Of Vinegar and Honey, Part VII: "End of An Impasse"

By Catharina Shields

Madelaine prepares to end the impasse...

There had to be at least twenty dollars or more there. With careful fingers, she unfolded and counted them. Twenty-seven dollars in total. Then she wondered if O’Dell would miss the money. He’d obviously dropped it since she had no money with her, so it must’ve fallen out of his pocket, but . . . would he miss it?
She realized that if she ever wanted to leave that place, she’d need money. Since she had no car—and even if she had one she wouldn’t know how to drive it—she knew she’d have to buy a ticket for a bus or train ride. She was certain she’d seen a small bus station on the way up. It was in the small village below, but it was still a long walk from the cabin and an impossible one on bedroom slippers.
She rose to her feet and hid the wad of bills inside the folds of the blanket. She had no clue what good it would do, but she felt it was a start. She was a little nervous, but she was also a little rebellious. It had to be a sign of God that she’d found this money. It was a sign that He wanted her to leave.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Catharina Shields
• Release date: Dec 19, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466058415

Catharina Shields

{PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR THE LIST OF MY AVAILABLE E-BOOKS} I've always enjoyed storytelling, ever since I was a child. My love for storytelling has evolved from hand-drawn comic strips, to creating hand-puppets - "Meemies and Fluffies" - for my younger brother and sisters' morning puppet show, to writing stories in longhand in spirals armed with only a Penmate pen while battling a stiff hand and dreaming of a day when I'd finally own a typewriter. Today, in my peaceful Southern California home near the mountains, I can't go a day without my computer and I now enjoy storytelling via my e-books, specializing in mystery, drama, Young Adult and paranormal romance. If you've read one of my books and like them, please leave a review, good or bad, and add me as a favorite author {a single click on a button to your left is all it takes}. Remember . . . reviews are tips for Authors.

Book preview

Of Vinegar and Honey

Part VII

End of an Impasse

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Published by Catharina Shields at SMASHWORDS

2nd Edition

© 2014 by Catharina Shields All Rights Reserved

Cover Design by Catharina Shields

Edited by D.C.Greenes

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Author’s Note / Disclaimers

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This is an original work of fiction.

All characters, organizations, and events portrayed herein are either

products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

All characters depicted in this work of fiction are

18 years of age or older.

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite eBook Retailer and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Happy reading!

And remember, reviews are tips for authors

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Contents

{please click on Chapter headings to return here}

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Chapter 23: Tentative Resolve

Chapter 24: Make-believe

Chapter 25: Touched

Chapter 26: The Hunt Begins

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Of Vinegar and Honey Parts Listing

Other Titles by Catharina Shields

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Chapter 23

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Tentative Resolve

"I should have seen it coming. I really should’ve," Madelaine thought sadly to herself.

She knew what happened had happened because of her naïveté. She’d take responsibility for that, at least, because a worldlier woman would never have gotten herself into this serious predicament. She would’ve seen O’Dell coming from a mile away.

But not her. Not Mad-n-Crazy Croft.

There was no use crying over spilled milk. What was done is done, and now she had to make sure she’d safeguard herself against him as best as current circumstances would allow. She didn’t have a clue how she was going to do that, but she’d be vigilant. That much she knew. She’d also be more mindful of that man in every which way pertaining to her safety so she could protect what little virtue she still had left.

Granted, the physical aspect was gone, but there was still the emotional aspect she had to safeguard. One thing she knew for sure, she really needed to learn to be stronger, more cunning, and she needed to do it fast.

She knew she had to find a way to outmaneuver him if she ever hoped to escape him. Yes, it would have to come down to that. Escape. It was painfully clear that for whatever reason he may hold, O’Dell was adamant she would stay with him. The excuse he’d given her just didn’t make sense to her, so she was certain he had to be up to something.

His claim that he needed her close to discover why he was feeling things he never felt before—whatever that meant—was silly. Perhaps a worldlier woman would know what he meant, but not her. Not naïve little Madelaine Croft.

For the briefest of moments she’d even contemplated playing the harlot just to throw him off until she could make her escape. That idea, however, crashed and burned almost as quickly as it arose. She knew her limitations all too well. She knew she was as ignorant at the game of seduction as she was at flying a plane. The harlot scheme would never work. Rory O’Dell was NO novice, and he would likely see right through her ruse the moment she tried to fool him.

No. If she wanted to win back her freedom, she had to appear as if she’d decided to go along with him while maintaining just enough noncompliance to prevent him from becoming suspicious. She just needed to find out how to go about pulling this off.

Penny for your thoughts?

She quickly looked up and across the small wooden bistro table. She didn’t know what to answer since she was certain he wouldn’t like what his penny would buy him.

Nothing, she said quietly. I was just thinking that it’s still very chilly even with the sun out. I predict an early winter.

"Really? Is that what you were thinking about? The