West

"A night of sadness and also of joy," the preacher said.

"The undertaker will be here shortly to prepare the body for burial," the doctor said. "Miss Josephine, my deepest condolences and most heart felt congratulations."

I acknowledged him with a nod, unable to look away from John.

"Come, Miss Josie. Sheriff, Jeremiah will show you to your chamber."

I didn't resist when Nell took my arms and steered me away. She held my hand all the way back to my room. I entered and sat heavily, gaze on the dancing fire.

Nell didn't speak this night like she normally did. She brushed my hair and laid out my sleeping gown, along with an overcoat this night and slippers. I changed and pushed the slippers aside to lie down on my bed.

"Miss Josie, your husband awaits," Nell called from the bathroom. "Don't you go lying down yet."

"He can wait until I feel like dealing with him," I said, a bit miffed at having the silence disrupted when I was trying to sort out my emotions.

"Miss Josie! He's the master of the house now!"

Sex was the last thing on my mind. I couldn't purge my thoughts of the vision of John lying on the bed.

Tell Carter thank you. What was the connection between them?

"I'm not going." I said and lay down anyway.

"Miss Josie!"

"No, Nell!"

Nell appeared too surprised to react. If I didn't feel numb, I would've laughed at her expression.

There was a tap at my door. Nell shook her head and went to answer it.

I rolled onto my stomach, not caring who it was. If Philip wanted to beat me senseless this night the way he did his servants, I didn't think I'd feel a thing.

The door closed. "Just tell him I don't feel right tonight, Nell," I said before my nanny could speak.

"I don't reckon you do." Taylor's low voice startled me.

I sat up. Nell was gone. He was dressed the way he had been the night before, in loose pants and cotton shirt and barefoot.

"I'm not expecting … " He motioned to the bed and cleared his throat. "To tell you the truth, I'm a little afraid of Nell."

With a startled laugh, I looked quickly to the door to make sure Nell hadn't remained behind.

"I thought we could talk. That's it," Taylor said.

I glimpsed the sinewy muscles stretched across his wide torso visible through the deep V-neck of his shirt. Tight curls were spread over his upper chest.

The sexy man was a welcome distraction from the clamor of emotions in my head. "Yeah, sure," I said and climbed out of bed. "By the fire."