[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

at the sight of Simon tottering before him. He had waited
hours for news, while the fool had been off drinking.
"She gots mor ... maur ... married." Simon's voice slurred
as he did a side step.
"Married!" The word exploded from Rudgewick, but was
drowned out by the sounds of laughter and music coming
from the saloon.
Rudgewick's hands went around Simon's throat,
squeezing, venting his frustration at the loss of Serenity. In
his mind, he saw his Serenity lying with another man. Hatred
ripped through him. He wanted to kill. The smaller man's eyes
widened with fear and distress as Rudgewick's grip tightened.
It was surprisingly easy to kill him, Rudgewick thought
with disgust as Simon's body grew limp. Hardly the rush he
121
Sweet Serenity
by Catherine Stang
had anticipated. It did nothing to control the raging emotions
churning inside him.
With cool, controlled movements, Rudgewick pulled
Simon's body into a dark corner behind the saloon, where he
dropped him with a sickening thud. Then he carefully took the
money and valuables off his person. Now the stupid sheriff
would label this a robbery.
Stuffing the bag of coins in his pocket, Rudgewick strolled
back toward his hotel. If Serenity thought marriage would
save her, she was sorely mistaken. He would have her. All his
plans counted on it.
* * * *
"You aren't going to say a thing," a familiar husky alto
voice whispered behind a trembling Bridget. Strong hands
pulled Bridget into the darkness of the empty livery stable.
"B-but Lord Tarrington killed that ... that man. I saw him,"
Bridget sputtered as she turned to face Desiree, one of Lilly's
girls.
"And who will believe you? How will you explain what you
are doing out here late at night? Your mother would have
apoplexy if she knew you was teaching a whore to read. She
would stop you from coming. Is that what you want?" Desiree
shook her, punctuating each word.
"No."
Desiree relaxed her tense stance. Hugging herself, she
walked to the other side of the barn. "Then we're agreed."
Her determined gaze pinned Bridget. "We tell no one."
122
Sweet Serenity
by Catherine Stang
Bridget worried her lower lip. "What if Sheriff Wallis
questions us? I can't lie."
"He won't ask, as long as you don't act suspicious."
Bridget frowned. She had never lied before.
"Listen, sweetie, you've been kind to me." Desiree put a
hand on her shoulder. "I won't let you ruin yourself."
Desiree's brows knitted thoughtfully. "Here." The slight
blonde pulled a fancy gold watch out of her skirt pocket. "I
was saving this for my leaving-town money."
Bridget's eyes rounded. "Where did you get that?"
"From Lord Fancy Pants. I got paid to visit him last night.
He went wild, muttering something about his family being
titled. And how some stupid ... Anyway, I figured he owed me
for the way he treated me, so I took it after he passed out on
the bed. I know I shouldn't have ... but I couldn't help myself.
I planned to sell it." She shrugged. "But we'll use it to ease
your conscience."
She took Bridget's hand and pulled her out to where the
dead man lay face down. Looking around to see if anyone
noticed them, Desiree knelt beside the body and planted the
watch underneath its arm.
She stood up slowly. Bridget could see the pain the
movements caused written all over Desiree's face. Darkness
may have hidden the bruises, but their lingering effects were
obvious.
"There now." Desiree brushed off her hands. "When the
sheriff finds this he'll have a clue to the killer's identity. If
Lord Fancy Pants turns in that his watch was stolen, he'll have
a great deal of explaining to do."
123
Sweet Serenity
by Catherine Stang
"Do you really think this will work?"
"I hope so." Desiree looked around nervously. "I have to
go before Lilly misses me. Promise you won't crack."
"I won't." Bridget nodded. She watched Desiree run off
toward the Lovenest, wondering how doing something so nice
for a friend could get her in so much trouble.
* * * *
Serenity went to blow out the lamp, but stopped to stare
at the wonderful toys lining the walls of the girls' loft
bedroom. There was a huge rocking horse with a frayed rope
mane and tail. Beside it sat a wooden dollhouse that looked
remarkably like the MacClarrons' own home. It came
complete with a barn, fences, family, and animals. All hand-
carved and painted. This was the work of a man who loved
his children. Serenity's heart warmed. Maybe she hadn't
made a mistake about Collin after all.
"Please don't put out the lamp." Cherise pleaded, in a
shaky voice.
Serenity jumped at the sound of the child's voice. She had
thought all the girls were asleep. She had only checked on
them as a stalling tactic to avoid crawling into bed with Collin.
She paused by Cherise's bed. "How about if I pull back the
curtains and let more moonlight in?" Serenity draped the part
of curtain closest to Cherise back over the rocking horse.
After a brief silence, Cherise spoke. "I don't like the dark."
Serenity sat on the edge of her bed. "Me neither."
"I have bad dreams."
"Me, too."
124
Sweet Serenity
by Catherine Stang
"What makes them go away?"
Serenity took Cherise's cold hand. "For me, it's feeling
safe." If there is ever such a thing. "Maybe now that you are
home, it will be better. After all, we fixed the parlor." She [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

zanotowane.pl

doc.pisz.pl

pdf.pisz.pl

glaz.keep.pl