Reluctant Brides Collection by Cathy Marie Hake

Author:Cathy Marie Hake [Hake, Cathy Marie; Dow, Rosey; Hayden, Susannah; Lehman, Yvonne; Reece, Colleen L.; Spaeth, Janet]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-1-63058-540-2
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2006-12-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

And after that,” Percy said a week later as she and Alvira finished their midmorning coffee, “we should take an inventory of what is left in the cellar. Travis will be sending for supplies soon. We need to have a list ready.”

They sat together in the vacated mess hall, their empty coffee cups on the table between them, along with evidence of blueberry muffins and a coveted orange.

“I’ve been thinkin’ that—” Alvira did not get to finish her thought. Outside, a stack of lumber thundered to the ground, making them both start. Alvira gripped the edge of the table.

“That’s the wood for Josh’s clinic!” Percy said. She jumped up and scurried toward the window. “It was stacked next to the dining hall temporarily. I wonder what would make it fall.”

“An animal, maybe,” Alvira offered.

“I hope no one was hurt.”

“Woman! Get out here!” bellowed a voice.

Percy stopped in her tracks, midway across the empty dining room.

Alvira gasped and jumped out of her chair. “It’s Bert!”

“Your husband?” Percy was incredulous. “How did he find you?”

“I didn’t think he could,” Alvira said weakly. The color drained from her face. “We were careful and moved around every couple days till we got here.”

“Are you sure that’s him?”

Alvira nodded, her jaw clenched tight. “When you live with a man like that for twenty years, you know his voice even before he opens his mouth.”

“Woman! Don’t try to hide from me. I know you’re here!”

“Nothing will stop him now,” Alvira moaned. “I might as well go out there and spare everyone a lot of trouble.”

“Don’t you dare! You haven’t come this far to give up that easily. He can’t even be sure you’re here.”

“He might have spoken to one of the men out at the work site,” Alvira said. “I just pray he didn’t see TJ.”

A multitude of scenarios flashed through Percy’s mind. “TJ is safe as long as he stays with the other men. It’s you I’m worried about. And Sally.”

“Sally!” Alvira gasped anew. She began to run toward the front door.

Percy grasped Alvira’s elbow as she flew past and stopped her. “You can’t go out there,” Percy said firmly.

“But Sally!” Alvira protested.

“We’ll find her. She’s at Lacey’s for her lessons, isn’t she?”

Alvira nodded mutely.

“Lacey won’t let anything happen to her.”

Outside, drunk and full of rage, Bert Richards kicked violently at the tumbled lumber, sending several planks clattering down the street. “I know she’s here somewhere!” he shouted. “Bring me my woman!”

Motioning to Alvira to stay in the center of the large room, Percy moved stealthily toward a window on the front wall. If she ever wished there were curtains, it was now. She pressed herself against the wall and peered out into the street for her first glimpse of Bert Richards. He was about fifty, with gray-streaked brown hair that grew well beyond his collar and matched a beard that had never been trimmed. In one hand was a bottle, and he gulped greedily from it. When he had drained it, he smashed it to the ground.

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