The Saloon Girl's Journey (Texas Women of Spirit Book 3) by Castillo Angela

Author:Castillo, Angela [Castillo, Angela]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2016-03-31T04:00:00+00:00

13 THE TROUPE

The next morning, Ethan came into the kitchen. He whistled while he washed his hands. Swiping a cinnamon bun from Mrs. Betty--somehow they always tasted better when stolen--he headed to the dining room with a spring in his step.

I can’t wait to see her. Even though he’d spent most of the night staring at the ceiling with wide eyes, a fresh, new energy coursed through his veins. He hadn’t felt this way since . . . since before Sarah left him. Sarah. The name had lost the power to stab with its usual white-hot needle of pain and regret. Finally, these feelings had faded to a hazy memory. I can move past that now. He’d known for a long time that God had forgiven him for the anger he’d felt during that time. And now I can truly forgive myself. A deep, contented sigh rose from his innermost being.

The man from last night flickered into his mind. Wonder how that fellow found Darla? That must be why she was so upset at the fair. He shrugged. Maybe she’ll explain sometime. I’ll give her time.

Ethan sauntered into the dining room and stooped to kiss his mother on the cheek.

“Good morning, all,” he addressed the ladies. His eyes swiveled to Darla’s seat. Empty. Was she too ill for breakfast? He stared at her vacant chair.

Lisbeth met his gaze with flashing eyes. “She’s gone,” she said softly. “Took all her things and ran off in the night.”

A dull throb began at the back of Ethan’s head. He staggered to his chair and sat down hard. “I don’t understand. Where . . . did she say where she was going?”

Lisbeth held up a scrap of paper. “She left this note for the house. It says thanks for everything . . . but something happened and she couldn’t stay. The note says we would know why, but I’m so confused. I can’t imagine what made her want to leave. Do you know, Ethan?”

Ethan shook his head. “I have no idea. That strange fellow came by last night, but I told him to leave. Darla did seem pretty upset, but I thought she’d be all right since we chased him off.”

Ma Downs sighed. “I thought Miss North was doing so well. But we have seen many ladies scared away by harmful men from their past, or tempted by wanderlust. Let us include her safety and well-being in our prayers. We will ask God to walk beside her wherever she goes.”

Lisbeth blinked hard, her lips trembling. The Pendell twins sobbed into their oatmeal.

Ethan closed his eyes during the prayer and did not look up until long after dishes clattered around him from food being passed. After choking down a few bites, he excused himself from the table.

Cows lifted their heads as he crossed the field to his little cabin in the back pasture. He grabbed his fiddle from the mantle and lifted the instrument to his shoulder. Music could comfort him like nothing else, but this time only dark, harsh notes came from the ancient strings.

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