A Soldier's Journey by Patricia Potter

Author:Patricia Potter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-09-25T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

November 5, 1848

Tomorrow I leave my beloved Scotland and my store in Edinburgh for America. I hear it is a vast and wild land. It is not my wish to go. I do so sadly, but I feel it is my duty to my reckless young brother, Liam, whom I swore to our parents to protect.

He took funds from our leather tore and, without my permission or knowledge, took passage to New York City. Like many here, he has heard there is gold to be found in America and he yearned for adventure. He is an irresponsible lad of seventeen and in good conscience I cannot let him go alone...

ANDY SKIMMED TO the last sentence: I am beginning this journal today to record the journey ahead.

She looked up from the pages Sara Monroe had given her. “Is the rest of the journal this interesting?”

Sara nodded. “It is to me. There are dry spots here and there. He recorded every river they crossed and fauna he found along the way.”

“Is there more than one journal?”

“There’s five,” Sara said.

“What a treasure!”

“I’ve been telling Al that for years, but the journals have been passed down as private family history. In the beginning I think it went back to a fear that their heritage and Liam’s reputation might taint the family, which basically ran this part of Colorado for many decades. Then it became a tradition, one Al didn’t want to break. But after our nephew was arrested and convicted, I think Al realized then the myth of Angus Monroe and the influence of the family destroyed his sister and her son.”

She looked up with sorrowful eyes. “Al’s sister was much younger than he, and when his parents died, he took care of her. Spoiled her completely. She could never do any wrong. She married a con man, a very handsome one. He was an alcoholic abuser, but she couldn’t admit she’d made a mistake and dived into alcohol, as well. When they died and we adopted Sam, he was the child I could never have, and we spoiled him just as Al had spoiled his sister.”

She had tears in her eyes when she looked at Andy. “He thought he stood above everyone because of the relationship...”

She straightened up. “But I’m wandering. What’s done is done, but I think Al feels that some of that aura around the family contributed to his sister’s death and his nephew’s troubles. I also think he might realize Eve is right about trying to grow the town.” She smiled. “Like any man, it’s hard for him to admit he’s wrong. This is his apology,” she added, “although he won’t admit it.”

“Have you read them all?”

She nodded.

“May I?”

“I think that’s why Al brought you here. He doesn’t usually take to people right away. His father was that way, too. But he liked your grit, as he put it.” She smiled wistfully. “I used to be that way.”

“I think you still are,” Andy said.

“Thank you for that,” she said.

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