Courting Miss Adelaide by Janet Dean

Author:Janet Dean
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2008-04-07T16:00:00+00:00

Adelaide took in the limbs of huge elms reaching across the lane like a canopy. An occasional burst of sunshine broke through the shade, throwing mottled, swaying patterns upon Charles’s face. He had offered to teach her to ride. Even with the exhilaration of the speeding buggy, Adelaide couldn’t imagine climbing on a horse, but she’d do it. Not because it meant spending hours with Charles, but because she wanted to come and go as she pleased. For that, she’d risk her neck.

In the Tulley barnyard, Charles brought the horse to a standstill. A black-and-white Border collie barked hello, then ambled over to greet them.

Charles hopped from the buggy, scratched the dog behind the ears and then crossed to her side. Before Adelaide could climb down, he wrapped his hands around her waist and lowered her to the ground.

She wanted to linger in his strong arms, but she had a mission. Giving wide berth to his horse, she started for the house, hoping Mr. Tulley had something tangible against Ed.

An hour later Adelaide’s spirits flagged. Mr. Tulley had said only positive things, praising Ed for working his fields while Mr. Tulley’s hand healed after losing two fingers to a saw. He’d given example after example of Drummond’s willingness to help a neighbor—raising a barn after a tornado, pitching in to harvest crops for an elderly widow.

Charles handed Adelaide into the carriage. “I’m sorry you didn’t find what you expected, but after Tulley’s assurances, you should feel better about William’s safety.”

“I’ve seen Ed Drummond in action. He’s not the saint Mr. Tulley made him out to be.”

“I’m not saying he’s a saint, but there’s no evidence he’s a child beater, either,” Charles said, climbing in beside her.

As a newsman, Charles would never trust her instincts on this. She had to find evidence.

As they drove up the lane, possibilities scuttled through Adelaide’s mind. “If we did a story on the orphans, we’d have an excuse to gather information on the Drummonds.”

Charles flicked the reins and they started down the lane. “You’re looking for trouble where none exists. Drop it.”

“Because you don’t want me involved in the paper?”

He scowled. “A newspaper isn’t a tool for your agenda.”

She folded her arms across her chest. Charles couldn’t see trouble if it were marked with a capital T. If she could get out to the Drummond farm, she’d do some investigating of her own. “I’d like to learn to ride or maybe practice driving a buggy.”

“Really? What made you change your mind?”

“You did.”

Charles beamed. “How about starting tomorrow after Emma leaves for school? I’ll have you back before time to open.”

Her stomach clenched, but she agreed. She’d no longer allow her fear of horses to control her life. Tomorrow she’d learn the skills that would enable her to check on William and Frances and uncover the truth. She could no more ignore Ed Drummond’s treatment of William than she could allow Mr. Sparks to scare her from her goal of improving life for women. Since the

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