All Chapters of THE RELUCTANT GROOM: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The silence of the yard brought solemn boredom to Mary as she sat in the kitchen on a low plaid stool, the cookbook spread before her, she had rummaged through the pages of the book back and forth yet she had not found any simple meal to cook, they were all complex and several steps to follow, and several ingredients to mix and ground.Sighing deeply, she skimmed her glossy fingers over the book carefully, staring at the pictures on the book, she looked at the ingredients Evangeline had given her, She would use the ingredients to look for the meal to cook and one that had little steps as possible, she was sure she wouldn’t fail.She had never cooked a single meal in her life and her mother had strictly forbidden her from entering the kitchen, not that her mother entered it herself anyway except to give the Cook instructions on what to cook, her mother very much stayed clear of the kitchen.But she was scared, Her Mother-in-law had left with Polly to the ma

Laying in wait was beginning to seem like a habit for Jared, it had been his daily routine since he had left his father in law’s shop two weeks ago. He had managed to keep a low profile at work, not getting into any head-on fight with any of the commanders, he had put on the complete Mike persona.He had noticed that several goods were being brought in through an abandoned part west of the Stone home; The Western Creek jungle had been a second home to him, so he knew all the abandoned and unused paths so well.Taking on the persona of a predator, Jared laid in wait quietly, atop the big Mongolia tree, keeping still as possible, he was dressed in leaf green clothes, which made him natural to his environment.Soon, he began hearing the hollering and shouts of several men passing through the jungle, watched quietly as the carriages passed through, several bodyguards who were all masked manned them and all of them had several other weapons in their hands.

As she approached the makeshift slab where the Stone cut up their meat, the purging smell of blood made Mary cover her nose, the smell was unconducive, she restrained the urge to puke at the choking smell, she half-ran back but the need to talk to Jared kept her going. Passing by the barn, she came across Allan and Jared skinning two big antelopes, their hands working effectively, Jared was kneeling holding the knife, deriving the animal of its skin. She walked closer tentatively, scared of his reaction. It was Allan that first saw her, He gave her a startled wave, surprised to see her“Sister in law,” He said smiling at her nervously, his merry eyes dancing like they hid a delicious secretJared stopped what he was doing, he looked at Allan questionably, raising his eyebrow, he guessed their disguise had worked then, he picked up the deer’s head and began cutting it in two, not giving an indication that he was aware she was behind him.Mary gasp

The boisterous activity of the station made Ortom’s blood boil, the giant of a man walked into his office, taking in the scenery outside, it was rowdy and everyone seems to be up to one thing or the other. He sighed and faced his desk, he had no care in the workings of Soldiers as long as his business is not affected in any way.His face jerked up as his door was pushed open forcefully, he looked up lazily“To what do I owe this visit, Cole?” he grounded out, not liking the appearance of the other man in his vicinity.Cole smiled ruefully” Do not address me that way Commander, for I have important information for you, one you will thank me for”“I don’t think I will ever thank you for anything” Ortom thunderedCole continued undeterred, he walked forward, resting his hands on Ortom’s table, his voice rigid “I am your partner in this business, yet you went behind me to carry out raids and k

“Ortom is up to no good” Cole disclosed as he walked up and down restless in Nicholas's shop, trying to calm himself.Nicholas gave him a disinterested look, “And how is that a concern of mine? We had a deal, and I paid you both, why are you two now looking for me? I have no more business with you two” he was not interested in letting them know Jared was around. All his efforts had been in vain.Cole assessed Nicholas quietly” Do you know something? Cause you are singing a different tone today. You were most eager to get your daughter married to Commander Mike and we are in this trouble now because of you”Nicholas hesitated in his reply” you two had your business going on before I came in to ask for your help, so do not pin your bad business on me” he straightened his back, as he hit his back on the hard chair rest“You will show interest soon enough when I tell you my suspicions about Ortom, “