sorry. It's understandable and I'm not angry but just know that I would never hurt you. Ever."He relied.

 ***

Julie had woken up that morning to find Daniel still fast asleep. His arm was still in her arms and his hand was resting on her knee. She had managed to climb out of bed without waking him up and dressed.After she had her hair done and slid her slippers on she headed downstairs for breakfast.

Jacob was done at the table already when she entered the dinning room. He stood and went over to greet her, "Good morning. Are you feeling better?" She let him kiss her cheek and smiled slightly, "I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to wake you."

"It was no trouble. I just want to make sure you're alright. I haven't slept any night since the marriage. I've taken a nap during the day but I couldn't bear to sleep at night knowing that you weren't safe." He said. She turned and headed for the buffet table, "You shouldn't have worried about me so much. Sleep is important."

"And you're telling me that you slept through the night there?" He asked. Julie grabbed a plate and placed a muffin on it before heading to the table, "There were nights when I slept by myself." Although they weren't many. She kept her eyes down on her plate.

"Julie, you're my sister. I have to worry about you. That's not going to change." Jacob said. She sighed and looked up at him, "Jacob, please. I don't want to be a burden." He came around the table to kneel beside her and took her hand, "You are not a burden. I worry about you because I love you. We're family."

She sighed and turned to look at her plate, "But I cause you to worry too much." Jacob stood and kissed her hair, "You'll learn differently someday." And then he strode quitely from the room. She was left to quietly eat her muffin. It was her favorite but she never managed to take more than a couple bites. Breakfast for her for the past two years has been nothing but bread and butter.

"Good morning." Daniel said as he entered the room. She looked up as he walked around the table to sit in front of her. He hada plate of food already. How long was he in the room? "I didn't hear you come in." She muttered.

He pushed a fork through a sausage link and took a bite, "I know. You seemed to be lost in your thoughts when I came in. It seemed rude to intrude." She gave a small shrug and looked back down at her plate, "I wasn't really thinking about anything important."

***

 Julie was sitting on the porch just watching the birds and clouds fly by when the door opened. She looked over and saw that it was Daniel. He smiled and came over, "Hope I'm not intruding on your thoughts again." She shook her head, "You're not."

Daniel took her hand and stood her up, "Come with me. I've prepared a lunch for us." She shook her head with a polite smile, "No, thank you. I'm not hungry." "Oh come on," He pulled her towards the steps and smiled, "Please?" His dimple shown in his smile and she remembered how much she loved his smile.

"Okay." She whispered as she let him lead her off of the porch and around the side of the mansion. She saw that a few yards away from the mansion there was a blanket set up for a picnic. She looked up at him and asked, "What's this about?"

"It's a lovely day for a picnic. It would be a shame to waste it." He answered as he led her over to the blanket. She sat down and  he sat across from her. He pulled two glasses and a bottle of whine from the basket and handed a glass to her. He filled their glasses and held his glass up to make a toast, "To a new beginning."

She hesitantly raised her glass a little and looked down into her glass. He took a sip of his whine before saying, "It's usually customary to take a sip after the toast." She looked up at him with a smile in her eyes and then tipped her head back as she set the glass to her lips. She drank the whine until there wasn't even a drop left.

When she lifted her head back up she found him laying on his side, laughing. "Well that's one way to make a toast." He said. She watched as he pulled the food out and set it up for them. When he was done she just sat there and watched him eat. He looked up at her and asked, "Why aren't you eating? You barely ate anything for breakfast."

She sighed and looked down, "I've gained a small stomach over the past two years." "Well that's about to change. You don't have to keep living like you did when you were with him. Eat." He nudged her plate towards her.

She looked up at him and she saw the determination in his eyes. She didn't want to eat anything. She gave in and picked up a half of a sandwhich. She saw the smile in his eyes as he took a bite of his. She nibbled at her sandwhich. They ate in silence but their eyes were never far from each other. It was a comfortable but tense silence at the same time.

When they were done Daniel put the food away and moved the basket to the side. He still layed on his side and he arm propped up so he could rest his head in his hand. He looked up at her and patted the spot next to him, "Why don't you try to relax. The day's not getting any nicer."

