Dark Of The Moon (Hunter Family Saga; Half-Moon Ranch 4) by Evelyn Rogers

Author:Evelyn Rogers [Rogers, Evelyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Romance, Fiction, 19th Century, American West, Western, Multicultural, Adult, Adventure, Action, Half-Moon Ranch, Hunter Family, Saga, Series, Grassland, Texas Hill Country, Four Siblings, Solvent, Secrets, Past, Father, Prison, Matt Hunter, DARK OF THE MOON, Journey, England, Thoroughbred, Race Horse, Dark Champion, Diablo, Texas, Released, Hometown, Step-father, Never Forgotten, Deadly, Suspense
ISBN: 9780843952148
Google: BEy0AAAACAAJ
Amazon: B00FIOUTP4
Goodreads: 312757
Publisher: Evelyn Rogers
Published: 2013-09-23T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Juliana stared at the intruders. A scream caught in her throat. She wanted to run from the room, let the tears flow, give way to the hysteria she'd been barely holding under control since the accident. This intrusion was too much, too cruel. She had managed to get through everything else, even near-death, but not this.

The preacher's wife ended the awkward silence.

"Please forgive us, Mrs. Rains, for coming in this way without being invited, but we were worried about you."

She walked across the room and held out her hand, cutting off access to the door, Juliana's wished-for exit. Juliana's second choice was crawling behind the sofa. She was far too painfully aware of what she must look like in her soiled dress, hair tumbled to her shoulders, face smudged, her lips surely reddened by Matt's kisses.

And there was the little matter of her cloak and bonnet on the floor beside her, hairpins scattered about the rug. And Matt, her accomplice, standing so close she could hear his breathing.

"I should have introduced myself," the woman went on, as if she'd done nothing worse than catch Juliana napping. "I don't know if you remember me, it's been so many years. I'm Mary Crawford and this is my husband, the Reverend James Crawford."

She gestured back toward the door. The reverend, tall and thin where his wife was short and round, acknowledged the introduction with a nod, but he held back, apparently not so inclined as his wife to act as if nothing untoward had been taking place in the parlor.

Juliana nodded in return. She ought to do something, say something, anything, but Mrs. Crawford saved her the effort.

"Matt Hunter," the woman continued. "It's been years since we've seen you as well."

Juliana looked sideways at Matt, but he was directing all his attention to Edmund. Looking at Matt came close to being a mistake. She had an almost uncontrollable urge to lean against him and rest her head on his shoulder.

But this scene was her embarrassment, not his, and she must handle it as best she could.

She looked back toward the door. Edmund, ever the dignified banker in his suit and tie, hat in hand, graying hair combed neatly away from his lean face, was staring at her. For a moment she saw hate in his eyes and then, worse, scorn as he glanced at the cloak and bonnet on the floor.

And then the scorn was gone, as easily shed as a reptile might slither from its skin.

"Juliana, my dear," he said, walking toward her, his voice filled with concern. "At last we have a chance to see one another."

Juliana crossed her arms. Her expression must have stopped him, because he came to a sudden halt. "I'm so glad to find that you're all right," he added.

Matt broke in. "She's fine. Any reason she shouldn't be?"

"We were on our way here to visit you and welcome you home," the reverend said, "when we came across your carriage. At least I believe it was yours.

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