Page 44 - Homestead By Ann Newhouse

would not be happy to find you here; no man has ever got past him, no matter how good or kind they are.” She paused, afraid she had said too much and would scare me off.
“Sofie I like you very much and no one will frighten me off. If you like, I’ll speak to your father and ask his permission for me to spend time with you.” I tried to comfort her.
“Oh, Ned I like you too, but my father will spoil everything if he hears we are together.”
“We are adults and I will be a gentleman until you want me to be otherwise.”
“I’d like us to be able to go about as a couple, but my father will order you off the Homestead.”
“Are you saying you want us to be a secret?” I could feel panic bubbling inside me mixed with a sense that I should be a man and stand up to John.
“I want us to be careful and not tell anybody we are together, just for a little while. Maybe my father will see what I see and will accept you,” Sofie gave a little sigh . . .
“I will do whatever you wish, but Sofie I will not wait forever before confronting him,”
I never thought I’d have to face another bully so soon in my life. Maybe my father and John Tirrell were related! I hoped not, as Sofie would then be out of my life for ever.
As the night went into the early hours of the morning our kissing and cuddling had started to get quite heated. I was not surprised when Sofie led me to the same bed I had laid in, when first arriving in pain with my injuries. Now I was about to experience the exhilarating pleasure of our passions, which I had never before even imagined. I was confident we would come together as one. We were, perhaps, taking a big risk, but when you have these feelings, you can, I truly believed, get through anything. I did want to be sensible and have something to offer Sofie. If John Tirrell found out, according to Sofie, we would have no chance. I would do what she asked, for how long I couldn’t say.
Later, as Sofie slept peacefully, I lay awake, not only to admire her beauty, but to decide how to go about things sensibly.