Monk's Bride by Caroline Clemmons

Author:Caroline Clemmons [Clemmons, Caroline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-04-12T05:00:00+00:00

Mrs Murphy fine Stop Planning to move to daughter. Stop Says she will write to Mrs Kincaid. Stop Cirelli

Fiona hugged Monk. “Thank you, Michael. I feel so much better. There is no telling what that Downum will do to get the information he wants.”

Mrs. Peacock came to the door. “Supper is served.”

Grandpa took his seat at the head of the table. Fiona sat at his left and next to her Rafe took his customary place. Monk ate by Grandpa so that Betsie and Liam were on the end away from other diners. That put Monk and Betsy’s backs to the French doors. Monk would have preferred not to have his back to a window or door, but he wanted to sit beside Betsie. Instead of his almost-sermon-length blessings, tonight Grandpa offered a short grace.

Dear Lord, bless this food and the hands that prepared it. Thank you for our many blessings. We ask that You watch over those gathered here and those assisting us. Deliver us from our enemies. Amen.

The meal tonight was fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, biscuits, and gravy. As nervous as everyone was, Monk doubted any of them would do justice to the fine food—except for Liam. Betsie gave her son a drumstick and he wasted no time eating it while she served other dishes on his plate.

Betsie rose. “I need a damp rag or Liam will get grease on everything.”

Fiona gasped and Monk felt a draft from the door behind him. An arm snaked around Betsie’s throat.

Monk leapt to his feet. A vise gripped his chest and he fought for breath.

The man who had Betsie in his grip was not much taller than she was but brawny. He held a knife at her throat. “Everyone stay calm. I came for this gal and her boy but no one else. The rest of you don’t make any sudden moves or she gets carved.”

Monk’s own throat tightened and pain in the back of his throat threatened to gag him.

Liam scrunched up his face. “Don’t you hurt my ma.”

Betsy gasped. “Hector Brown, is that you? I might have known you’d sink this low.”

Brown sneered, “Low? I’m moving up the ladder in Downum’s organization. You’ll be in his employ soon. Don’t know what he plans for the brat.”

Betsy cried, “You leave my son alone, you monster.”

“You’ve no right to be here.” Fiona’s hands fisted on the tablecloth at each side of her plate. “Where’s Dudley?”

“If you mean the big fella, he has an awful headache. By the time he wakes up, if he does, we’ll be long gone.”

Monk eased toward Betsie. If he could grab the hand holding the knife he might free her.

Brown looked at Monk. “Don’t get heroic, mister. One move and she’s dead.” To prove his point, he used his knife to draw a few drops of blood from Betsie’s throat.

Monk had never been as angry or as hampered from acting as he was now. He would gladly choke the life from the man who had nicked Betsie’s beautiful ivory skin.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.