Chapter 1
February 6th, 1608
The woman walked the night street with her cloak covering her face. Her beauty was masked, hidden like a married lady. Yet the drunk miners still turned their heads, eyes full of hunger as they watched her saunter towards Husband’s alley.
She walked confidently, much like many promiscuous women out at night. Her eyes dashed to each man she saw, searching for the right one to take for the night.
She was on the hunt.
She made it to the central part of Husband’s alley, where she heard the holler of a tall brute man stumbling out of a pub with his fellow miners.
She watched as he laughed with the other men and felt her body be excited about him being the one.
He had an energy about him that she couldn’t quite read. He was taller than the other men. His eyes were bright, teeth not stained from the plant miners often chew, and he was vigorous, telling her that he grew up well and not yet weakened from miner’s life.
She saw something else in him, telling her he was a strong enough candidate, the way the others followed him and listened to him. He had leadership qualities, and she wanted them for her baby.
The men laughed in the alley before heading back inside. The man let his fellow miners in the pub first, and as he entered, he accidentally bumped into a petite figure.
He peered down to apologize, but before he could, the most angelic voice was singing back to him under a hooded cloak.
“I beg your pardon, sir,” she spoke, clutching the hood closer to her face. She stepped back and moved around him, but he caught her arm, stilling her in place.
“No, pardon me, ma’am,” he said, ducking his head to sneak a peek, wanting to see if the face matched the voice.
She moved her face so he couldn’t see her. “What is a nice woman like you doing on the streets at this time of night?”
She feigned sorrowfully, “I came to find my husband cheat’n on me. Now pardon me, I’d like to head home.”
He let a tsk from his tongue.” A husband cheating on a lovely woman like yourself is a fool. May I escort you home?”
She let the hood drop enough so he could glimpse her features. She felt warm with excitement as his eyes hungrily soaked up her beauty. It was written in the glistening of his eyes. She was stunning.
“I’d appreciate it.”
He wasted no time ditching the other men to escort the pretty woman home.
“Are you married?” She asked, slowly braving the other men by putting her hood down. He was instantly mesmerized by the shine of her chestnut hair dancing with each step she took.
“No, ma’am, I’m as unmarried as they come.” She smiled up at him. “My name’s Colton Ford.”
They finally turned from the central alley towards the housing district. The area was not lit at night, and the wild landscape became abundant. The only light that lit their way came from the moon and the lanterns lighting Main Street.
“Might I know your name, ma’am?”
She let out a stunning smile, and he felt temptation wanting to get the best of him as her hand slowly went to his chest.
“I think it’s best I don’t tell you my name, Colton.”
He let out a shuddered breath. “Why’s that?”
“Because I’d like to do this,” she said, standing on her tippy toes and pulling him in for a kiss.
Their lips collided softly with irresistible, torturing warmth.
Nervous, he pulled away, shuddering. “N-now now, ma’am, I have had a lot to drink, and you are awfully pretty. If you come at me like that, I may do something we will both regret later.”
He couldn’t think straight as her scent of flowers danced across his nostrils and her fingers trailed the side of his neck.
“How about we don’t hold back and have zero regrets for the night?”
He looked down at her stunning, mischievous smirk and saw she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
The alcohol had him not wanting to hold back from having this angel. He wasn’t even sure if he could deny the pull from her if he were sober.
“I’m going to make your husband regret cheating on you.” He said as he lifted her off her feet and headed into the woods. Her laugh was contagious, causing him to hurry away from civilization.
