Everlasting Promise by Ramona K. Cecil

Author:Ramona K. Cecil
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2012-10-16T00:00:00+00:00

Twelve

“May I have a word with you, Captain Sutton?” Susannah approached the lobby sitting area, struggling to keep the tremor from her voice. The presence of Miss Vanderpohl sitting beside Thad on the sofa did nothing to improve the state of Susannah’s nerves.

Since her arrival yesterday afternoon, the daughter of the Union Railway Company’s vice president had insisted on being treated like royalty. She’d demanded that her breakfast be brought to her room and complained about everything from the food to the bed linens. But Susannah realized what bothered her most about Olivia Vanderpohl was the attention she paid Thad Sutton.

“Yes, Susannah, of course.” Thad sprung from the sofa, mumbling a quick apology to his seatmate.

The expression on Miss Vanderpohl’s face could have been chiseled from ice.

Susannah led Thad to the kitchen. She dreaded the next few minutes worse than the time Elmer Gorbett, the local barber, had pulled two of her wisdom teeth.

“Susannah, what is it?” The kindness in Thad’s voice and the way he took her hands in his nearly snatched away her nerve.

For a moment, Susannah entertained the idea of pretending she simply wanted his opinion of the supper menu. But to lose her courage now would mean she’d lose the inn to the bank. Instead, she took a deep breath and forced her gaze to meet his. “My cash box is missing—has been since yesterday, after Ruben and Lilly left.”

“You think they took it?” A look of anger hardened his features, and his gray eyes flashed like cold steel.

“What else can I think?” The tears she’d been determined to keep in check rolled unheeded down her face.

“Would you like for me to try to find them? Because I’d be glad to—”

“No.” She shook her head. Ruben wasn’t Thad’s responsibility. “I—I need a loan—to make my note payment on the inn,” she blurted, feeling her nerve slipping.

“Of course. How much do you need?”

“Forty dollars.” Susannah cringed inside. It was a lot to ask, and she had no idea how she might repay it.

His sweet smile caressed her troubled heart, sending more tears sketching down her face. “The railroad has allowed me to set up an expense account at the bank here. I’m authorized to draw upon it for accommodations and other necessities.” He gave her fingers a warm, comforting squeeze. “The Killion House Inn has simply requested an advance payment, that’s all.”

Susannah swallowed hard and looked down at the floor. If she kept gazing into his kind eyes, she’d fall into his arms and bawl like Georgiana. “I can’t promise when I can repay you.”

“No payment needed. Like I said, I’m simply making an advance payment against the time I plan to stay here. Now, don’t fret another minute about it. I’ll see to the business tomorrow.” He bent and brushed a kiss across her forehead before striding back toward the lobby.

Touching her fingers to the skin still tingling from Thad’s kiss, Susannah walked into the dark little pantry and pulled the door shut behind her. The emotional bubble that had grown inside her over the last twenty-four hours burst.

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