Shelter Bay by Meyers Pamela

Author:Meyers, Pamela
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-64917-017-0
Publisher: Scrivenings Press LLC
Published: 2020-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Preston stepped into Sculley’s Mercantile and spotted Mate at the back of the store sifting through a bin of screws. Before he could duck out of sight, Mate saw him and approached. “We met a few weeks ago, didn’t we?”

Preston nodded and forced a smile. “Yes. When I was looking for Wes Johnson to apply for the watchman job. I’ve been there a couple of weeks now.”

The older man nodded. “Good to hear.” He turned to walk away then faced Preston. “Probably not my business, haven’t I seen you in the company of Rory Quinn’s daughter a number of times?”

The question caught him off guard, and he worked to gather himself. “Yes. Our families have been friendly for years.”

“When I was coming back from Williams Bay a couple of days ago, I saw Maureen walking on the shore path. I’d heard she had smallpox, and it was good to see her looking well.”

Preston perked up. “Oh, I hadn’t heard she was out of danger. That’s wonderful news. I’m surprised she’d be out walking alone so soon.”

“She wasn’t alone. Nate Murphy, the new doctor was with her.”

“Good to hear he was keeping a watchful eye on his patient.”

“If that’s what you want to call it.” He winked and walked off.

Preston’s stomach burned hot. Thankful for his new beard that shielded his flaming face, he began looking for what he came into the store for, if only he could remember what it was.

Napper’s words continued to grate at him long after he gave up on shopping and stepped out on Main Street. What had Napper seen? Were Maureen and the doctor walking hand in hand? Arm in arm? He pushed the thought of them kissing out of his mind.

She was a girl who liked to take risks, but would she go so far as to kiss a man right there on the shore path? Of course, she would. She returned his own kiss in the middle of the train depot. He wanted to go over to the doctor’s office and introduce Murphy to his left hook.

He snapped out of his thoughts. He had no right to feel that way. He broke up with her and she had the right to be with whomever she wanted. Good for her if she and the doctor were seeing each other. What he needed, was to go home and rest up before his shift at the docks tonight.

Instead of turning up Broad Street to get Dusty from the livery, he continued down Main Street and made a turn toward the lake at the boat shop’s driveway. The thought crossed his mind to track Napper down and ask what he meant, but he thought better of it. Best to not draw attention to himself. He headed down the shore path, pleased he was able to walk so close to the water. A month earlier he couldn’t have done it. He paused his step and glanced around. It had to be around here that Mate saw Maureen and the doc.

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