A Hill of Beans by William W. Johnstone

Author:William W. Johnstone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pinnacle Books
Published: 2020-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 28

“In a way, I’m actually glad someone found out the truth. And if it had to be, I’m glad that someone was you, Mac.” Belinda’s tone was plaintive, her averted eyes glistening on the verge of tears. “Now that we’ve been exposed for living a lie, I realize you owe neither me nor Howard—that’s my husband’s real name, Howard Faust—any favorable consideration. But I hope you’ll try to be a little bit understanding, anyway.”

“It might help me understand,” Mac said, “if you told me the truth.” Even though he fought hard to keep his voice stern, he could feel a faint weakening upon seeing the hint of tears. At the same time, he warned himself to remember that this woman had already proven herself an accomplished actress and a skilled manipulator, especially of men.

The two of them were off on their own again, two or three miles out ahead of the rest of the outfit. The storm had lasted through the rest of the previous day and into the night. The wind finally let up at sunset, and the rain finally stopped sometime after midnight. The outfit had stayed camped within the rocky spines, with the herd bedded nearby, until the break of this new day under a clear sky. Over breakfast, Bradley and Shad had decided they would move the herd to the grassy area Shad had picked out. There they would camp again and wait for the rushing current to subside enough to allow a crossing.

With the water barrels that were lashed to the sides of the wagons replenished by captured rainwater and a prolonged layover in the offing, it was further decided that this would be a good opportunity to do some much-needed laundry. Belinda had volunteered to get a start on this task and for that reason had once more driven her wagon ahead, along with Mac’s, to get set up at the new campsite.

Upon arriving at the grassy area and choosing a spot on the perimeter nearest the river, Mac had made up his mind to confront Belinda with what he’d overheard two nights earlier. He had plenty of time to start preparing the noon meal, so he was giving her a hand getting her tub and washboard set up and stringing some lines between the two wagons on which to hang the clothes for drying.

Having not yet told anyone else about what he’d learned, still wrestling in his mind as far as whether or not he even should and who it would be if he did, it had suddenly struck Mac that one possibility might be to start with Belinda and see what she had to say for herself.

Which was where things now stood.

“The truth,” Belinda echoed woodenly. “That seems so far away and long ago.”

“If you ponder on it, I got a hunch you can recall.”

Belinda leaned back against the wagon and folded her arms under her breasts, lifting them and causing them to push hard against the front of her blouse.

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