Forced to Love (Historical Romance Collection) The Fires of Love & Hate

Chapter 1 In The Beginning

CHAPTER 1–IN THE BEGINNING

Standing quietly in an upper bedroom of the beautiful Garland Mansion, Hattie Morran gazed out the open window over the lush, green grounds known as the Silver Creek Estate.  Her wedding dress and auburn hair fluttered lightly in the soft Missouri breeze as she sighed dishearteningly.  The cold steel of her Colt 45, nestled among the flowers of her wedding bouquet, belied the picture of a beautiful bride awaiting her once in a lifetime moment.

Without breaking her gaze, she began talking to her sister, who sat silently on a sapphire blue settee in the middle of the ornately decorated room.  “So help me God, Dakota,” Hattie said with great conviction, “if Abner does not come across with my demands this time, this will be the shortest marriage on record!”

Knowing Hattie was not one to mess around, Dakota leaned forward with concern.  “What do you plan to do, Sis?”

Turning in Dakota’s direction, Hattie slowly lowered her bouquet, reached in, and cocked the revolver.  “Put it this way . . . if he doesn’t, the man is goin’ to meet up with an untimely death . . . or I am goin’ to shoot off the only thin’ in life that Jackass holds dear.”

Hearing the revolver being cocked, Dakota replied in shock, “You wouldn’t!”

“Oh wouldn’t I?  Just you hide and watch, Sister Dear.  Believe me, I’ve taken just about all I’m goin’ to take from Abner Garland.  At this point, I’d just as soon kill him than look at him!  Of course, I can’t do that because I love his Mama so much, and even though he is a despicable person, he is her son.”  With her feelings for Abner’s mother, Rebecca Garland, calming her, Hattie reached back into her bouquet and uncocked the revolver.

Tilting her head to one side, Dakota let out a long, labored breath.  “To tell the truth, I can’t blame you, Sis.  With all that Abner has put you through, I understand perfectly your wantin’ to kill him.  I just hope everythin’ goes exactly as his mother has planned.”  Then, rising to her feet and walking in Hattie’s direction, Dakota held up a small handkerchief edged in lace.  “Is this the blue one?” she asked, staring straight ahead.

Hattie looked down at the pale blue handkerchief and then at her sister.  “Yes, Honey, it’s the blue one, thank you.”

“I really wish I could see you in your weddin’ dress, Hattie,” Dakota said somberly.  “It’s times like this when I really miss bein’ able to see.”

Hattie thought for a moment and fell silent.  She was so used to her sister’s condition that she tended to forget how hard it was for her.  Dakota Jayne (often referred to as Cody) had tragically been left blind by an unknown illness at the tender age of six, but through time, sheer determination, and a staunch refusal to be limited by the hand she had been dealt in life, Dakota had learned to cope very well.

To the casual observer, Dakota appeared perfectly normal.  Strangers, in fact, were stunned when informed of her blindness, as her beautiful blue eyes looked healthy and moved about freely yet deliberately, appearing to survey everything with the thoroughness of a sleuth.  In addition, the family made sure that her surroundings remained constant, and in doing so, Dakota knew instinctively how many steps to chairs, tables, and the doors.  Her familiarity with her environment coupled with an extremely keen sense of hearing that allowed her to place people by the sounds that they made enabled Dakota to move about with the greatest of ease.  It was only when she was in new or unfamiliar places that she became unsure of herself.  On the arm of a trusted friend, however, she handled herself with poise and elegance, never letting on to her handicap.  Always the life of the party, Dakota was quick-witted, had an effervescent smile, and was even a delightful dancing partner.  Looking at her sister with deep admiration, there was no doubt in Hattie’s mind that Dakota’s strong character and deep faith in the Lord allowed her to persevere where others would have surely failed.