Lumberjacks and Ladies by Jennifer Lamont Leo

Author:Jennifer Lamont Leo [Leo, Jennifer Lamont; Musch, Naomi; Patterson, Candice Sue; Thomas, Pegg]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781636091426
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2022-02-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Two

Charlie still hadn’t made good on his threats to send Nancy over to “talk sense into her.” Nancy might try doing so given time, but Maggie was confident she could handle her soft-spoken sister-in-law. Meanwhile, Maggie went about her days as usual, wondering now and then if the preacher had read her letter to anyone, but mostly trying not to think or worry too hard about it.

There was still a sharp nip in the air one late morning when the dog barking outside alerted Maggie to someone coming up the drive. The dog never barked at Charlie or Nancy, so it had to be a stranger coming to the house. She wiped her hands on a towel and smoothed back the loose ends of hair that slipped from her braid before going to the door. Cold air shuddered through her as she stepped onto the porch, and she quickly closed the door behind her so the inside heat would not escape. She braced herself with her arms folded close as a tall, bearded man, well dressed but of undetermined age, dismounted from his horse and approached. He tipped his hat in a most genteel way when he saw her standing there. He was no lumberman or farmer. Maggie could see that right off.

“Mrs. Duncan?” The man had a rich voice, deep, educated-like.

“Yes, that’s me.”

“My name is Sheldon Earl, ma’am. Might I take a few moments of your time?”

“What about?”

“Nothing to worry you. I am here as a representative of Mr. Edward Wellington. I merely wish to talk to you about your lovely farm. I come with a proposition of sorts which I hope will interest you.”

Maggie’s nerves lit up, but so did her curiosity, and she was too cold to stand out there long and consider it. “I guess that’d be all right.” She beckoned him to follow her into the kitchen. “Wipe your feet,” she said as they went inside. “Like some coffee?”

“Please.” The gentleman removed his hat and gloves.

“Have a seat.” Maggie poured from the pot that had been sitting on the back of the cookstove since breakfast. “Sorry if it’s getting a little bit thick.” She brought him the cup.

Mr. Earl took a chair, setting his hat on the corner of the table. “Thank you. I’m sure it’s fine.” Most anyone could appreciate a hot cup of coffee on a day like today. “Mrs. Duncan, I won’t take much of your time, but I wanted to let you know that I heard about Mr. Duncan, and I’m very sorry.”

“That’s kind. Did you know Bobby?”

He shook his head, looking grave. “No, I’m sorry to say, I didn’t. But I travel these parts fairly often, and word of accidents like your husband’s, well, it gets around.” He took a long sip of his coffee and frowned.

Maggie crossed her arms and steadied herself against the dry sink, waiting for him to continue.

He set his cup aside and folded his hands on the tabletop. “Mrs. Duncan, as I said, I represent a gentleman from the east, Mr.

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