The Reluctant Bridegroom_Love Inspired Historical by Shannon Farrington

Author:Shannon Farrington [Farrington, Shannon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical romance, Women's Fiction, Victorian Era, 19th Century, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Love Possibility, Frontier-Pioneer Era, Cowboy & Western Romance, Hearts Desire, American West, clean & wholesome, Christian Stories, Faith Based, Inspirational Reads, Love Inspired, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Love-Family & Forever, Action & Adventure, Small Town & Rural Area, marriage of convenience, Family & Domestic Life, Young Child-Nieces, Unconventional Arrangement, Shattering Revelation, Resolve Current Issues
Publisher: Love Inspired Historical; Original Edition
Published: 2016-05-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

With gut-wrenching anxiety, Henry told the young corporal at the front desk that he wished to see Detective Smith.

“To what regard?” the soldier asked.

Henry swallowed hard. “John Wilkes Booth.”

The infamous name garnered an immediate response. Henry and Davis were quickly ushered into the presence of the detective. Pleasantries were short, perfunctory.

William Davis came straight to the point. “Sir, my client has some information that may be of interest to you.”

“Regarding Booth?”

“Yes.”

Henry’s ears were thudding. His collar felt tight. Detective Smith’s eyes narrowed as he looked him up and down. “Are you ill, Councilman Nash? You look out of sorts.”

Just how should he look, considering why he was here and what had happened between him and his wife?

Whispering a prayer and drawing in a deep breath, he told Smith of his chance encounter with Booth. He described the carriage ride to the train station and his visit to the Branson Boarding House.

Smith listened silently. His steel-gray eyes seemed to penetrate Henry’s very soul.

“I assure you, Detective,” Mr. Davis said, “this man had no knowledge of Booth’s plan when he met him, nor had he any knowledge of the connection with Miss Branson and Lewis Paine.”

Smith again focused his attention on Henry. “Did you know Paine was a patient at the Army General Hospital on Pratt Street?” he asked.

“Not at the time, sir. I only learned of that after the fact.”

“How?” Smith asked.

Henry’s first thought was Rebekah. She had told him that detail, but he did not wish to bring her name into the conversation. “The newspapers,” he said. It was true, after all. She had been reading them. That was how she had recognized Paine as being Powell, the escaped prisoner from her ward. Henry had read the article for himself early this morning.

“I see,” Smith said. “And why tell me all of this now?”

“I had thought to come to you earlier,” he said.

“But you didn’t.”

“No, sir.”

“So you mean that as the trial of the conspirators progressed, you thought you, yourself, might soon be under suspicion.”

Henry swallowed again. “That did cross my mind, Detective.”

Davis then handed the man Henry’s statement. “May I point out, Detective, that Councilman Nash did come to you of his own free will, and he has graciously provided you with documentation of these events.”

Smith eyed the paper shrewdly before laying it aside and once again leveling his penetrating gaze at Henry, who held his breath for what seemed like an eternity.

“Councilman Nash,” Smith said finally, “I know all about your ride to the train station and your ill-timed visit to the Branson Boarding House. I have known from the beginning.”

Henry’s jaw dropped. “You’ve known from the beginning? How?”

“Witnesses, of course. You’ll be pleased to know that they each insisted your only crime could be kindness or, at the most, a bit of campaigning.”

Henry could feel himself reddening. All of this for nothing...? Why didn’t I just tell the truth to begin with? Oh, God, forgive me for my weakness. If only I had...if only I had reached out to You in the first place.

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