Patrick's Proposal (The Langley Legacy Book 2) by Hildie McQueen & The Langley Legacy & Sylvia McDaniel & Kathy Shaw

Author:Hildie McQueen & The Langley Legacy & Sylvia McDaniel & Kathy Shaw [McQueen, Hildie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pink Door Publishing
Published: 2018-03-01T16:00:00+00:00

There were only four people present at the gravesite when Emma and Patrick walked up. The cold, dreary day suited her mood perfectly.

Patrick had tried to talk her out of coming, but she insisted on being there. If the evil man was finally meeting his due, she wanted to be present for it.

Other than her mother and the clergyman, a pair of men, who she didn’t recognize, stood a short distance away. When she went to her mother’s side, the woman recoiled. “Don't come near me. This is all your fault.”

“He attacked me,” Emma offered. She was sure the woman could see the still visible bruising and swelling.

Her thin lips pressed together, her mother’s cold gaze looked Emma up and down. “Got you a husband and think you’re better than everyone now.”

“You can come live with me. We’ll make room...”

The clergyman cleared his throat. “Ladies, we will proceed now.”

Other than a couple lines to the effect of her father’s soul, the man kept things short. Throughout the service, her mother shifted from one foot to the other, as if anxious to leave. It was obvious no one was particularly saddened by the occasion.

The preacher finished and signaled the men, who began shoveling dirt over the simple, pine box.

Her mother didn’t spare the grave a second glance. Instead, she grabbed up her skirts and started toward where she lived. Emma motioned for Patrick to wait and she caught up with her mother.

“Are you going to consider coming to live with us?”

“I don’t take charity,” her mother snapped, barely slowing. “Don’t come near me again.”

“Mother.”

Hazel Davis swung around, her face contorted with rage. “Don’t call me that. You have no idea how long I’ve been wanting to say this.” She pointed a bony finger in Emma’s face. “I am not your mother. When I met him,” she said as she gestured toward the grave, “he already had you. I’m not sure where he got you, not that it mattered. He promised me California, if I took care of you and said I was your mother.”

“I called you Emma. Couldn’t very well keep calling you Beth. That is your name.”

Emma couldn’t keep from gawking at the woman. “You’re lying. You’re saying those things to hurt me.”

“I don’t care who knows the truth now. He took you. Some family over in Bardwell did him wrong and he took you.”

The woman turned on her heel and stormed away.

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