Wanted Bounty Hunter by Jo Grafford

Author:Jo Grafford [Grafford, Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JG PRESS
Published: 2019-05-05T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8: Legal Threats

Rachel

Two days later, Rachel received another knock on the front door while conducting voice lessons in the parlor. Both Jessamine and Fern had a keen ear for music and possessed such lovely soprano voices that it felt more like a treat than work to coach them.

Claudette hurried across the parlor to fetch her with an odd look painted across her fair, angular features. “Excusez-moi, but I cannot understand a word they’re saying. If you’ll please come interpret, s’il vous plait?”

“Of course.” Rachel motioned with her wrist to keep her charges singing. “When they finish their song, have them start today’s deportment exercise.” She stood and handed Claudette a pair of hardbound books she’d had sitting in her lap. “They must learn to walk from one end of the parlor to the other with a book balanced on their heads.” Not only would it improve their balance and poise, it would distract Fern from her constant fidgeting.

“Oui, madame. Gladly.” Claudette perched on the edge of the nearest fainting couch with a sound of relief. She’d been washing linen and clothing all morning and was no doubt ready for a break.

To Rachel’s surprise, her guests were Chinese. A middle aged man accompanied two girls who looked to be in their early teens. Both girls were wearing long cheongsam dresses with mandarin collars. The oldest girl’s was made of a deep royal blue silk with a long, sinuous dragon snaking down her side. The younger girl’s was tailored in a rose red silk with gossamer white lotus blossoms embroidered on it. Both girls wore their shiny dark hair pinned up and sprinkled with hothouse blossoms.

They were such breathtaking beauties that Rachel stared for a moment before speaking. “Welcome to the Silverpines Finishing School for Young Ladies.” She held out her hand to the gentleman first, speaking slowly and carefully enunciating her words. “My name is Rachel West. What is your name?”

The man gravely shook her hand and bowed over it with old-world respect. Then he straightened and pointed at his chest. “Cheng Yun.” He pointed to the oldest girl next. “Yang Hee.” Then he pointed to the younger girl. “Yang Lan.”

Rachel shook each girl’s hand and smiled warmly at them. They gravely shook her hand but did not smile back. They merely watched her in curiosity.

“How old are your girls?” she inquired.

“My nieces,” Cheng Yun corrected, pointing to the oldest girl again first and then the youngest. “Fourteen years and thirteen years.” He turned back to Rachel to speak with his hands steepled in front of him. “My sister is ill. They need place to stay and learn the ways of America.”

“So you wish for the girls to board here?” She made a sleeping motion with her hands against her cheek. “To live here, eat, and sleep?”

“Yes.” He nodded vehemently. “I have money to pay.” Without further ado, he reached inside the pocket of his trousers and removed such a large wad of bills it made Rachel’s eyes widen. He peeled off a good three months worth of tuition and handed the money to her.

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