Julie sighed and turned around so that her side faced him. She held her knees to her chest and looked straight ahead, "Daniel, I was thinking about this a lot. I still don't want to tell you what happened but ... there is something that you should know." She saw him sit up and move closer to her, "You can tell me anything."

She looked down at her feet and took a deep breath before sighing, "Daniel, a month after I married Jeffrey I found out that I was pregnant. I was three months pregnant. It was yours." "A baby?" He touched her back and asked, "He made you give it up, didn't he? Is it a boy or girl? I can get him back."

"No, Daniel. He didn't." She interrupted him, shaking her head, "I didn't know that I was pregnant until ... until I had a miscarriage. I didn't know what was happening until the doctor came and took care of me. When Jeffrey found out he was furious and said that if I didn't have the miscarriage then he would've forced me to have one himself. He was going to beat it out of me.

"But that doesn't matter anymore. I just thought that you should know that there was a child but ... the doctor said that my body was too stressed and it couldn't ..." Daniel put his arm around her and pulled her against him in a half hug, "It's okay. It's not your fault. I'm so sorry." She could hear the pain in his voice at the same time that he was trying to comfort her.

She layed her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes, "I wanted to have your baby. Maybe then I would've been able to fight through everything. I would've had something to live for." "I know." He said. "But we still have time to try again."

Julie looked up at him and his blue eyes gleamed down at her with just pure love. She reached up and touched her fingertips to his jawline and looked at his lips. She remembered what happened yesterday afternoon when he had kissed her and her stomach tightened. She pushed him down on his back and half layed over him, her head hovered over his. She leaned down and softly pressed her lips to his.

He reached up and ran his hand up her neck to the back of her head to bury his hand in her hair. He took some of the pins that were holding her hair tightly together and her hair loosened around her head. Her lips moved slowly and hesitantly against his and he matched her slowness and let her lead. He didn't want to push her too far.

She pulled back to look at him and saw the fire in his eyes. The passion that was ignited between them was clearly burning him alive. "I love you. " He whispered. She put a finger to his lips, "Shh. Don't complicate things right now." She removed her finger and kissed him again; this time with more passion and fuller.

Julie gasped when he rolled her over onto her back and climbed on top of her without pressing his weight down on her. He spread kisses all over her cheek and down to her neck, "How does my feelings for you complicate anything? I love you, Julie. I can't live without you. If you send me away and never want to see me again ... I will obey but I won't be far. I'll be just down the road waiting for the possibility that you may change your mind ... if you don't ever change your mind then ... then I'll just have to live my life alone."

She couldn't control her breathing or her heartbeat. She was feeling excitement, anxious, and fear running through her veins all at the same time. It was overwhelming. She placed her hands on his chest and curled her fingers into his waistcoat, "Daniel ... I can't. I'm too damaged. I can't ... deal with any kind of relationship right now."

He lifted up to look down at her and cupped her cheek in his hand, "It'll be okay. In time you'll be able to move past all of this. I'll help you. You can live your life and be happy the way you should've been before." She sighed and closed her eyes, "I think I would find the feeling strange if I ever get the chance to. It's not something that I'm familiar with."

"Miss. Mortoff." A voice came from a man nearby. Daniel rolled off of her and they found the butler, Mr. Reeves, standing a few feet away from them. "I beg your pardon, but your brother has requested your prescence in the sitting room."

She sat up and tried to fix her hair as much as possible, "Thank you, Mr. Reeves. I'll be right along." He nodded in acknowledgement and turned towards the house. She sighed, "I wonder what it is he wants. It must be important. He obviously knew what you had planned and he wouldn't have interrupted us if it weren't."

Chapter 26

Julie and Daniel met Jacob outside of the sitting room; his face was full of fury. Julie frowned and took his his hands that he held out, "Jacob? Is everything alright?" "Father's here and he wishes to speak with you. Percy and Henry are in there with him now." Jacob sighed, "You don't have to go in there. I can send him away and tell him to go to hell. He doesn't deserve to even speak your name yet alone see you."

