A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh by Carolyn Miller

Author:Carolyn Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Published: 2019-08-01T16:00:00+00:00

The wind nipped at his face as the view of Lyme’s harbor opened up before him. Gideon thought back to yesterday, his lips lifting in a smile, at the moment on the shore when Miss Hatherleigh’s face had dropped in surprise. He supposed a well-brought-up young lady would not have even thought smugglers could be encountered in the village shops or in the churchyard after services. She was truly a sweet innocent. So her shock, and compassionate concern, had brought much-needed respite from the general feeling of hopelessness that so often swamped his days.

The cart clattered down the steep hill into Lyme Regis. True to her word, Miss Hatherleigh had visited Emma yesterday, and once again he was plunged further into indebtedness. For she seemed to know exactly what to say to lift Emma’s spirits, and thus his own. Her kindly interest never veered too close to personal matters that might embarrass, and her amusing stories of self-deprecation far from the proper young lady she had first appeared, engendered even warmer feelings towards her.

Today Miss Hatherleigh had provided another period of respite, with her offer for Emma to spend the day at Saltings, thus releasing him to continue his explorations. He had protested, but Emma eagerly accepted. From the way he had left them, he gathered the day would be spent drawing, in the gardens, with the pug—quite simply the ugliest, laziest dog he had ever seen—and engaging in all manner of frivolities, activities he believed Miss Hatherleigh had specifically designed to provide distraction and amusement.

His heart glowed at her thoughtfulness. She truly was a blessing in their lives, her kindness soothing the tension forever lining his heart. “God, bless her.”

The cart driver turned around with an enquiring eye, to which Gideon was forced to shake his head.

He had today at least. They would have to leave soon. Even with Mr. Browne standing guard, he knew it would only be a matter of time before Pratt learned the truth and returned again. He would make the most of each opportunity to scavenge the beach, for such opportunities would likely not exist in his future, when they were forced to go into hiding again somewhere.

“God, help me,” he prayed aloud again.

This time the cart driver did not turn around. Perhaps he was used to the strange ways of some of the visitors in town.

Within a few minutes, he had paid the man and was making his way to the beach, his hunger for discovery rising as he inhaled the tang of brine and as seawater droplets stung his cheeks. He hitched his satchel over his shoulder, gripping the spade and sack more firmly as his feet slithered over the cool wet of mossy rocks.

Ahead on the sand, he saw a group clustered at the base of the ominous dark cliff known as the Black Fen. His pulse increased. Someone had found something?

A man, younger than he by at least half a decade, sprinted past. Gideon hailed him to stop.

“What is that

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