Angry wasn’t the word to describe Loretta’s frame of mind…

““Angry wasn’t the word to describe Loretta’s frame of mind. She wasn’t just furious, but horribly hurt as well. That terrified her. She wasn’t falling in love. She wasn’t. So what if Hunter wanted a dozen wives? What different did it make to her? She didn’t care a whit. She didn’t ! It wasn’t as if she wanted him. So why was she crying? Pain welled in her throat. She picked up a pan, trying to force her thoughts onto dinner and what she should fix, but visions of Hunter filled her head. She imagined his dark eyes warming with laughter, his mouth tipping into that lopsided grin that made her heart catch, his warm hand holding hers. It would kill her to watch him doing those things with someone else. What was happening to her? When had he become so important to her? It wasn’t fair! He had wormed his way into her affections, made her care about him. And now he was out there making over that silly twit of a girl! Fresh tears strung Loretta’s eyes. If this was how it felt to be in love, she didn’t want any part of it. Her insides felt like a wet rag someone was wringing out. And the worst part was, she was afraid to go out there and do anything about it. If she did, it would be an admission that she cared for him. Once he realized that, he’d expect her to prove it. She glanced at the bed, and her stomach knotted, images from the past tormenting her. She slammed down the pot. She couldn’t do it, she just couldn’t…””

— Catherine Anderson