Daniel folded his arms across his chest, a frown settling in his brows, "I'd love to see him although it wouldn't be words that we'd be having." Julie looked at the closed door and then up at Jacob, "I'll talk to him and see what he has to say. It ... couldn't hurt." The look he gave her told her that he knew differently but he turned and opened the door to the sitting room. He went inside and she followed him and Daniel behind her.

Her father was standing in the middle of the room with Henry and Percy on either side of him. He looked to be their prisoner. Her father smiled with tears in his eyes and rushed over to her. She gasped when he pulled her into his arms in a hug.

"Oh, Julie, I'm so sorry. I came as soon as I got word. I have so much to be sorry for. I put you through so much." He cried into her hair. She was so shocked at his embrace and his tears that she just stood there. He pulled back and wiped his tears but more soon followed, "There's no excuse for what I did but your mother was the love of my life. When she died I lost my mind. You looked so much like her and I blamed you for it. I punished you for being beuatiful. I punished you for reminding me of her.

"I had no right to do that to you and I have no right to talk to you right now but I love you so much. I should've told you every single day. I just hope that you can give me another chance. I know I don't deserve it but please."

Julie blinked through tears and cleared her throat, "Can we go for a walk outside? I need some air." He nodded as he wiped his cheeks with his handkerchief, "Of course." "I'm coming with you." Daniel said. Julie turned around to him and shook her head, "It's okay. I'll be fine. I want to talk to him alone."

He frowned, "Julie. He let convicts tie u up n bury u alive. He helped force you into a marriage that could've killed you." Julie sighed, "I know but ... he is my father and ... if I can get another chance then maybe ..." "I won't hurt her, I swear." Mr. Mortoff added.

Daniel walked around them and went over to stand by the window, "I think this is a foolish mistake, Julie." "Then let me be the fool to make the mistake. I've made enough of them so one more won't change anything." She responded before taking her father's arm and leaving the room.

She walked with him down to the river in silence. They stopped once they were down there and she took a deep breath and sighed, "What made you want to be in my life?" "You actually believed that story?" He laughed coldly and it was the father she had always known.

Julie turned to him, frowning, "All of that was a lie? Why?" "You do look just like your mother. I tried to get rid of you by marrying you off to Jeffrey. But apparently that didn't work." He said. "It's not fair that she died but you got to live. I may not be able to bring her back but I can even the odds."

She screamed when grabbed her by her neck and forced her to the ground. They were too far away from the mansion for anyone to actually hear her scream. She tried fighting back but he was kneeling on the ground beside her and her struggle did nothing against his brute strength. He forced her over to the river and shoved her head under.

He was going to kill her! She stuggled to push up from the ground but she only managed to dig her nails into the dirt. He pushed her further into the water so that her arms were now in the water. She threw her arms aroundin the water and kicked frantically. Soon she felt the weight of him sitting on her back so that she couldn't throw him off. She couldn't hold her breath anymore. She soon grew still as she felt unconsciousness near. She let her breath out and closed her eyes. She only wished that she could've rekindled her relationship with Daniel. And then unconsciousness found her and her thoughts were gone.

***

"Come on, Julie. Breathe, dammit!" She heard a voice yell at her. She felt something against her chest and felt the water rush up from her lungs and out of her mouth. She choked as she tried to spit it out. A hand touched her face and turned her head to the side. The water spilled out of her mouth and she coughed as she tried to bring much needed air into her lungs. She gasped loudly as she was finally able to breathe.

She opened her eyes and looked up at Henry. She whispered, "Henry ... Pa ... he lied ..." "I know, I know." He whispered as he stroked her face. She was soaked from head to toe. She guess that her father had thrown her body into the river. She now layed on the grass. She saw that Henry was soaked as well.

She looked around and found Percy, Jacob and Daniel standing close by with worried but relieved faces; they were all soaked. Had they all jumped in after her? "Julie? Are you alright? Percy, send for the doctor." Henry demanded. Julie looked up at him and whispered, "Considerably better now that I can breathe."

