Grayson Brothers by Wendy Lindstrom

Author:Wendy Lindstrom
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: 0
Published: 2012-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

“As soon as they locked Larry in jail, I boarded the first available train,” Anna said.

Claire’s heart softened, and she stoked the parlor fireplace, knowing it would be a long time before bed. Anna needed a friend to talk to and a safe place to rest for a while. Claire understood. She was in the same place only a short time ago.

They talked through the evening, feeling safe and warm beside the fireplace.

Until someone knocked on the door.

Claire gasped and jerked upright in her chair. Anna leapt to her feet and they stared at each other in fear.

“It can’t be Larry,” she said, but the terror in her eyes made Claire’s heartbeat accelerate.

Who else could it be? No decent human being would call on someone at ten o’clock in the evening.

Anna followed her to the foyer. Claire—peeked out the window, but it had grown too frosty to see through clearly. She only knew there was a man at her door.

She took her revolver from the closet then dangled it behind her skirt, praying she wouldn’t accidentally shoot herself in the leg. Her first encounter with Boyd had revealed her dreadful lack of skill with the gun.

Claire signaled for Anna to stay hidden behind the door then she unlocked it and pulled it open two tiny inches. To her surprise, Boyd Grayson stood on her porch holding a huge wicker basket that emitted the delicious aroma of turkey and plum pudding.

“Are you hungry?” he asked, boldly stepping into her foyer without being invited inside.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, relieved that it wasn’t Larry barging into her home.

“Delivering a basket of goodies from my mother.”

“It’s ten o’clock.”

“I’m always hungry at this time of night.” He held the basket out to her. “My mother packed enough for a family of twelve.”

“Thank you, but I can’t accept this.” She slipped her hand into her pocket and closed her fingers around the carving he’d given her. “I appreciate the gesture, but you know how I feel about accepting gifts from you.”

“It’s not a gift from me. It’s a gesture of kindness during the holiday. My mother will be disappointed to know her hard work went into the garbage.”

Claire couldn’t refuse without feeling rude and unappreciative. “Well... thank you. Would you put it on the desk?” she asked, unable to take the basket from him because of the revolver she was hiding at her side.

He leaned forward to set it on the desk, but spotted Anna hiding behind the door. His eyes narrowed, and he glanced at Claire. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were entertaining.”

“Anna’s my... guest tonight.” She closed the door against the biting cold. “This is Anna Levens, a friend of mine.”

He took in Anna’s appearance and greeted her with a nod, but his eyes cut back to Claire. “Are you ladies in need of anything?”

He knew. Somehow he knew that Anna was taking refuge with her. His power of intuition and his gentle inquiry touched Claire.

“I can take a room here tonight, if you like.

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