Murder on Principle by Eleanor Kuhns

Author:Eleanor Kuhns [Kuhns, Eleanor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2021-03-02T16:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-SIX

When Rees awoke, he did not know at first where he was. The room was still dark although he could see muted daylight through the single grimy window. And where was Lydia? Groaning, he sat up and looked around. Oh yes, now he remembered. He was at the tavern. The cot, with its thin mattress, was probably no more comfortable than the pallet Rouge had made up downstairs. He sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, rubbing his hand over the stubble on his chin. Then he searched for his shoes under the bed, deciding that, no matter how much the town fathers paid Rouge to serve as the constable, it was not enough.

He washed his face and hands in the basin. Although Lydia had packed his shaving kit, he decided not to use his razor. He wanted to spend as little time as possible here in this cramped dark closet.

Bag in hand, Rees went down the stairs. It was just past dawn but several of the coach passengers were already in the taproom. A young girl was distributing plates of steak and eggs for their breakfasts. He was glad Thomas had that piece of running the tavern well in hand; Rees did not believe he could handle that as well.

He opted to seat himself in the back room rather than the main room with the coach passengers. The argument from the previous night had not run its course. He could hear snide comments from one of the passengers to another. How did Rouge bear it? He must greet every departure of the coach with relief.

Therese was scrubbing the tables. She smiled at Rees. ‘Would you like some breakfast?’

‘I thought I’d drive home and collect Lydia,’ he said.

‘Ah, but you must eat first,’ she coaxed. ‘It’s the least we can do.’

Rees allowed himself to be persuaded. He sat down close to the kitchen door. From there, he could stare down into the main room – just in case he needed to leap to his feet and rush in to break up another fight.

Therese brought a plate of steak, eggs and fried potatoes. A pot of coffee soon followed. Rees, whose eyes felt as though someone had thrown sand into them, poured out the fragrant brew with enthusiasm. He might be able to survive the day after all.

The coach arrived at seven and all but one of the passengers embarked. Rees stepped out to the curb to watch the coach rattle away. As the dust from the wheels faded, he was overwhelmed with a sense of reprieve. Thank the Lord, the coach was gone. When he stepped inside the tavern, the first thing he noticed was the wonderful silence.

‘What now?’ he asked Therese as he returned to his breakfast.

‘We have a spell of quiet. During spring and summer, with the market, we are busy from nine a.m. onward. This time of the year, the first customers will arrive around noon.’

‘And Mrs Sechrest?’

‘She usually takes her breakfast in the main room.

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