Read Online A Rebel Captive by J.D. Thompson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: J.D. Thompson
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taking one last bite of toast. “Take her to the garden and make sure to tell Mrs. Wellings she’s not to give Olivia any lunch.”
She wanted to cry out in outrage. The soldier took her by the upper arm and started pulling her to the door. She followed him, glowering at his back, and thinking of all the ways she’d like to hurt Cole.
“Oh and my pet, the next time I leave you without clothes I’d best not find you in mine.”
Her face darkened at being called ‘pet.’ She wanted to lunge at him, but the solider was already pulling her out the door. Her mantra couldn’t soothe rage.
The day passed slowly. Mrs. Wellings shook her head disapprovingly at the news that Olivia was denied lunch, but she followed the orders. Every time the older woman passed by, she gave Olivia an empathetic smile. Mrs. Wellings made sure there was a full water pitcher available so at least she had plenty to drink. Some soldiers were working in the outdoor kitchen and from time to time one or another would look over at her.
Olivia kept thinking about the day before and grew increasingly uncomfortable by their glances. The cruel slap from the soldier hadn’t caused any bruising. Today, no one could tell she’d been struck, but the memory still burned her cheek just the same. Her body pricked with terror at the thought. She knew the feeling was absurd, but just having the few soldiers nearby made her skin crawl and her stomach turn. Olivia avoided looking at them and busied herself trimming the overgrown plants and harvesting basket after basket of fruits and vegetables. Just a few days of work was already showing results as the plants seemed to shrug off beautifully ripened produce.
After accepting the second basket of glorious tomatoes, Mrs. Wellings had to gush over the fine job Olivia was doing. She took the few moments of praise and conversation with the older woman to watch the guards. The last three days she watched the ones up above, on the fort wall and the movements of the sun, trying to gauge the time. They did a shift change a little after noon, she speculated, and the guard watching the wall, facing the compost bin, was always about ten minutes late. For that precious window of time the grounds and woods beyond were unguarded. A minor oversight she was sure Lord Landon would be furious about if told. She watched the guard scurry to his post, late again, and smiled at Mrs. Wellings before going back to picking raspberries.
She rewarded the observation by surreptitiously popping a raspberry in her mouth, hoping a few pieces of fruit would ease her hunger. Ronny spotted the misconduct and walked over to her.
“Please don’t, Olivia. You know you’re not supposed to. I don’t want to have to tell Lord Landon,” she glared at him then huffed off towards the opposite end of the garden, but instantly felt foolish and apologetic.
Cole came for her earlier than normal; it was maybe midafternoon when he showed up in the courtyard. He was smartly dressed. In one hand he held a briefcase and in the other some clothes. She groaned softly, why does he have to be so handsome. He waved for her to join him. She left the rest of her harvest with Mrs. Wellings and approached Cole. She was still so angry with him; she couldn’t help, but scowl at him and stopped just out of his reach. He gave her a look up and down then stepped forward to take her hand, leading her into the fort and to the nearest bathroom.
“Change into this and be quick about it.”
He shoved the clothes into her arms and then her into the bathroom. As her only means of defiance, she took her time getting changed into the simple black dress and strappy sandals. The dress hugged her curves and showed a little more cleavage than she’d have liked, but she was glad it fell to just above her knees. The sandals made her feel more like the slave she was with ties that laced up her calves, she
She wanted to cry out in outrage. The soldier took her by the upper arm and started pulling her to the door. She followed him, glowering at his back, and thinking of all the ways she’d like to hurt Cole.
“Oh and my pet, the next time I leave you without clothes I’d best not find you in mine.”
Her face darkened at being called ‘pet.’ She wanted to lunge at him, but the solider was already pulling her out the door. Her mantra couldn’t soothe rage.
The day passed slowly. Mrs. Wellings shook her head disapprovingly at the news that Olivia was denied lunch, but she followed the orders. Every time the older woman passed by, she gave Olivia an empathetic smile. Mrs. Wellings made sure there was a full water pitcher available so at least she had plenty to drink. Some soldiers were working in the outdoor kitchen and from time to time one or another would look over at her.
Olivia kept thinking about the day before and grew increasingly uncomfortable by their glances. The cruel slap from the soldier hadn’t caused any bruising. Today, no one could tell she’d been struck, but the memory still burned her cheek just the same. Her body pricked with terror at the thought. She knew the feeling was absurd, but just having the few soldiers nearby made her skin crawl and her stomach turn. Olivia avoided looking at them and busied herself trimming the overgrown plants and harvesting basket after basket of fruits and vegetables. Just a few days of work was already showing results as the plants seemed to shrug off beautifully ripened produce.
After accepting the second basket of glorious tomatoes, Mrs. Wellings had to gush over the fine job Olivia was doing. She took the few moments of praise and conversation with the older woman to watch the guards. The last three days she watched the ones up above, on the fort wall and the movements of the sun, trying to gauge the time. They did a shift change a little after noon, she speculated, and the guard watching the wall, facing the compost bin, was always about ten minutes late. For that precious window of time the grounds and woods beyond were unguarded. A minor oversight she was sure Lord Landon would be furious about if told. She watched the guard scurry to his post, late again, and smiled at Mrs. Wellings before going back to picking raspberries.
She rewarded the observation by surreptitiously popping a raspberry in her mouth, hoping a few pieces of fruit would ease her hunger. Ronny spotted the misconduct and walked over to her.
“Please don’t, Olivia. You know you’re not supposed to. I don’t want to have to tell Lord Landon,” she glared at him then huffed off towards the opposite end of the garden, but instantly felt foolish and apologetic.
Cole came for her earlier than normal; it was maybe midafternoon when he showed up in the courtyard. He was smartly dressed. In one hand he held a briefcase and in the other some clothes. She groaned softly, why does he have to be so handsome. He waved for her to join him. She left the rest of her harvest with Mrs. Wellings and approached Cole. She was still so angry with him; she couldn’t help, but scowl at him and stopped just out of his reach. He gave her a look up and down then stepped forward to take her hand, leading her into the fort and to the nearest bathroom.
“Change into this and be quick about it.”
He shoved the clothes into her arms and then her into the bathroom. As her only means of defiance, she took her time getting changed into the simple black dress and strappy sandals. The dress hugged her curves and showed a little more cleavage than she’d have liked, but she was glad it fell to just above her knees. The sandals made her feel more like the slave she was with ties that laced up her calves, she
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