Maisie Swaps Her Groom by Linda Hubalek

Author:Linda Hubalek [Hubalek, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781086379808
Publisher: Butterfield Books Inc.
Published: 2019-08-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Everyone, including the children, stared in the direction of Squires’ rapid departure. The door to the stairs whacked against the interior wall because it didn’t latch when Squires tried to slam it shut.

“I’m so sorry,” Ann cried, in despair. “I thought my telling you all about your past would help clear any lingering questions you had.”

“It did bring up memories, but also more questions, which we now can investigate,” Peter told Ann as he rubbed her shoulder.

“I want to thank you, Ann. Now I know my sister’s name, and I’ll find her,” Wesley added to make Ann feel better.

“I need to follow Squires and talk to him,” Barton said as he rose from his chair.

“No. Not now, Barton. He’s mad at you, your father, his adoptive parents…”

“Now see here, Maisie. I know what I need to do. He’s my brother.”

“And I’m his wife,” Maisie stood up now too. “He doesn’t need his big brother trying to take over his life and tell him what to do.”

Maisie took a deep breath and turned to her sister.

“Thank you, Maggie and Peter, for the meal and evening. I’m going home to talk to my husband,” Maisie said as she walked to the door. Squires didn’t grab his coat or hat, so she grabbed all their belongings in her arm and walked out, being sure the door shut firmly in place this time.

Dear Lord, help me convince Squires he’s a good man, not like either of the bad men who hurt him.

Maisie scanned the street as she hurried toward their home. She left almost immediately after Squires, but she didn’t see him anywhere. Would he go to their apartment, or literally run out of town? Or go talk to Pastor, Tully, Uncle Adam?

She turned her head when she thought she heard a sound coming from the livery. Oh no. One of the mules was braying. Was Squires lashing out at a mule in his frustration?

Maisie dropped their outerwear on a boardwalk bench, lifted her skirt with her hands and ran down the middle of the street to the livery.

“Squires! Squires!” Maisie yelled as she entered the livery through the side door Squires had opened. The building was dark inside, but she could tell where Squires was by the sounds of the disturbed animals. He didn’t answer when she called out for him, though.

She felt along the wall, knowing about where the livery lantern hung. She found it and then the sulfur match tin hanging to the left of it. After lighting the lantern, she swung it in the direction of the row of stalls.

Bella and Bertha, both light gray mules, were easy to find at the end of the stall row. Squires had one of them pushed against the stall wall, and he was muttering something as the mule protested in her see-sawing bray.

“Squires! You’re hurting the mule, and Bella wasn’t the one who hurt you! Quit it!” Maisie yelled as she hung the lantern on a nearby wall hook, entered the stall and tugged at Squires’ arm.

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