The Education of Madeline by Beth Williamson Page A

call to be jealous of Teague’s wife. He was her employee, not her boyfriend.
    She set the Bible down with the other items and reached into the bag one last time. There was only one thing left in there that made her hands shake when she took it out. It was a lock of light brown hair and a lock of light blond hair. They were woven together to form a ring that would fit on Teague’s wrist.
    Hair from his wife and child. A piece of them to carry with him, likely into war. She stared at the hair in her hand and knew, just knew deep down, that they were dead. They had died while he was off at war. Somehow, someway.
    Madeline felt her eyes prick with tears. He carried only four things with him, and they were all a part of his wife and child. He obviously loved her and still did. A small stab of disappointment lanced her heart. There wasn’t any room in his life for another woman. Claire still owned his heart, even from the grave.
    She reverently put the hair back in the bag and then replaced everything else as well. As she put the bag back under the bed, she heard footsteps downstairs.
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    Teague couldn’t find anyone in the house or outside, so he went in the backyard to look. The door to the carriage house was open, so he figured Madeline or Eppie was in there.
    As he stepped in, he heard someone upstairs. In his bedroom loft . A surge of annoyance went through him. What the hell would either one of them be doing up there?
    He took the steps two at a time and found Madeline standing in the middle of the room, looking flushed and guilty.
    â€œWhat are you doing up here?” he asked.
    â€œLooking for you,” she answered.
    â€œYou’re lying, Maddie.”
    She looked as if he’d slapped her. “I beg your pardon?”
    â€œYou’re looking like a kid with her hand in the cookie jar right before suppertime, so don’t tell me you were looking for me. I was obviously not here.”
    He felt angry and a bit of something else he couldn’t identify to find her there. He glanced under the bed and realized his bag had been moved.
    White-hot anger took over annoyance.
    â€œWere you looking through my things?” he shouted. “You have no right!”
    â€œI’m sorry!” she said as she wrung her hands together. “I am a horrible person. I…I can’t help myself. I get these impulses and…I’m so sorry, Teague!”
    â€œGet out.”
    She nodded and went to leave the room. She stopped to touch his arm, and he flinched.
    â€œYou’re an admirable man, Teague. A better person than I am. You have my deepest apologies.”
    She left with a whiff of lavender. Teague’s hands clenched into fists, and his breathing became irregular. He hadn’t expected his emotions to come roaring back into his life. But they had with the force of a twister. Slamming him around like a wind he had no control over.
    Damn Madeline for snooping. And damn his soft heart for caring about what she thought of him.

Chapter Five
    I t was late—after midnight. Madeline couldn’t sleep a wink. Her body was anxious, hungry. She felt like ants had landed on her body and were making her jump to their tune.
    She had thrown the covers off hours ago. She lay in her bed staring out the window. It was a clear night, and the moon and stars were both staring down at her. The crescent moon was as bright as a new coin.
    A cool breeze ruffled the gauzy white curtains. They moved gently toward her, reaching. The cool air felt wonderful against her heated skin. Her nipples puckered under her nightgown to painful points.
    Her hands crept up and brushed across her breasts. A tingle of pleasure radiated from the contact. She closed her eyes and pictured Teague’s handsome face. Remembered his hot, wet kisses. Soon her hands were rubbing back and forth across her nipples, faster and harder.
    Madeline pinched one, and a jolt went straight like an arrow to the moist heat