Counterfeit Hope by Crystal Caudill

Author:Crystal Caudill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Published: 2023-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

LU GLANCED OVER HER SHOULDER as she, Theresa, and Oscar reached the edge of the cornfield. Andrew still stood in the doorway, half in the house and half on the veranda, watching their progress toward the barn. Though he obviously spoke to someone inside, his eyes stayed fastened on her. His concern and commitment to seeing her and Oscar make it safely to the barn mollified some of her displeasure at his choosing to stay behind. Whether or not he was wrong, the man felt he was making the best decision.

Once the curve of the cornfield cut them off from view, Theresa slipped her arm through Lu’s like they were old friends. “Do you really find Andrew tolerable? I simply can’t imagine it. All my experiences paint that man as arrogant, tactless, and completely infuriating.”

“Oh, he’s all that to be sure, but he’s also steady, protective, and …” Lu tried to find a word that would fit Andrew. After a moment, she shrugged. “I don’t know. There’s just something different about him that draws me in.”

“You poor thing. The quality of men you’ve been afforded must be very poor indeed if you find him appealing.”

She wasn’t wrong, but Lu was growing increasingly certain she could meet all the world’s men and none would measure up to Andrew Thorne.

“I suppose in such a small town as this, you really don’t have much choice. I’ve never seen so much empty land before. What is it you even do for fun in a place like this?”

“You’ve never been to a small town?”

“Not unless you call Cincinnati small. Until I married Broderick, I’d never traveled outside of it.”

To be fair, Landkreis was small, even by Lu’s standards. With only two hundred people spread out over miles, everyone in town knew she picked pockets. They were just too scared of Clint and Cyrus to do anything about it. If it weren’t for the regular flow of people passing through on the main road from Boonville to Petersburg, there wouldn’t be enough pockets to pick to keep Ma Frances happy. “Unless you have a taste for liquor or cards, there’s not much in the way of entertainment. Sometimes I’ll take Oscar fishing or swimming at Cup Creek or one of the ponds.”

Theresa visibly shuddered. “No thanks. Water and I do not get along.”

Oscar reached the barn ahead of them, knocked the code, and then burst inside. Tabby’s excited yaps greeted them as they entered.

“Oh! Look how little they are!” Theresa released Lu’s arm and joined Oscar with the puppies. “Which one’s Jack?”

“This one!” Oscar picked up the noisiest and reddest of the three-week-old puppies.

Theresa swooped in to correct his hold, explaining how it was important not to hurt the puppy. Lu joined them on the ground near the former smelt and chose her favorite. Dark soulful eyes stared back at her from the black and tan face of the puppy who was content to just be held and loved. She cuddled him close and watched

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