A Man With a Pure Heart by Linda Tillis

Author:Linda Tillis [Tillis, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, historical, Florida, Investigator
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2017-08-31T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

It was near midnight by the time Samuel stopped the wagon at the village. Iris had been asleep for a while, but moaned every time the wagon hit a bump or a hole in the road. Samuel looked over at Granny. The woman was a rock. She hadn’t complained once, and her back was still ramrod straight.

The windows lit up inside Roxanne’s kitchen, and as he climbed down from the wagon, a rifle barrel eased out through the front door.

“You can stop right there, mister. I got a rifle, and I know how to use it,” she shouted.

“Roxanne, it’s Samuel. I’ve got a couple of ladies who need help. You want to put that rifle down and come give me a hand?”

Roxanne had been Mae’s first boarder at the village. She was now Eleanor’s right hand at Taylor’s, and was like a sister to Samuel.

She propped the rifle in the corner and ran out to help him with Iris. After a brief introduction and explanation, Samuel carried a groggy Iris inside and placed her in a bed. He could feel the heat from her body and was sure he needed to get Edward out here soon.

“Roxanne, I’m leaving Iris and Granny to you. I’ve got to get Edward.”

Roxanne shooed him out. “Just go, you goose. I’ll have them settled by the time Edward gets here. And I’ll have Bobby unhitch that mule and water him. Now, go!”

For once, Samuel was glad that Roxanne was so independent. She would manage fine.

Samuel considered all he had to do, as he rode Zeus across the fields to the manor. He needed to notify Captain Lance. He needed to get some deputies and some boats rounded up…but all that would have to wait ’til morning. Right now, all he really needed was a good doctor.

Ah, good. The kitchen door was still unlocked. That meant Edward might still be awake.

Samuel surprised Cyrus with a forkful of chocolate cake halfway to his mouth. Samuel laughed out loud. Cyrus’s eyes were almost as wide as his mouth.

“Don’t have time to talk, brother. Has Edward gone up yet?”

Cyrus lowered the fork. “He’s in the library with Pa. Mae went up a couple of hours ago. What’s up?”

Samuel brushed right on by his younger brother, headed to the library at a trot.

Garth and Edward were resting comfortably in front of the fireplace when Samuel burst in.

“Edward, I’ve just dropped off a sick girl with Roxanne. She has a badly injured foot and is running a fever.” Both men jumped to their feet.

Edward said, “I’ll grab my bag and meet you at the truck.”

“Good. I’ve got to run and get a pair of bolt cutters,” Samuel replied as he turned and trotted back through the kitchen.

Garth stood in the library, holding an almost empty glass of brandy. He finally drained the glass and sat back down. He knew they would tell him what he needed to know when it was over.

As the two men sped down the road to the village, Edward said, “All right, I have to ask.

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