Cowboy's Rules by Celeste Jones

Author:Celeste Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Celeste Jones

CHAPTER 8

"What do you mean she's not here?"

Minnie had never seen Mr. Pendleton so angry before, and that was saying something since the man had a perpetual scowl on his face and it seemed his eyebrows were always scrunched up like two caterpillars butting heads.

"I have not seen her today," Minnie said, which was true. Of course, she also hadn't seen her mistress since the previous afternoon, either. But, so far, she had not lied.

"Well, where the hell is she?"

"My apologies, sir, but Miss Pendleton is not in the habit of sharing all her plans with me. It wouldn't be proper, me being a maid and all."

Mr. Pendleton gave a decided harumph and turned his back to her, indicating she was dismissed. She stifled her sigh of relief until she was out of the room and well down the hallway, then she ducked into the linen closet and let out her breath and rubbed her pounding temples. It was true that she didn't absolutely one hundred percent know where Miss Elizabeth had gone, but she had a pretty good idea. For a moment she allowed herself to imagine the thrill of getting on a train and heading west, far from the crowded streets of St. Louis and the oppressive presence of Mr. Pendleton. And into the arms of a handsome cowboy.

She sighed again, enjoying the daydream. Maybe she'd take a look at those advertisements too.

But first, she needed to keep her job and do what she could to protect Elizabeth, though how she'd manage that, she had no idea.

Slipping from the linen closet, she snuck down the hall and into Elizabeth's room, closing the door behind her. She took a minute to gaze about the space and she realized that she missed Elizabeth. Though she was a rich girl and had no real idea what life was like for a maid such as Minnie, or for anyone outside her exalted social circle, she was still kind and treated Minnie well. It was often remarked upon in the servants’ quarters, when they were certain no one could hear, that Elizabeth was so different from her father that some wondered if she might have been adopted.

Outside the door she heard more raised voices. Not wanting to be caught, she hurried to hide beneath the bed, grateful for the dust ruffle that reached the floor. Scooting as far into the corner of the bed as she could, she pulled her knees to her chest making herself as small as possible while still peeking out to see what was happening.

The door slammed open and she covered her mouth with her hand to stifle her gasp of surprise. Doors did not slam in the Pendleton household.

Two pairs of highly polished shoes pounded into the room. “Elizabeth,” Mr. Pendleton called, as though his daughter might pop out of the wardrobe and shout ‘surprise!’

“She’s not here.” Minnie recognized the voice of Rudy Barr, Mr. Pendleton’s chief henchman.

Negative energy wafted off of the two men and made Minnie’s stomach bubble with anxiety.

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