Blind Faith by Aston Alexa

Author:Aston, Alexa
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oliver Heber Books
Published: 2021-07-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Annabelle gave her hand to Bryce and stepped from the train. A cool breeze greeted her as she looked anxiously around the station. People met those exiting the train, many with looks of hope and joy and tender smiles upon their faces.

She felt dead inside. The entire trip west gave her time to think, looking for clues Braden might have dropped in the months before she and Olivia embarked upon their European tour. Why had he sent them on such an expensive journey? She hadn’t encountered any credit problems, but being a senator’s wife often opened doors closed to others.

Monroe Feldman stole a few moments with her before she and Bryce boarded their train in New York. He indicated to her that Braden desperately needed to make the trip to San Francisco because of some financial venture. Feldman hadn’t revealed its nature, but it left Annabelle with a bad taste in her mouth. Braden’s judgment was suspect at this point. If he planned on some wild hare scheme to save them, it had failed when he hadn’t been able to show up to pull it off.

Fear for her child’s safety lingered. Anger also bubbled inside her— at the savage kidnappers and toward Braden. Frustration followed not far behind. Now, they had arrived in San Francisco, a city she had always wanted to visit, under the worst circumstances possible. Her husband and son were missing. She possessed enough money for a moderately priced hotel if she only stayed a few days.

To add to her other worries, she knew John was missing. Her childhood sweetheart, in his capacity as a U. S. Marshal, had gone in search of her loved ones, and now he might have given his life for them.

It was more than she could bear.

“Mr. Mitchell?”

A man headed their way, wearing a deputy marshal badge on his black wool suit coat. He looked to be in his late twenties.

“Yes,” Bryce replied. “And you are?”

“Price, sir. Deputy Marshal Andy Price. I’m to escort you to headquarters. Let’s see to your bags.”

“Mrs. Reynolds only has the one trunk and I have my valise here. I know what the trunk looks like. I’ll take care of it. Do you know where we are staying, Deputy? I can have the luggage sent directly there.”

Price frowned. “I don’t believe any arrangements have been made, sir. Might I recommend Baldwin House?”

Annabelle winced. The hotel was known as one of the finest in the city. She placed a hand on Bryce’s arm.

“Do you think—”

But he knew. She could see the pity in his eyes.

“Don’t worry, Annabelle. The firm will take care of everything.”

“Not a suite,” she said quickly. “A room.” She might have to take him up on his generosity, but she refused to be more indebted than necessary.

“All right. I’ll see to the bags.” He strode off, his confident air raising her hopes.

That left her with the young deputy. He had a look of John about him, years ago, before the war. Annabelle had been shocked when she’d last seen John at the dedication of the cemetery at Gettysburg.

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