North Star Conspiracy by Miriam Grace Monfredo

Author:Miriam Grace Monfredo
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery, history, civil war, war, slavery, millitary
Publisher: Miriam Grace Monfredo

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How could he be a slave when he had lived in the North almost all of his life? Glynis kept asking herself this as she trudged up the long dirt road to the Smiths' house. Although it certainly made sense of the Waters' insistence that Zeph never divulge his history. But what concerned her most now was the possibility of a connection between the boy and Lyle Brogan's murder. Zeph had known for years that his birth name had not been Zephaniah Waters. But he said he didn't know what his name had been. Could it be, then, that Zeph was the Thomas Farley for whom Brogan had been searching?

After the boy had left the house, and she'd settled Harriet in the kitchen, Glynis sent Niles a cryptic wire about Kiri, one that couldn't be deciphered, she felt fairly sure, by anyone other than Niles. She then spent the remainder of the morning catching up at the library. Jonathan Quant had done his usual exemplary job, and nothing untoward had occurred in her absence. But she couldn't get Zeph's comment out of her mind. Lacey and Isaiah Smith might know something more.

She smelled wood smoke and heard Isaiah Smith's hammer before she could see him. The gray house and the yard came into view with Isaiah at his forge. Beside him stood a large black and white paint horse. And Jacques Sundown.

As Glynis approached them, she saw seated on the front porch, rocking back and forth, the tall black woman preacher who called herself Sojourner Truth. Glynis started for the porch.

"Afternoon, Miz Tryon," Isaiah greeted her with a grin. He let drop the horse's hoof he'd had between his knees. The horse pawed the ground several times before swinging its head toward his master.

Jacques rose from a squat, pulled coins from his trouser pocket and handed them to Isaiah. Then he ran his hand down the paint's near foreleg. "Seems O.K. now. Like I said, he's had some hard riding last couple days."

Glynis suspected the horse had indeed. "Jacques," she said, changing course and going toward him, "I want to—"

Jacques cut her off with, "I'll be back to have you check that shoe again," this said to Isaiah, "in a few days." He swung himself up on the paint, then at last seemed to notice Glynis. He gave her a brief nod.

"Jacques, would you wait a minute?" Glynis spoke quickly as he had turned the horse toward the road.

"Got to get back into town," he said. With a flick of the reins, he rode off.

Glynis stared after him. Well, of course he didn't want to talk about the marshals and Rochester in front of Isaiah. She hadn't intended to say anything specific. Did the man really think her a total fool? Jacques Sundown had to be the rudest man she had ever known.

She realized her hands were clenched into fists, and turned to Isaiah, who watched her with what looked very much like amusement. He wore denim breeches and a long leather apron, its narrow bib the only covering over a massive chest.

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