The Ghost and Jacob Moorhead by Jeanne Savery

Author:Jeanne Savery [Jeanne Savery]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781419913211
Publisher: Jasmine Jade
Published: 2007-12-05T13:00:00+00:00

The bullet was removed but afterward Rube lay in something very near a coma. It was nearly dawn when he roused. His eyes moved from side to side. He turned his head, found Mary dozing at his side and smiled weakly, his gaze devouring her. He sighed.

Instantly Mary opened her eyes. They stared at each other for a long moment and then, simultaneously, looked away.

“Where are we, Mary?”

“The small salon near the breakfast room.”

He tried to push himself up. “Not safe, Mary. Not…” He fell back with a groan.

“Idiot,” she said, her voice gentle but her hands busily checking the bandages around his chest and shoulder. “We’re safe enough. Jacob placed guards around and about, including a pair along this side of the house. Tomorrow or the next day we’ll move you upstairs where you’ll feel safer, but for tonight we must depend on guards.”

Mary didn’t mention Jenna’s assurance that her father’s ghost would also be on guard. Believing such things existed was not the same as accepting that they could or would help one. Besides, it was irrelevant.

The words Rube spoke just before he’d passed out there in the carriage hadn’t been out of her mind even while she did everything she could to save him. She glanced at him, away, bit her lip. He couldn’t have meant them…and if he did? She lifted her gaze to the wall beyond the daybed that had been brought in for him and stared at nothing at all.

Ah! If only he did… But then she thought again. Will he remember? That thought led to another. And if he does not? Something inside seemed to shrink at the next thought to float through her mind. Perhaps, it insisted, ‘twere better if he doesn’t. Mary sighed ever-so softly and settled back in her chair.

She didn’t notice that Rube watched her through barely slitted lids. He remembered those words of love and wondered what should be done about them. If he hadn’t been convinced he was a dead man he’d never have spoken… But he had. The words could not be recalled. What would she do? And then—Mary’s eyes conveniently closed—he allowed a grimace to pass across his features and disappear. Knowing Mary, she’ll not say a word. She will pretend it never happened unless I refer to it… And I? I could pretend I don’t remember…which is very likely what I ought to do.

Rube closed his eyes, a line running vertically just above his nose. He did his best to ignore the pain in his shoulder. Pain, after all, could be controlled. It merely took concentration.

Too bad it is so hard to concentrate when one is in pain, the wry thought passed through his mind.

* * * * *

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