Henry chuckled, "Yes, I bet you do." She smiled slightly before closing her eyes and letting herself fall into unconsciousness. Her throat was sore and she was exhausted. She needed some rest but she vowed that when she woke up she would tell Daniel everything and she would marry him. She loved him more than anything in her whole life and she decided that now that she was given the chance she was going to live the rest of her life with him ... and she was going to have as many children with him as she could.

Chapter 27

Julie waited until everyone was in bed to climb out of her bed and leave her room. The doctor had told her that she had to be on bedrest for at least a week but if she still was feeling ill after that time to summon him back. She was feeling fine though and she wouldn't have any of that bedrest, not when her future was on the line.

She tiptoed through the halls until she came to his room. She opened the door and she couldn't see a thing but she sensed his prescence immediately; he was awake. She lit a candle that was on a table near the bed and she saw laying in bed just watching her. He had been angry with her earlier for not allowing him to go with her; she had no clue if he still was. "I thought you were supposed to be on bedrest, why aren't you there?" He asked as he sat up.

 She sat on the side of the bed and sighed, "Are you still mad at me?" He took her hand in his and kissed it, "Is that why you can't sleep? I'm not mad at you, Julie. I could never stay mad at you for too long." She smiled and leaned in to kiss him lightly, "I was a fool. I should've listened to you. Although I can't promise to always listen to your orders in the future but I will listen to you on one thing ... I love you.

"I love you more than anything. When I thought I was going to die today I could only think of the regret of not living my life out with you. I still have fears to get through but with you I know I can get through it. I want to be your wife.

"I want to make many babies with you." She chuckled. "I want to have little men running around that look just like you. Maybe a few girls so we can quarrel when you chase away all of her suitors. We'd make up later that night, of course. And ... I want to start tonight."

"I wouldn't love anything more." He grinned and leaned in to kiss her. She touched a finger to his lips to stop him, "I can't tell you everything that he did to me tonight but there's something that I have to show you before we continue. I have no choice but to tell you tonight but promise me that you won't let this ruin the night. I would hate to go to bed alone tonight when I am wanting to start our future tonight." He inclined his head, preparing himself for what it was, "I promise I'll recover."

She stood and started to undress. He watched her with intent eyes but he soon let his eyes run over her and said, "Time has made you more beautiful. You're breathtaking. Words doesn't justify your beauty by any rate." When she had disrobed herself of every stitch of closing she took a deep breath and sat on the bed with her back facing him.

She immediately felt the bed shift and his felt his fingers gently touch her back. "What did he do to you?" He asked. Julie answered, "The night he took me he whipped me with the whip that he used on the convicts for leaving. He took me to the basement as soon as we got there and chained me to the wall. He opened my dress and whipped me. He made me lie to my family and tell them that he rescued me from you and that you had done it. If I told them the truth he would've repeated the process."

"Does it still hurt?" He asked. She shrugged, "They're just scars but he must've damaged some of the muscle because it aches if I exercise it too much ever since then but it's bearable; nothing a good massage wouldn't fix once in a while." She tried to turn his attention away from it and get the mood back on track to where she wanted it to be.

"Does your back ache now? I could rub your back for you." He offered; all seriousness in his voice. Julie turned around and leaned forward to press her chest to his clothed chest, "No. Daniel, please? I love you." She looked up into his eyes and whispered, "Kiss me?"

Daniel touched her cheek and ran his hand to the back of her head to tangle in her hair. He pulled her forward and kissed her softly. She moaned and kissed him harder, showing him exactly how she wanted to be kissed. She could tell that he had not recovered from what she had showed him and she wanted to ease the tension in him.

He soon gave in and rolled her over onto her back beside him as he still sat there, leaning over her, kissing her hard. He groaned and whispered, "I want you so much, I'm aching." She grabbed the opening of his shirt and ordered, "Then remove these damned clothes that restrict you so much and get into bed. I hope in the future I'll find you sleeping in bed without these restrictions."

He chuckled and stood up, "Yes, ma'am, but in the future you'll be retiring for the night with me so you wont have to sneak into my room in the middle of the night." She smiled as she moved to rest back on her elbows, bent her leg, and pointed her knee away from him; not to hide herself but to try to tempt him.  She felt satisfication when she saw the area on his pants tighten even more.

