It would be hard to win her heart, he was sure of it.
But it might be worth it. For he saw something in her that he saw in no other woman, a beautiful soul!
Chapter Three
"Liam please, you're hurting me," Hannah Caldwell hollered as he threw her against the wall and held her there.
His breath stunk of whiskey. His teeth were nearly gold. His greasy dark hair reeked. But he was her husband and she had to obey.
"Hurting you? You sure do wail a lot. Why ain't supper ready girl?" Liam came close to her face and kissed her hard, making her lips feel as though they'd crack from the pressure. Why did his kisses not pleasure her? She did not understand. She was bound to this man, why couldn't she feel anything for him? Four years and no feeling!
Hannah tried to relax, but with Liam forcing himself on her, she almost panicked.
I've got to escape him, for he will surely kill me, one day! I am not a good wife, why does he want me?
He shoved her aside and glanced at the stove.
"I just finished the wash, supper will be ready soon," she exclaimed, moving away so he couldn't force himself on her again. "It's on the fire right now!"
"I want cornbread, you got it made too?" He snarled as he moved away.
"I will have. It doesn't take that long to make." She explained.
"Well, get it done, Burt's comin' over for some poker tonight."
"Will he be eating with us?" She asked.
"No, his ole lady feeds him well." Liam chuckled.
She nodded and went to the stove. Preparing the cornbread, her mind reeled. This was not the life she wanted. Liam was cruel and didn't care how much he hurt her. Still a bargain was a bargain, her parents had traded her for two horses, and he'd married her that same night. A loveless marriage filled with abuse. Still, in the eyes of the law she was married to Liam.
She'd tried her best to at least like the man she called her husband but even that was hard. She hated his filth, hated his drinking, and hated his abusive nature. There was no room for love. Still, she was not in a place to be choosy. She was married to the man and what he demanded, she would do. This was her lot in life and she needed to find a way to endure it.
Thinking to escape her parents, she had escaped into a nightmare with Liam.
She wouldn't go home, even if she could escape. She needed a plan. She needed a place to go to, a place where she could eat, and live.
Burt came over after supper and they played poker the better part of the night. Hannah went to bed early, but she heard them talking
"Hey lookie here," Liam shouted as he stuck his hand in a cookie jar. "She's been putting back money. Boy, I'll teach her to sneak like that."
"Well hell, let's play poker with it, Liam. If you lose, you don't lose. If you win, you can play longer." Burt said.
"I ought to skin her alive for keeping this from me."
"You keep beating on her, she won't be pretty any longer. She shore is a pretty thing, though" Burt told him. "Wish my ole lady looked that good."
"Yeah, but all she's good for is to look at."
"For me that might be enough. Can she cook?"
"Not too bad, although I've had better cooking than that." Liam protested. "I almost wish I hadn't traded for her, though."
"How come?" Burt asked.
Liam shook his head and rolled his eyes. "She ain't no good in bed, she just lays there, doesn't move no matter what. When it's over she turns over and cries the rest of the night. I should've got me a regular whore. Be better than that, you know."
"Maybe you could trade her, she's sure pretty. I saw a pretty young whore the other day, she was flashing her body at me. I sure wanted her, but I didn't have the money that night. Do you ever just look at her? I mean naked you know, just looking at her that way, should be a pure pleasure."