The Brides of Golden Valley Box Set 1 by Jaclyn Hardy

Author:Jaclyn Hardy [Hardy, Jaclyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dragons & Fairy Tale Press
Published: 2020-04-13T04:00:00+00:00

***

Nathaniel opened his eyes and immediately rolled over to cough over a bucket. A week. He’d been stuck in bed for a week while the weather grew colder and the potatoes continued to sit in the ground.

The smoke in his lungs had turned to pneumonia on the second night and it was all he could do to keep food down. Nathaniel moved the cloth that had been placed over his eyes. Madeline jumped up from her seat and climbed onto the bed next to him. She felt his forehead and cheeks.

“You seem to be doing a little better today.” Her normally rosy cheeks were pale, and her eyes were filled with worry. “How do you feel?”

“Like I could get up and go to work.” He laughed, but it came out as a cough.

Madeline smoothed his hair and brushed it out of his face. “You could really use a shave.”

Nathaniel smiled. “What I could really use is some food.”

“Oh. I’ll go get you some.” Madeline stood and picked up two wooden posts that had been leaning against the wall.

“Where’d you get crutches from?” He must have slept more than he thought he had.

Madeline beamed. “Aren’t they wonderful? Joshua made them for me when he found out I sprained my ankle. He’s quite amazing.”

“Yes he is.” Nathaniel struggled to sit up. “I’ll go. Your hands are already full.”

“Nonsense. You’ve been in bed for days. You’re weak from being sick.” Madeline left the room, moving faster than Nathaniel would have thought possible on crutches.

Nathaniel threw the covers back and forced himself to stand. He was weak, but strength would come from getting up and moving around. At least that’s what his dad had always told him. But then, that was before he’d lost his dad to the flu a few years back. . . The floor was cold on his bare feet, but walking was wonderful after just lying there.

“See? I’m fine.” Nathaniel grabbed onto the doorway as the world spun for a moment. He staggered over to the kitchen table and sat down. The fog from his sickness was finally able to think. Images from that night came back. “My cattle?”

“They’re all fine. Joshua and several others were able to save a lot of the barn as well.” Madeline set down the bowl she’d been holding. “Nathaniel, they think this was on purpose.”

Nathaniel blinked. “What was on purpose?”

“The fire. They found a torch near the spot where the fire started.” She picked the bowl back up and filled it with soup. “Why would someone do that?”

Nathaniel got up to find a spoon and took his food from her. “There are a few possibilities. Competition. It’s not a secret that I want to start this business. Or it could be the sheepherders in the area. Or I could have just angered someone in town.”

“You don’t believe that last one, though.” Madeline scooped up more food and Nathaniel grabbed that one as well.

“No. I think it was the second one. I had a bad feeling when we left that morning.

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