 When he was fully unclothed she looked down and gasped. This was the first time since she's known him that she actually looked at him. How had it ever fit?! He laughed and climbed onto the bed next to her, "Not so shy anymore?"

She grabbed him by his hair and pulled him on top of her, "No teasing tonight, I need you inside me. It's been far too long since we were last ... aquainted this way." "Agreed." He groaned as he bent his head to kiss her. She felt his hand between them and she gasped into his mouth as he touched her. She was already ready for him and she needed him to skip the foreplay and mount her already. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pressed him to her, letting him feel her need for him.

She felt him press in only a little bit at her entrance and then he situated his hands beside her on the bed. She shrieked as he pushed in, filling her completely. He looked down at her and the fire lit in both of their eyes. She linked her legs around his and urged him forward. He kissed her and began to move within her. Slow at first but the passion heated up between them and he picked up speed. She moaned and repeated his name into his cheek when she could no longer be silent and kiss him, "Daniel, Daniel, Daniel ..."

***

 It's been two months now and Julie has felt the safest that she's felt in her life. Daniel and herself had continued to work on their future. Halfway through the first month Julie found out she was pregnant and she was overjoyed about it. She told Daniel and Jacob about it at the same time and the entire household was overjoyed about it.

Julie stepped into te front of the doctor's office when she was done getting dressed; she had gone alone on this appointment, Daniel said he had a few things he had to take care of. "So, doc, everything's in check, I assume?"

Dr. Slogan took a deep breath and sighed, "You should sit down." She sat down and looked at him, "Everything is okay, isn't it?" He pulled a chair over to sit in front of her and took her hand, "Julie, there isn't going to be a baby. You miscarried. Your body has been through so much trauma that it just can't handle the stress that comes with carrying a baby. You'll be able to concieve but you won't ever carry through. The chances of you carrying to delivery are ... it would have to be a miracle from God. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

She held back the tears and nodded, "I won't ever be able to bear children." He sighed and gave her hand a gentle squeeze, "I'm sorry. Do you want me to escort you home? I could tell him for you." She shook her head and stood, "No, thank you. I can handle it. Thank you, Dr. Slogan. Good day." She tipped her head to him and left for home. Her plans for the future were ruined and her happiness was shattered.

Julie was greeted at the door by Mr. Reeves. "Your brothers request your prescence in the parlor. They said it was important that they spoke to you as soon as you arrived." He said as he took her cloak and gloves. She sighed, "Thank you." She was emotionally exhausted and just wanted to retire to her room; holding her tears back only made things worse and that left her standing on a very thin line.

She gasped when she walked into the parlor. Her brothers and their wives and children and Daniel were standing in the corner in the back and all of their friends were there. She was bombarded with cheers. There were pink decorations hanging from all of the walls. There were big and small gifts wrapped in pink wrapping paper with pink bows. There were pink flowers all over in vases. It was a baby shower!

She was soon surrounded by a group of women with congratulations and laughter. Daniel, her brothers, their wives and children stayed in the corner; they knew something was wrong. She nudged her way through the group of women; which silenced them and got her blank stares; and went over to the wall.

Something snapped inside of her and she started tearing the decorations off of the wall; screaming and crying. The group of women gasped and just stared. "Julie!" She ignored whoever called her and went aroundthe room, tearing everything down. She tore the gifts apart and threw them at the wall; some were made of glass and broke immediately. "Julie!" Someone yelled again.

The fury grew more inside her and she turned to the window. She threw her fists smashing through the window, the glass penetrating her arms. She felt arms come around her and hands grab her arms to pull her out of the window. She fought against him and screamed her loudest so Jeffrey could hear her, "I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! I hope you burn in hell!"

"Julie, stop! Stop!" It was Percy who was holding her. "Someone summon the doctor!" He yelled towards the crowd; whom were now starting to clear out, taking the kids with them. Julie pushed away from him and fell to the floor on her knees, "Daniel!" Percy, Henry, Jacob, Sarah, and Elena were now standing in front of her, watching her with worried eyes.

