The Wrangler's Inconvenient Wife by Lacy Williams

Author:Lacy Williams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

They were back where they’d started.

Emma wouldn’t leave the wagon. She’d gotten out once, walked next to the conveyance for only a few minutes, then returned. Now she was huddled inside, that little dog with her.

“If we do find work with a seamstress, at least we won’t be stuck in these horrible rags for much longer,” Fran said over her shoulder, trying to engage Emma in conversation.

Her sister only hummed in response. Was that a negative or a positive hum?

“Edgar said there’s a nice boardinghouse in town, not far from the church and the town square—”

“What if Underhill finds us there?”

Emma’s question was spoken so softly that Fran barely heard her over the horses’ plodding steps and the creaking of the wagon.

“Edgar won’t just leave us unprotected,” Fran said. And hoped it was true. He hadn’t actually said, but his ire on Emma’s behalf seemed to indicate that.

“What if we get settled and Underhill comes back?”

Obviously, Emma’s thoughts centered on one thing only. And Fran couldn’t blame her. Emma had been attacked. Although Fran had intervened before her sister had been irreparably hurt, the emotional scars remained, especially for one as sensitive as Emma. It would take time, and lots of reassurances, to heal.

And if Fran’s plans to stay close to Edgar panned out, the worry would be unnecessary. But she didn’t want to get Emma’s hopes up if the stubborn man refused to see reason.

“Once we’re established in the community, we’ll have friends who will help protect us. And I’m sure there’s a lawman, and maybe a town marshal or a sheriff, to watch over the citizens.”

“A lot of good that did us in Memphis.”

Emma was right. Underhill had been a man of such good standing that no one had dared speak up against him for two orphans—at least that was what the headmistress thought as she bundled them away.

But if they were the ones established in the community, surely it would make a difference.

“What about his accusations against you?” Emma queried.

Fran had nearly forgotten his threats. That was all they were. She’d never even been to the man’s home, but he’d claimed she’d stolen from him. It was impossible. If she’d never stepped foot in the place, he couldn’t have a witness against her.

And there was nothing he could do to her here, was there?

It didn’t bear worrying over.

She needed to figure out a way to win over her husband. And she became more concerned as Edgar spent the morning avoiding her.

How could she figure out a way to get close to him if she couldn’t speak to him?

When Seb rode close at about lunchtime, she waved him over.

She pulled the wagon to a stop and secured the brake, then climbed down. Emma remained inside.

“What do you need?” her youngest brother-in-law asked, hopping off his horse.

“Information.”

He looked perplexed, so she rushed on. “I botched things with Edgar earlier, asking about his childhood before he came to be with your family.”

Seb’s face closed. He didn’t actually take a step back, but he looked like he wanted to.

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.