Before the Dawn by Erica Vetsch

Author:Erica Vetsch [Vetsch, Erica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-05-01T04:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

The carriage lurched to a halt, and Karen wiped her damp cheeks, gathering her cloak around her.

David helped her descend from the carriage but released her hand quickly.

The clock in the parlor chimed as they entered.

Buckford held the door, taking their outer wraps as they shed them. His keen eyes searched her face, and she gave him a rather watery smile and a small shrug. He pursed his mouth and leveled a stare at David, shaking his head.

“Sir, you have a visitor in the parlor. She insisted on waiting, though I told her you’d be quite late.”

“A visitor? At this hour?” David stopped on the bottom stair, one hand on the newel post.

“A Mrs. Patrick Doolin. She said she’d come all the way from Martin City and had to see you tonight.”

David flinched. His shoulders slumped, and he rubbed the back of his neck.

“David? Who is Mrs. Doolin? Do you know her?”

“We’ve met. Her husband used to work for Mackenzie Mining. He died in the cave-in.”

The breath Karen took skidded in her throat. Still rocking from his kiss and being pushed away, she had no strength left for a visitor, especially one with a grievance against the Mackenzies. But what else could they do? “Thank you, Buckford. David, let’s get this over with.”

Buckford had stirred up the fire, and a tea tray sat on a low table beside the woman. Dressed in black from head to foot, her brown hair streaked with gray, she had a careworn and lined face.

“Mrs. Doolin? I’m Karen Mackenzie. I’m sorry you had to wait so long.” Karen held out her hand.

Like a bird, the woman hopped out of the chair and bobbed her head. “I’m the one who should be apologizing, barging in on you. I’ll be real quick-like and leave you in peace.” Her brogue was as thick as Irish stew. The woman’s black, lively eyes darted a look over Karen’s shoulder to David. “Mr. Mackenzie, ’tis me, Maggie Doolin.”

“Mrs. Doolin.” David inched forward until his hand brushed the edge of the desk. Deep lines formed on his forehead, the flickering firelight accenting the creases.

“Please, Mrs. Doolin, do sit down. What is it you’ve come to talk to my husband about?” Karen took the chair next to their visitor’s.

David leaned against the edge of the desk and crossed his arms as if bracing himself for a barrage.

The lines on Mrs. Doolin’s face spoke of years of hardship, but peace shone from her dark eyes. Her fingers kept up constant motion, picking at a thread, tapping her lap, never still. “I’m on me way back East, and I had something to say to my late husband’s boss. I should have come before, but I was making ready to return to me family. Me oldest boy lives in Boston. He’s asked me to come to him now that I’m alone.”

Karen leaned forward. “We’re so sorry for your loss.”

“Aye, lass, I know you are. ’Tis a terrible thing for the women, isn’t it, waiting to see

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.