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You know the most important thing I found out? It's very simple.
The least important thing of all, Jared, is skin- deep beauty.'
She took a deep breath, her eyes caressing his with all the love in
her heart. 'And now, my darling, you're going to have to learn that
too. I wish it weren't so. They are hard, hurtful lessons to learn, and
I wouldn't wish them on anyone. But one thing you can count on,
Jared...my eyes will never flinch away from you. You will never see
me wince, or ask or pray that things could be different. They're not...
and that has to be accepted.'
'So that's where your control comes from,' he murmured
wonderingly, and Laura plunged on, intent on keeping his mind
turning so that the resolution he had come to didn't become fixed.
'Control... and other things, Jared. I made up my own rules to live
by. When we met, I sensed the same kind of thing in you.' She
smiled, instinctively playing to the reluctant fascination that was
creeping into his eyes. 'You called me a savage pagan queen. In my
mind, you were a warrior-king who would stride over any world and
make it his own. That's something inside you, Jared. Something that
strikes a deep response in me. The only man who ever has. And ever
will.'
Her voice deepened with her own needs as she continued. 'I know
that you love me, Jared. You might never tell me that, and I don't
care. Because in my heart of hearts I know you do. Just as I know I
love you. To me you are very special... unique... and there is no
other man in the world who can take your place. You the person
who lives behind your face you are my place, Jared. That's what is
all-important to me. Nothing else. I belong with you. And I will do
everything everything that is humanly possible to keep you with
me.'
His hand tightened crushingly around her own. Again she made no
protest. This was a time of decision and her whole life-force seemed
to be poised, waiting for Jared's answer. Conflicting emotions raged
in his eyes for interminable moments, but when at last he spoke, his
voice was soft with the relaxed peace of a man who had fought a
battle and the outcome was to his liking.
'Mrs Eastern...' there was almost a smile in his words '... you've got
yourself a deal. I'm not sure you won't regret it, but you're one hell
of a bargainer. And you're one hell of a woman. And this time,
you've certainly got yourself a deal.'
Her inner relief poured into a smile that lit her face with a beauty
that caught Jared's breath and made him wonder if he had done right
to cling to her. But her reply filled him with a sense of rightness that
was undeniable.
'Well, Mr Eastern, I did think it was time you were taught a bit of
equality. It's all very well saying I'm your partner, but you've got to
really mean it. And I aim to keep you to that deal. No matter what.'
'No matter what,' he agreed. And then, after a pause, 'I reckon we'll
get along together just fine.'
And although he didn't say the words, the love in his eyes was all
that Laura needed. They were together again in mind and heart and
spirit, in every way that counted.
As day followed day, there was less and less for Connie Hammond
to do. The crisis was passed. Laura saw the restless streak and
suggested that Ted would be getting lonely. Her mother was
reluctant to go, but was convinced of its good sense. Assured that
everything was fine between Laura and her husband, Connie
Hammond returned home to Boston, more at peace with herself than
she had been in her whole life.
She would bring Ted with her next time she came to Bendeneer
Downs when Laura had her baby. She was sure that Ted would
find it a revelation. The lifestyle was just so incredibly different. Not
something they would want to live with all the time, of course, but
she could now see Laura's point of view. And it would do Ted good
to see a different slice of life. Broaden his mind. It was never too
late to learn, Connie decided, however hard that might be.
The month that Jared had to remain hospitalised was a severe trial of
patience for him, but Laura did all she could to brighten his days.
The dressings came off the gashes on his face and she marvelled at
what a good job the surgeon had done. Jared glumly declared he
looked like the son of Frankenstein's monster, but if that was what
turned her on, who was he to complain?
Laura laughed and kissed the self-mocking twist from his lips,
kissed the scars that showed his love for her, letting him know that
nothing about him could ever be repulsive to her. As each day
passed and her attitude never once wavered, Jared relaxed more and
more, gradually coming to believe that what he looked like was
totally irrelevant to his wife. He even began to dismiss the scars as
of no account himself, knowing that one day they would fade, until
he was jolted back to the present-day reality by his mother's and
Rafe's reaction.
Rafe manfully tried to hide his shock and act naturally, but it was in
his eyes and the forced even tenor of his greeting. His mother
simply stared at him, tears filling her eyes and running down her
cheeks. Jared jerked his head away, his gaze stabbing at Laura who
was sitting on the other side of him, holding his hand. Her calm grey
eyes bored into his, acknowledging nothing but the person he was
inside.
And he knew then... he knew she had been through this... and risen
above it. Her inner strength fired the mettle inside him. This was
just something he had to live through for a short time, nothing like
the years that had been inflicted on Laura. The respect he had for
this woman who was his wife swelled to an awe that filled his soul
with an exultation he had never known. She was very
special...unique...and she belonged to him...and always would. He
squeezed her hand and turned back to his visitors, determined not to
flinch away again.
'My wife assures me that miracles can be performed by plastic
surgeons these days,' he said sardonically. 'So cheer up, Mother. I'll
look a lot better after the next operation. And if not, what the hell?
I've got too much living to do to worry about a bit of disfigurement.'
Naomi looked wonderingly at Laura, shook her head, then took a
deep breath and faced her son again. 'A lot of good living. Rafe tells
me that what happened was necessary. It finally puts to rest the
ghosts of the past which -'
'No, Mother,' Jared interrupted firmly. 'The only ghosts of the past
are in people's minds. What happened was for the future. If that bull
had reached Laura, he could have killed her. All I did was protect
my future.. .and that of your grandchild.'
'You're very lucky to have Laura as your wife,' his mother said
tentatively, as if she was trying it on for size, then proceeded more
confidently as she looked up at the man at her side, her expression
suggesting that she was seeing him with new eyes too. 'Just as I'm
lucky to have a husband like Rafe,' she added softly. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]