To Buy A Wife

Chapter 5

No, Hudson, please listen." Lake rose up both her hands. Apparently, even for a person as damned as she, there were only so many sins one could carry.

So this was the punishment God intended for her. To have Vonn alive, but for her to never be able to get to him.

"Damn you, gal," Grey Owl spat out. "Damn you to the ancient Christians' hell. I should've never trusted you."

Hudson laughed, the fire contorting his handsome features into something not. "She lied to you also, old man? Well, you aren't the first man to meet your end because of a pretty little woman. I dare say I'll be right behind you, once the Elders find out she's not carrying my brat."

He'd gone mad if the cruel press of his mouth was any warning, but Lake had to try anyways. "Hudson, he's not my lover. That is not what this is about."

"At least now, the gal is telling the truth," Grey Owl said. "I asked her if she had a husband who would be coming after her. She even showed me her back. What kinda fool man doesn't Mark his woman?"

"A fool who trusted too much," Hudson replied.

They were at an impasse. Would Hudson believe her? Her past behavior didn't speak well for her.

Hudson stared at her, his face contorted in disgust. "I'll find out regardless, but if you tell me the truth it will go easier on you. Are you still a virgin?"

Lake was glad for the low lighting to hide the blush she knew was there. She nodded.

"Why did you run away? If he's not your lover, then what is he to you? And why meet him in secret?"

That question was a lot harder to answer. What did she give away, and what did she keep back? Could Hudson be trusted? Who did he follow? The Way? Or did he sympathize with the Rebellion?

"To tell you puts people's lives in jeopardy," she said.

"To not tell me puts your own life in jeopardy?" Hudson countered.

Lake straightened her shoulders. Hard choices seemed to be her specialty. "As you know, I am a Rebel sympathizer. This man was taking time-sensitive information back to the Rebellion."

"What information?"

Grey Owl gave her a look. It wasn't hard to read the message in his eyes. "I can't tell you."

Hudson didn't even flinch. His ax pressed deeper against Grey Owl's throat. Blood seeped from under the blade.

"Please," Lake stepped forward. "Please, ask me anything else. I'll tell you the truth."

"Were you going with him? Did you even plan on coming back to me?"

Lake swallowed. "Yes... and no." The truth at times was so simple.

A muscle in Hudson's jaw flexed, his knuckles bleached white as he tightened his grip on his weapon. Lake closed her eyes and turned away. She couldn't watch another execution.

"Did you even think what your absence would mean to me and my men? Did you even consider what your actions would do to them? Are their lives less valuable or is it only you who gets to decide who's worth saving and who's not?"

Lake looked back to her husband. No, she hadn't thought of his men. An unwed man couldn't hold land, but she hadn't thought of what would happen to all his laborers if he lost his farm. Nevertheless, it wouldn't have changed a damn thing.

"It's not what you think. I...have a brother. The Rebels have him at their camp. I need to go to him. He's the only family I have left."

If Hudson was surprised at her reason for betraying him, he didn't show it, though some of the black bled from his eyes, showing a bit more warmth. "This information that is so important, that was worth me and all of my men's lives put together, who has it?"