His Innocent Runaway

By Fae Roseden

Sarah:

Meeting the retired marine Jesse Watkins was not in my plan. His protectiveness seems to clash with the Hermitish farmer that he has become.

Can I trust him to keep me safe? Can I trust my heart?

Jesse:

What else was I supposed to do?

After all when you find a rare gem admist the daily grime, You protect it, keep it safe right?

I never expected to see into my soul....

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fae Roseden
• Release date: Nov 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223129455

Book preview

His Innocent Runaway

A Damsel in Distress Romance

Fae Roseden

Fae Roseden

Copyright © [2023] by [Fae Roseden]

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the publisher's prior written permission, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permission requests, contact [Fae Roseden] @ {faeroseden.com}

The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.

Book Cover by [Fae Roseden]

Illustrations by[Fae Roseden]

[2] edition [2023]

Contents

1.Prolog Sarah

2.Sarah

3.Prolog Jesse

4.Jesse and Sarah

5.Sarah

6.Jesse

7.Jesse

8.Sarah

9.Sarah

10.Jesse

11.Jesse

12.Sarah

13.Sarah

14.Jesse

15.Sarah

16.Sarah

17.Jesse

Also By Fae Roseden

Prolog Sarah

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The phone rings as I take a break to eat my breakfast. Oh, Dad, I think, Sarah, I need to talk to you. Do you have time now? I sigh. Yes, Dad, let me get Vera to take care of this cat, just a sec. Sorry, now what is wrong? I can hear it in your voice. Chris Bridges pauses, Remember how I made the loan agreement to cover Mom’s debt from the hospital. Yeah, Sarah replies. Well, I made a deal with James. And I know what you will say. I’m so sorry, Sarah. I told you, Dad, he is a shark; He is just all kinds of wrong! Wait, What has he done now? How much do you owe? And please be honest with me. After a long pause, Dad, I can help. The clinic is doing well. I should have been honest with you earlier; now it’s too late. James wants his payment. There was a clause to the debt; His payment is you. You need to marry him, and he wants it done ASAP…"

You’ve got to be kidding me, Sarah yells, scaring one of the pups in the back. I will not tie myself to that man. This is not the Middle Ages, Dad. Maybe I could talk him out of it with scheduled payments. Sarah mentions hopefully. Let me call him. Dad, what is his number. Quickly writing it down, Sarah takes a deep breath and makes the dreaded call. James, this is Sarah Bridges; I am calling regarding Dad’s loan from Mom’s bills. Oh, don’t worry, your little head, I already figured this out. You, my dear, are worth the 100 grand, so worth it. with an evil sneer in his voice. Please, let’s be reasonable; I can take over the payments from Dad. Let’s Say 500 each month, James. James interrupts, No! We are past that. You will marry me, and then I will wipe the debt Chris owes me. Sarah slams the phone down in tears.

On the verge of hyperventilating, Sarah crumbles to the floor. I can’t do this. I just can’t. I am sorry, Dad. But I will never marry a man who makes my skin crawl. She claims to herself. He will hurt both of us if I stay here. What if I leave? What to do. Sarah gets up to find Vera. Vera, I need to go home and clear my head. Why? What has happened? Why are you ghostly white? Vera exclaims, Dad made a deal with James. In shock, Vera responds. Why would he do that? Doesn’t he remember who he is? All those years, he would watch us back in school. Didn’t your dad have a clue? James has called in the loan Dad made with him. The payment is me. I am supposed to marry him to clear Dad’s debt. Sarah says, tears rolling down her face.

Go, Sarah, Run, Vera answers. I will handle it. Here you go, Vera hands me some tissues. The clinic and I will be fine till you get back. I headed home and made myself some much-needed tea. Sarah hears a sound that alerts her that she is not alone. Well, what do I have here? Playing hooky from work for little old me? Sarah goes ghostly white. James, How? Why are you in my house? Where is my Dad? James sighs. Oh. Sarah, I knew I needed leverage once you called me earlier. Chris is fine; come Join us. He walks to the Family den.

Grabbing her tea Sarah follows him, refusing to show him that she is visibly shaking. Upon entering the room, she addresses her dad. Are you hurt? Chris just sits there looking at her; his eyes say it all. I am sorry, I am afraid. James speaks up, Now! We will marry, and you will do exactly as I say. No more stalling. Sarah answers, No! I will not. I can’t; you can’t, She whispers, her voice catching in her throat,

James steps forward and slap. A handprint shows on her cheek. My dear, this is not negotiable he says directly in her ear. Now go put some ice on that cheek. Rushing out, Sarah goes to the kitchen for ice and realizes this would be her life. Sarah does not even think; heading to her room, Sarah grabs her emergency bag and purse. Reaching into her drawer, she takes out an envelope of cash and her keys. Goodbye, I am so sorry, Dad, she says to herself as she runs for her car. Driving out of town as fast as she can, She does not even realize that she is heading West and nobody has followed her yet.

My heart hammers painfully in my chest as I drive the long Highway along the Oregon Border, my destination unknown. I could head to the Beach and or do I go to Aunt Clair? Instinct had simply kicked in at the last minute to get a few of my things and leave Klamath Falls. Am I really doing this? Escaping from James and leaving my Father, Can I avoid the marriage contract that has been created for me? I am running away from home like some sort of crazed teenager. I recently clocked twenty-six years old, and I know how impossible it is to escape one’s problem. I know he has a mean streak, but… When the thought to run kicked in, I simply ran or, more precisely, drove. Thank god I have my bug-out bag and emergency cash.

I don’t know what my mother would have thought seeing her baby girl running helter-skelter on how to live her life or what to do. If anything, I am sure my mother would have been more logical about managing funds. She wouldn’t have indulged in anything that would hurt me at all. Hot tears threatened to spill over as I think about her. My Mom had died last year. She had been involved in an automobile accident that claimed her life and the lives of four other people; they had been a family. It still breaks my heart whenever I think about how she died. It had been snowing that day, One of those freak storms that blew in. The family’s SUV had collided head-on with