Secrets & Charades by Huff Cindy Ervin

Author:Huff, Cindy Ervin [Huff, Cindy Ervin]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Smitten Historical Romance
Published: 2017-03-15T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

Wrapped in her blanket, Evangeline sat in the parlor’s semi-darkness. The nightmare had returned and invaded her sleep.

Old fears caused her heart to race. The guilty burden she thought she’d wrestled into submission clung to her afresh. At the mention of Uncle Carl, it came back from some hidden recess of her mind to torment her. The smell of Farley’s tobacco and whiskey reminded her of being trapped. The oppressive pain and humiliation engulfed her. Every graphic detail resurfaced, causing her body to shake.

How does Thomas Farley know of my uncle? How well he knew him was another question. Does he know …

Evangeline willed her mind not to go there. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. She meditated on the Twenty-third Psalm and other Scriptures that spoke of peace and comfort. Her uncle’s business acquaintance, Prentiss Davis, was no longer a threat to her physically. Yet her self-worth teetered on that one horrible night.

“Evangeline, you alright?”

She jumped at his voice, and her trembling increased as he stretched his hand toward her.

“Don’t touch me!” Evangeline hissed, raising her hands in defense.

Jake recoiled at her words. “What’s wrong?”

“Noth … nothing.” She knew her quivering voice betrayed her.

“I have a hard time believin’ it’s nothin’.”

Evangeline took in a few short breaths before answering. “You don’t like to be awakened from a nightmare. I don’t like to be touched after one.”

“Want to tell me about it?” His invitation was both comforting and terrifying. When she didn’t answer, he offered to make tea.

“Yes, please.” She turned away.

Jake lit a lamp before going to the kitchen.

Evangeline was embarrassed and ashamed. She rose to check on Juliet, concerned their voices might have awakened her. She found her sleeping on the bedroom floor with Dog. Thank you, Lord, she can enjoy her childhood. She stood close by, watching the child sleep for a few moments before returning to the parlor where Jake had the tea ready.

“Must have been some nightmare.”

“I guess. I don’t really remember it,” she lied. “I just remember the way it made me feel when I woke.”

“Sorry I scared you.”

“At least I didn’t hit my head on anything.”

“Yeah, I don’t sew too good.”

“You sew? How charming.” She hoped the light conversation would lead him away from further questions, even though his concern made her feel secure.

“Now that I have an expert, I won’t need to sew.”

“Could you pour another, please?” Evangeline raised her cup.

“Sure thing.” He took the cup from her trembling hands and placed it back on the saucer before refilling it.

She tried to still her hands as she raised the cup to her lips.

“Can I do anything for you?” he asked.

She felt like the patient instead of the doctor as he observed her. “Talk to me, Jake.”

“About what?”

“Anything. I need to put something fresh in my mind.”

He ran his fingers through his disheveled hair, then scrubbed the stubble on his face. Filling her mind with his movements helped push aside her fears. For a fleeting moment her mind pictured him holding her close.

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.