Light Shines on Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard

Author:Charlotte Hubbard [Hubbard, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2020-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

As Annabelle took the last bite of her apple pie, her thoughts circled like dry leaves in a whirlwind. The folks from Promise Lodge were suppressing their true feelings as they ate, because Bishop Clayton was circulating between the tables making conversation—and the friends who’d come from Coldstream surely must be wondering about the outspoken man who’d announced he was taking over as the community’s new bishop. She was thinking of an excuse to head for the kitchen as Clayton approached her table, but then Phineas, seated beside her, clasped her hand.

“Let’s go for a walk,” he said, scooting back his chair. “I have nothing to say to King, and everything to discuss with you, Annabelle.”

Little red flags shot up in her mind, but she couldn’t deny that all through the meal her husband had been attentive and pleasant. They’d been sitting across from Preacher Marlin and Frances, talking with Marlin about his barrel-making business.

“Excuse us, folks,” Phineas said. “I’d rather spend my time with Annabelle than say something I’ll regret when King gets here.”

Marlin and Frances nodded, and Annabelle followed Phineas sideways down the aisle between the closely arranged tables. When they reached the lobby, he slipped his arm around her and opened the front door, leaning so close that she caught the familiar masculine scent that was uniquely Phineas Beachey. She’d missed the day-to-day contact with him and the little things like the sound of his voice and the feel of his work-roughened hand on hers, yet she felt wary of whatever topic was pressing him to take her off so they could be alone.

Once outside, Annabelle inhaled deeply. “What a day,” she remarked with a shake of her head. “You can just feel the way folks are holding in their reactions to Clayton King—”

“Let’s find a more gratifying topic of conversation, shall we?” Phineas asked with a wink. “It won’t be difficult.”

A nervous laugh escaped Annabelle as they descended the porch steps together. In light of the announcement Bishop Clayton had made, she was even more curious about his true identity, but she hadn’t shared her secret with anyone since she’d talked to Bishop Monroe—and Phineas had just given her the perfect reason not to tell him, either. “Jah, he dropped a couple of bombs today, for sure and for certain,” she said.

Phineas held her gaze. “Will it be all right if we talk in my cabin? I know you’ve been . . . reluctant to be alone with me, but what I have to say is rather private.”

Annabelle swallowed hard. The expression on his lean face made her wonder what Phineas planned to reveal—as though anything could be quite as unexpected as what Clayton had announced after the wedding.

But what did she have to fear? In all their years of marriage he’d never become violent, even when he’d spoken gruffly or complained about something she’d done. “All right. Sure.”

“I think it’s time we settled things between us,” Phineas murmured. “I’ve been here a month now, so we’ve both had time to consider our feelings.

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