The Claim by Jennifer L. Holm

Author:Jennifer L. Holm [Holm, Jennifer L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-375-89401-5
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2010-09-28T04:00:00+00:00

I remained behind a few moments to help Mrs. Staroselsky tidy up, and by the time I left for the hotel, the rain was simply pounding down. I had no sooner placed my foot onto the walkway when my boots hit a slippery bit of wood and went out from under me, and I found myself tumbling into the muddy road. I sat there for a moment, too stunned to move.

“You all right there, Miss Peck?” Red Charley shouted from across the street.

I most certainly was not all right! I looked as if I had bathed in mud!

Gathering as much dignity as I could muster under the circumstances, I hefted my heavy, sodden, muddy skirts and made my way down the walkway to the hotel. As I drew nearer, I saw a broad, dark-haired man carrying a lady across a broken bit of plank.

The man looked suspiciously like Jehu.

I squinted hard through the pounding rain. It was Jehu!

And the lady he was so gallantly carrying was … Sally Biddle!

“Why, hello, Jane!” Sally said, linking her arm comfortably around Jehu’s tanned neck. Her eyes took in my muddy dress. “Oh dear, did you take a fall?”

Jehu shifted his weight and set her on the ground. Was it my imagination, or did his strong hands linger on her shoulders for a second?

“Isn’t he the perfect gentleman?” Sally tittered, patting her hair with exaggerated care. “There I was on the other side of the street, and there was nothing but mud before me! I couldn’t risk muddying this skirt. And this kind man came to my rescue! I can’t thank you enough, Mr. Scudder,” Sally finished, looking adoringly at Jehu.

Jehu swallowed and nodded.

“I do hope we have the opportunity to meet again,” Sally said, holding out a dainty gloved hand.

Jehu looked at it in confusion for a moment and then shook it.

“Have a lovely day, Jane,” Sally said smugly, and walked up the steps of the hotel.

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