She looked forward to the hour or so of freedom as she made her way outside to sit in the sun.That’s the only time she sat back, closed her eyes, and pretended her life was different.
Abby tried to help her pass the time, asking her to bake different desserts she found interesting in the cookbooks she gave her to read.As sweet as Abby was to her, it didn’t take away from the despair growing inside her.
They never had sex again like they did the first time.He was in and out of her before she got even close to the level of desire she needed to enjoy the sex, much less climax.
****
Jared noticed Sky emotionallyretreat a little further every day and didn’t know if he wanted to fix it.It was getting harder to keep a distance between them.
Jared knew his relationship was already affecting his days.His foreman made a comment that if he got any more miserable to work with, every one of the ranch hands would quit.They were unable to deal with his nasty temper and volatile disposition that seemed to get worse every day.
****
Something broke inher the morning she awoke to her period.She prayed every day that if she couldn’t have a husband who cared for her, she wanted a child.A human she could pour all her love into.She dressed carefully that morning before making her way down to the kitchen.
“Well, look at you.Why are you dressed so nice?”Abby asked.
“I have a few things to get in town, and frankly, I need to get away for a few hours before I go crazy,” she admitted.
“I wondered how long it would take.You lasted a lot longer than I ever imagined.”Abby handed her a cup of coffee.“Do you want some toast before you go?”
Sky drank the coffee and rinsed the cup before turning toward Abby.“No, I’m planning on eating lunch in town before heading back.Do you need anything in town?”
Abby wiped her hands on her apron before she tore a piece of paper in half.
“If you could get me these things?Take the truck I use.The keys are in it.”
“Absolutely,” Sky said before hugging the older woman.
Sky rolled the window down after she turned out of the driveway.She took several deep breaths of the fresh air streaming into the truck.The knot that seemed to grow every day loosened enough to let her relax and just enjoy the day.
She was singing to the radio and smiling by the time she made it to town.Sky walked through several stores, getting the things on her list and Abby’s.It was about noon when her stomach started growling.She made her way to the diner Jared had taken her to the day of their wedding.
It seemed like years instead of a few weeks when she’d made the promise to love and cherish Jared.She wondered if she knew then how it would be, would she have gone through with it?Sadly, she decided she would.Unfortunately, she was unable to prevent herself from caring for her husband, even though he treated her like a stranger most of the time, and then a whore the few minutes a night he allowed himself to touch her.
Sky shook off the negative feelings and decided to enjoy this short amount of freedom before she had to go back.
****
“Where the hell is she?”
Abby turned from the piecrust she was rolling out.“I beg your pardon?”Abby said in a dry tone.
“I want to know where my wife is?”
Abby snorted.“Really, you’re calling her your wife?I know sworn enemies who treat each other better than the way you treat her.”
Jared’s eyes narrowed.“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Abby straightened, faced him, and placed a hand on her hip.
“Like hell, I don’t.I see her every day, and every day, the light in her eyes dims further.Now, I have no idea what happens in your bedroom, but I can just imagine how cold you are.You must treat her like some kind of prostitute.What you do is isolate her from everyone except me, and for a few minutes a day, you grace her with your presence.”
“Abby...”Jared said with a shade of warning in his tone.
Abby put both her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes in anger.
“Don’t you ‘Abby’ me.You need to look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if you were her, how long do you think you’d be able to put up with the way you treat her?And I have another question.Why are you doing it?I’ve never known you to be a cruel man.If your mother knew how you were treating her, she’d be so disappointed in you.I know I am.”With those words, Abby turned back to her piecrust.
