Impending Love and War by Laura Freeman

Author:Laura Freeman [Freeman, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: civil war, Suspense
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2014-06-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

The trip into town was uneventful. Cory passed the butcher, the grocer, the baker, the cobbler, the tailor, and the harness maker before reaching the livery. Lou Smith was the owner. He bragged he was older than the flood, and no one argued. He was wrinkled on every part of his body except the smooth cap of his bald head. Lou took Nell’s bridle as Cory climbed down from the buggy.

“I’m taking the train to Akron and won’t be back until late.” Cory recalled Tyler’s instructions. “Nell needs a couple of nails put in her right rear shoe.”

He sighed. “I’ll try to find time.”

Lou looked tired. “You should hire someone to help you.”

“I’m too old to train someone, and it’s impossible to find a good blacksmith.”

“I know a good blacksmith,” Edward Vandal announced from the shadows of the livery. He stepped into the bright light of the yard. Cory saw Buck and Clyde hovering behind him like rats on rafters ready to leap on unsuspecting prey.

“Do you?” Lou asked. “Is he a hard worker?”

Edward was referring to Noah. If he didn’t have to worry about being dragged back to Virginia and sold into slavery, he could work for Lou. She almost argued her point before remembering Edward was looking for Noah to find Tess. He was baiting her to discover if Noah was at Glen Knolls. “Lou has wanted to retire for years. Perhaps this blacksmith can take over for him.”

Edward stared at Cory. “Do you know where I can find him?”

“How would I know?” Was he suspicious? Maybe her nervousness would work in her favor. She wanted someone to follow her. She jumped when she heard the train whistle blow. “I have to buy my ticket.” She gathered her basket and purse from the buggy. “Good day.” Clyde and Buck stepped out into the light. They didn’t look any less menacing.

The livery stable was opposite Darrow Falls Inn. Cory headed west on River Road toward the train depot built on a rise above town. She focused on the small rectangular building, afraid she might glance toward the church tower and reveal Tess and Adam’s hiding place. She wasn’t good at disguising her true feelings. No wonder Adelaide had hesitated to tell her about Noah. She’d never done anything this dangerous, and although baiting the chasers was part of the plan, her heart was beating at a frantic pace.

She bought her ticket and boarded the train. Her seat was on the opposite side of the depot and gave her an overview of the town. Edward stood in the livery yard, holding the reins to a horse. His chasers were missing.

The sheep that grazed on the square to keep the grass shorn were absent today. Several men were cleaning up the center of town in preparation for tomorrow’s holiday. Businesses would be closed, and shoppers were busy making last minute purchases. Tomorrow a new flag with thirty-three stars would be displayed on the front of the Town Hall to mark the Fourth of July.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.