Morning Star by Kerry Newcomb

Author:Kerry Newcomb
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Media

27

“Mighty fine carriage,” the police officer said. He stroked the mare’s neck. “Good stout animal.” He sauntered back to the boy and girl seated on the carriage seat. Fiona was asleep, using her brother’s thigh for a pillow. “And what would the likes of a boy such as yourself be doing with a rich setup of this kind?”

Sean looked up at the dark doorway to the office building. His mind feverishly sorted through excuses.

“Uh, it ain’t mine, sir.”

“I can see that, me lad. Come now. Are you about some mischief?”

“Oh no sir. You see it’s my Ma …”

“You aren’t expecting me to believe this is your Ma’s rig?”

“No sir. We come by trolley. My Ma takes care of the building. Cleaning and the like. We come here ’cause we got no place to go until she gets paid.” Sean tried his most sorrowful expression. “The rent’s due, and the landlord won’t let us in till he sees the money in our fist. Anyway sir, a fine gent come by while she’s cleaning and said he left something inside. He asked me to watch his horse and carriage, there being no one else about to do it. Fiona got plumb tired and fell asleep.”

“These are hard times. And hardest on the little ones,” the policeman muttered. “But watching a carriage out here on the dark street is man’s work. I’ve a good mind to tell this fellow—what’s his name?” The officer had started toward the office building.

“Oh no sir, please sir. I am a man, at least in our family with Pa dead an’ all. And the gent already paid me, and we need every cent. Oh please mister …”

“Your Pa’s dead?” The policeman shook his head and held up his hands. “Well, I reckon it’s best left alone then. Ah, what black days these be.” The officer tipped his hat. “And your Ma, I bet, works herself to the bone.”

“Yessir. Practically night and day.”

“She’s a good woman. I’ll warrant one of the best. Never forget lad, a good mother is an angel. That’s what she is. Mark my words … an angel as true as I stand here.”

Sarah tried again with the sword blade, jimmying it between the sill and the edge of the door. Slowly, she increased the pressure. Sweat beaded her forehead and stung her eyes.

“C’mon,” she whispered. “C’mon.”

The blade snapped with a loud crack that seemed to reverberate the entire length of the hall. Her spirits sank, then surged anew as the door swung open. She wasted no time in scurrying inside the darkened room. She waited a moment, leaning against the door, her heart pounding in her chest, while her vision gradually accustomed itself to the inky darkness. Sarah took a tentative step, her arms outstretched, feeling her way. Gaining confidence, she hurried, tripped against an end table and caught a vase inches above the floor. She exhaled softly and placed the artifact on the couch. She inched her way to the opposite door without mishap and into the private office of Allan Cole.

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.