Daniel quickly kneeled beside her and put his arm around her, "Julie, what is it? What's wrong?" She touched her stomach and cried, shaking her head, "Even from the grave ... Jeffrey has found a way to punish me! I had a miscarriage! My body has been traumatized to the point where I can concieve but I can't carry through to delivery! I'll only miscarry! I'll never be able to have any children!"

She heard the gasps from Sarah and Elena and felt Daniel's arms pull her into his arms. "I'm so sorry, Julie." Daniel whispered into her hair, tears in his voice. "We're going to make it through this. We wanted to surprise you with this baby shower ... and here it just made things worse. I'm sorry. I love you." She pulled away from him and turned her back to him.

Sarah went over and kneeled in front of her, "Come here, honey." She held her arms out and Julie went into her arms and cried as Sarah craddled her head to her bossom. Sarah crooned her as if she were talking like a child, "Shh. I know it hurts but you'll heal. It'll get better. It feels like it won't but it will. You'll sruvive no matter how hard it is to see that, you will. Shh. Everything's going to be alright.

Chapter 28

Julie layed in bed, curled up in a ball on her side the next day. She refused to eat and barely drank any water. She could tell that everyone was worried about her but she couldn't think of anything other than her unborn child. She had been weak and she let Daniel down. She never let Daniel into the room. She couldn't bear to look at him. How could he still love her after what happened? What was she worth to him now if she couldn't give him a family? She was nothing. She wasn't worth even a glance yet alone worthy of marriage.

After the first week she had lost a considerable amount of weight and Henry had sat on her bed and refused to leave until she ate and he would do that at every meal. She would eat just enough to make him satisfied and then would ask him to leave. She wanted to be alone. She wanted to just stay in that room and in that bed until her body refused to wake.

After the second week the door opened and Julie saw Sarah enter the room with Daniel. Julie quickly pulled the sheet over her head and yelled out through the blanket, "Go away!" "Give me some time alone with her. Go wait downstairs, please." Sarah muttered to him.

After a few minutes she heard the door close and Sarah said, "Alright, he's gone." Julie pulled the sheet down to her shoulder and watched as Sarah sat in the chair next to her bed and looked at her. "Why do you isolate yourself in here? What is helping? Who is helping? It certainly isn't helping you and it's not helping anyone else. You're brothers are worried sick about you. They hurt because they want you to be happy and they know you're hurting right now. Daniel is hurting too. It was his child, he lost him too. This is a time where you two need to be there for each other. Percy was there for me and I know I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him. We're planning on adopting soon. We haven't told anyone yet besides you. It's an option you could look into."

When silence was the only response Sarah continued, "You need to get out of this bed. You only get out of it to use the bathroom and bathe. If we didn't make sure you ate then you would likely starve to death. Julie, you're not going to die no matter how much it may feel like it or how much you feel like you want to."

Julie sighed, "I just want to be alone. And I know Daniel's hurting too; that's why I don't want to see him. I can't bear to look at him after ..." "After what? Explain to me exactly what you're thinking." She demanded. Julie sat up and held her knees to her chest, "I'm not worthy of becoming his wife. I can't be with him when I can't give him the family he wants and deserves. I lost two of his children because I was weak. How could he still love me after that? I don't deserve it either way.

"But I love him too much and I can't bear to look at him wondering if he'll ever be able to love me again or even forgive me." Sarah frowned and moved to sit on the side of the bed so she could take Julie's hand and shake her head, "You think he doesn't love you anymore? If a man stopped loving a woman because she couldn't have children then Percy and I would've gone our separate ways but instead we're inseparatable. Julie, he still loves you and he always will. You should know that."

Julie turned her head away from her and sighed, "Please just go. I don't want to talk about it anymore. Nothing's going to change. I want to get a bath." Sarah stood and sighed, "Fine. If you want to be by yourself then so be it but remember that there are others who are hurting here too." Then she turned and left.

***

Daniel waited in the sitting room; impatiently. The others were in the dining room having supper but he stayed there waiting for Sarah to come down. When she finally came through the door he went over and asked, "How is she?"

