Heartbreak Creek by Kaki Warner

Author:Kaki Warner
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.
Published: 2011-05-24T07:00:00+00:00

“You sure you don’t mind staying behind?” Edwina asked as she buckled the strap on her valise.

The soldiers had arrived yesterday evening, and Declan had insisted they leave for the ranch this morning. She expected him to come pounding on the door any minute. The man had the patience of a five-year-old. A really big, really handsome five-year-old. Smiling, she pinned on her bonnet.

“Whatever,” Pru said.

Confused by the tone of disinterest, Edwina studied her sister’s form, silhouetted against the pink dawn as she stared out the hotel window. Throughout the bustle of trying to get the house ready, she had seen little of Pru, other than in the evenings when they were both too exhausted to do more than wash, change into their nightclothes, and fall into bed. Yet now, she sensed a widening of that awkward space that had lingered between them ever since Pru had told her about Shelly’s proclivities.

“It should be no more than three days. And Thomas promised to take Brin and Lucas fishing every day, so you won’t have to watch them constantly.”

Turning back into the room, Pru tightened the sash on her robe with a quick, sharp jerk. “It doesn’t matter.”

Edwina frowned. Instead of being delighted that she would have time with Thomas, Pru seemed unhappy at the prospect. Edgy. Almost angry.

“Why are you upset?”

“I’m not upset.”

“Is it Thomas? Has he done something?”

Pru straightened the lamp on the table by the wingback, then went to stand at the window again.

“I thought you liked Thomas.”

Her sister didn’t respond.

“He certainly seems taken with you.”

“Is he?” The tone was mocking.

Which confused Edwina even more. “I think so. Don’t you?”

Pru gave a harsh, sharp bark of laughter and whipped around, her eyes snapping fire. “And what about this?” In a gesture so sudden and unexpected it sent Edwina back a step, she jerked aside the lapel of her robe to expose the fine web of pale scars that marred the darker skin across her right shoulder and down beneath the crocheted neckline of her gown. “Do you think if he saw this he would still be taken? I doubt it.” Yanking the robe closed, she faced the window again, her back stiff, her arms folded tightly across her waist. “How could he?”

It was a moment before Edwina could respond. They never spoke of Pru’s scars. Just seeing them made Edwina recoil. Not in disgust, but guilt. It was her fault her sister had been burned. It was her fault the jug of milk had spilled. But when Pru had rushed in to take the blame as she so often did, Mama had whirled on her, the pot of scalding water clutched in her hand.

In the back of her mind, Edwina could still hear Pru’s screams and her mother’s shouts of fury. She could still feel the damp grit cutting into her palms and knees as she’d crawled across the wet floor toward her sister even as the blows had rained down on her back and head.

Mentally jerking her mind back from those horrid memories, she tried to keep her voice even.

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