Jaded Moon (Ransomed Jewels Book 2) by Laura Landon

Author:Laura Landon [Landon, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Prairie Muse Publishing
Published: 2016-08-21T04:00:00+00:00

. . .

Josie watched the children play games, and all the while her gaze kept darting to the top of the rise the marquess would come over if he planned to join them. And surely he would. She couldn’t imagine him giving up the opportunity to see his child. Not after he’d gone to such lengths to find him.

“Miss Josie! Look what Amanda found!”

Josie looked down as two little girls raced toward her, the one’s hand outstretched as if carrying the most precious gift in the world.

“We found it climbing up the side of the tree. Robbie says it lives there.”

Josie looked down to find a brown, fuzzy caterpillar crawling determinedly over Amanda’s palm and wrist, then further up her arm.

“Isn’t it beautiful, Miss Josie?” Amanda said.

Josie watched the four-year-old tentatively reach out, then brush her pudgy little finger lightly over the top of the furry creature. The caterpillar kept moving.

“It tickles,” she said on a giggle.

Josie ran her finger along the insect. “That’s because of all his tiny little legs scampering at the same time.”

“Cissy wants to hold it but it won’t go to her and I’m afraid to pick it up.”

Josie brushed a smudge of dirt off Cissy’s face then took her hand. “Hold out your finger, Cissy.”

The three year old held out one short finger and Josie placed it in front of the caterpillar. Amidst peals of giggles and after two aborted attempts, the insect finally crawled from one little girl’s hand to the other.

“Have you given it a name?” a deep voice asked from behind her.

Josie jerked up and turned. The Marquess of Rainforth was standing at her side. He wasn’t watching the caterpillar, but the two little girls. He smiled a breathtaking smile, and when he transferred that smile to her, Josie felt a jolt that made her cheeks flush hot.

“You can’t name a caterpillar,” Amanda said, looking first at the marquess, then Josie. “Can you?”

“Everything’s got a name, ’manda,” Cissy said, her deep blue eyes wide as she tilted her head back to look at the giant of a man standing in front of her.

“Can we name it, Miss Josie?”

“I don’t see why not.”

“Then I think we should call it Henry,” Amanda said, sucking thoughtfully on her lower lip.

Cissy looked down at the insect. “But Henry was our dog’s name. And he’s dead.”

Amanda was silent for a moment, then her eyes filled with big, wet tears. Josie dropped down so she was eye level with the little girl. “I think Henry’s a wonderful name for your caterpillar. Henry would be proud that you named something after him.”

“I miss him.”

“I know you do.”

Amanda pointed to the caterpillar. “He’s brown like Henry was.”

Josie watched the caterpillar turn around and crawl back down Cissy’s arm. “Yes, he is. The very same color as Henry.”

“Can I take Henry back with me, Miss Josie? I’ll keep him in my room and won’t let him out?”

“No, Amanda. This Henry lives near the tree where you found him. He needs to be outside.

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