Heart Appearances (Truly Yours Digital Editions Book 560) by Pamela Griffin

Author:Pamela Griffin [Griffin, Pamela]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2015-09-19T16:00:00+00:00

Eight

At half past two, Brent paced the station’s loading area and peered off to the west. No pillar of gray smoke loomed above the trees nor marred the gray-blue sky to announce the train’s arrival. No monstrous roar of clacking wheels shook the rails. No haunting blast of a sirenlike whistle pierced the still air. Again he glanced at his pocket watch. It wasn’t usual for the train to arrive even a few minutes late. Unless it wasn’t the train that was tardy, but his watch that was running slow. He lifted the timepiece to his ear. Not hearing any ticking, he shook it.

“Prompt as usual, little brother.”

Almost dropping the watch, Brent tensed at the jocular words coming from behind him and pivoted to look. Bill stood only feet away, dapper in a silk suit with broad pinstripes. A matching gray felt fedora with a black band topped his hair, which was slicked down and looked a shade darker than its usual wheat blond color. No common bowler for his brother! Even his black Oxfords appeared shiny and new. Obviously life hadn’t treated his brother too harshly, although the lines bracketing his mouth and the faint furrows between his brows testified that this wasn’t entirely the case. Identical in features and coloring, the similarities between the brothers ended there.

“Bill.” Brent nodded curtly, wishing he’d given in to the need to replace his suit coat. He pocketed his watch and cupped a hand over one elbow to hide an offending streak of dried whitewash. Such a gesture was futile when he thought about it. White speckles dotted the entire coat. “Where did you come from? The train hasn’t arrived.”

“I decided to take an earlier one. I came into town yesterday and stayed the night at the hotel.”

“Yesterday? Why didn’t you ring me at the reformatory?”

“Let’s just say I thought the fewer people who knew my whereabouts, the better.” Bill threw him one of his dashing smiles, one that Brent knew the women swooned over. “I decided a discreet and expeditious entrance into your small town would be the best plan for all concerned.”

Brent ignored the mocking way Bill stressed the word. His brother always poked fun at Brent’s thirst for knowledge and use of elaborate words. “So, what brings you to our unexciting little town? Are matters getting uncomfortable in the big city? Is the law too close for comfort?”

Bill chuckled. “You know, that’s what I love about you, little brother. You always know how to make a guy feel welcome.”

Brent refrained from answering. The last time Bill sought him out had been for monetary purposes. Judging from his brother’s suave appearance, Brent didn’t think that was the case this time.

The stationmaster ambled out onto the platform and gave them a cursory once-over before peering toward the west, where the faint roar of the oncoming train could now be heard.

“Let’s take this elsewhere,” Bill muttered, cocking the brim of his hat low over his forehead. “I don’t have much time.”

“I have a wagon parked around the side of the building.

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