Fairer than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott

Author:Rosslyn Elliott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2011-03-23T04:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Two

ANN HAD FINISHED CARING FOR THE ANIMALS AND was preparing supper when her father returned. She let him in; he was travel worn and his hair in need of a trim.

He crossed to the kitchen bench and sat down, leaning back and closing his eyes. After a moment, he fished in his vest pocket.

“I have a letter from Pittsburgh.” Handing her the sealed parchment, he bent over and began to unlace one boot.

She glanced at the address. “But it’s addressed to you.”

“Will you read it to me?” he asked. “All I want is to remove my boots. They aren’t yet broken in.” He huffed with the effort of pulling off the first boot.

She broke the red seal and unfolded it. “It’s from Enoch Washington.”

“Yes, I recognized his hand.” Dropping the boot on the floor, he set to work on the other.

“Dear Samuel,” she read aloud. “I hope this letter finds you well and your farm prospering. I have had some unsettling news that I must share with you. The bounty hunter—” She stopped. Jack Rumkin, spelled the cramped, neat handwriting. The man in the beaver hat.

“Let me see.” He father stopped working on his boot and held out his hand.

She shook her head. She would not give in to the fear that crept through her and made the letter quiver in her hand. She steadied it to read again. “The bounty hunter Jack Rumkin has been making inquiries in all the taverns about town. My contacts tell me that he is looking for the Simons, who have sheltered with me here since your departure.” She swallowed and continued reading. “We had intended to send them on to Canada, but Clara fell ill and we thought it best to wait. Rumkin’s efforts have been so assiduous that I fear that it will not be long until he finds a man who will barter information for liquor.”

Her father had disposed of the other boot, and now he stood in his stocking feet and gently took the letter from her. “Bravely done. I’ll read the rest.” He was quiet, his head bent over the paper, then he looked up. “Enoch says he is sending the Simons here.”

“Why?” Her question was soft, but her thoughts veered in several directions.

“He doesn’t think Rumkin will expect them to come west. He will be watching for them along the northern road. But if they come this way, we can send them north, to a farmer Enoch knows in Mount Vernon.”

“But what if—” She hated the catch in her voice. “What if Rumkin follows them here?”

“I will take care of Rumkin.”

The flatness of her father’s reply made her uneasy. Would he kill the bounty hunter if he saw him? Surely not. He had been as upset by the death of Mr. Holmes as Ann herself.

But her next thought was too unsettling to speak aloud. What if he comes here and you are not at home?

She turned away to hide her disquiet and walked to the hearth. If Mr. Washington had chosen this course, she could not argue.

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