Sarah sighed, "She's hurting because she lost a second child and she can't give you a family but that's why she won't see you. She has it set in her mind that you couldn't possibly love her anymore and that she isn't worth more than a sack of potatoes to you now. But she loves you with her heart and she can't bear to look at you when you don't love her, her words."

He frowned, "How could she think that? That's insane! She's delusional!" "She's hurting but whenever she lets you in the room you have to convince her otherwise." Sarah said. "For now, all we can do is go to supper. Henry or Percy will take a plate up to her and make sure she eats later."

"I'm going to skip supper tonight. I'm going for a walk but I will escort you to the dining room." He said as he offered her his arm. She inclined her head and took his arm. He wasn't going for a walk. He had to do something about Julie and he knew exactly what he was going to do. He was going to show her he loved no matter how long it took. He has been a gentleman this time because he wanted to wait until she would be open to his wild side but he couldn't hold it in any longer. She would have him and she would know that he loved and adored her. She would know that for him, it was either her or death. He couldn't live and not have her and he wouldn't.

***

Julie ran her water and undressed. She climbed in and sat down, letting the hot water cover her from her head to her shoulders. The water was very inviting and was the solution to all of her problems. She took a breath and sighed as she submerged herself completely into the water. She placed her hands on the sides of the tub and let her breath out; the water stinging her lungs. Just as she did she saw a shimmering figure appear over the tub and she was suddenly grabbed by her shoulders and yanked out of the water.

She choked on the water and took a deep breath as soon as the coughing settled. She looked into the furious eyes of Daniel. "What the hell were you thinking?!" He yelled at her. She looked away and whispered, "What are you doing in here? This is a private room."

"Well it won't be a private room anymore." He stood up and pulled her out of the tub, throwing a towel at her in the process. She wrapped the towel around her and watched as he removed his shirt, leaving him topless. He grabbed another towel and dried his arms before drying her hair.

When that was finished he took both towels from her and tossed them to the side. She covered her chest with her arms and frowned, "Can you please just leave? You can lock the bathroom door from the inside if you wish but just leave." He grabbed her arm  and dragged her into the bedroom. He turned her to face him and backed her up against the wall.

She gasped when her back against the wall, "Daniel, what are you doing? I'm sorry, okay. I'm sorry for what I almost did. I'm sorry for everything. I couldn't say it enough. Please forgive me!" He could hear the terror in her voice but he knew it wasn't fear of him.

Daniel reached up and grabbed a fistful of her hair at the back of her head and tilted her head back. "How could you think that I don't love you?" He growled. She swallowed, "If she told you that then she told you everything." He reached down between them with one hand to unfasten his breeches, "You are past delusional, you know that, right?"

He released her hair so that he could grab the back of her thighs and lift her up so, her knees craddled his hips. She grabbed his shoulders for balance and panicked, "Daniel, no. I can't. I'm not worth-" She whimpered when he bent forward and nipped her breast. He lifted his head and pressed his body against hers, "Even the finest jewels in the world could compare to your worth. I love you with every bit of my soul. I couldn't breathe without you. The two years that we were apart I was heartless and cruel, even to my friends. You know why that is, Julie? Because you're my heart and without you I'm not a man anymore. You make me the man I want to me and I will never stop needing you by my side."

His eyes went dark again, full of fury and passion and pure desire and lust "If I ever hear you speaking so lowly of yourself again, I would be forced to take you over my knee." Her eyes widened at that but oddly enough that didn't frighten her but put an erotic image in her mind. She looked down and whispered, "Do you ... still want to marry me even though ... I can't give you the family that you want?"

"You are my family and my love." He growled and before she knew it he pushed inside of her so fast and hard that a whimper escaped her lips and she gripped his shoulders. "Oh lord" She muttered. He watched her as he repeated the action. She cried out and wrapped her arms around his neck, bending her head to kiss him. Every time he thrusted into her she tightened her knees on his hips  and pressed her hands into the back of his shoulders, digging her nails into his skin.

Imprint

Publication Date: 04-19-2012

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
I dedicate this book to Karen Robards who inspired this book with her book "Dark Torment"