The Swindler's Daughter by Stephenia H. McGee

Author:Stephenia H. McGee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance;Novel;FIC042030;FIC042040;FIC027050
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2023-03-07T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

An entire day gone. Jonah stretched his stiff back and shifted on the hard wagon seat. It would be simpler to ride, but Lillian didn’t care to sit on a horse. She would probably be spitting mad at him for being so late. He should have had her returned to the Watson house before dark. Now they would have to travel at night, and who knew what city ladies thought about something like that.

The wagon bumped over the rutted road, passed through the town square, then eased along the short distance to the Jackson/Doyle/Peterson residence. He shook his head. They really needed to straighten out those details.

Jonah reined Mist to a stop and hopped down from the wagon. With a business here, he’d need to put in a good hitching post. Maybe even take up a portion of the yard for a small stabling area. There wouldn’t be any room for automobiles, but there weren’t too many of those around anyway. Most people could leave their conveyances in town and walk.

Mist nickered as he passed by, and he gave the mare a good pat. She also preferred a saddle to a harness.

The front door swung open and a tall, lanky figure darted out.

What in the—

Before Jonah could finish his thought, shouts rose from inside. Ma’s shouts.

He lurched forward, hurdling himself over the short fence as the figure leapt off the porch. Jonah lunged for him, but the man skipped sideways, landing just out of his reach. Jonah shouted and spun.

The black-clad man, a bandana tied over his lower face, let out a low curse as he stumbled, but he regained his footing and shot through the front gate.

Mist snorted and pawed the ground as Jonah ran past her in pursuit of the fleeing figure. The man was fast. He was already putting distance between them.

“Jonah!”

Ma’s shout came from the house, pulling him to a stop. He growled as the intruder slipped around a corner, then he spun and darted back the other direction.

An unnatural glow flowed through the front door, spilling onto the porch. He stumbled to a halt, taking in the scene in a glance.

Ma stomping out small flames.

Lillian sprawled on the floor.

A broken lantern.

He leapt into action, swinging his jacket off his shoulders and throwing it over a sputtering flame. After a moment, he had the threat squelched. Scorch marks marred the surface of the wood floor and smoke tinged the air, but the damage was minimal.

Ma knelt beside Lillian’s crumpled form, gently rubbing her shoulder.

“What happened?”

Ma startled at his barked words but kept her gaze on Lillian. “She said she heard you at the door. Next thing I know there was a scream and pounding footsteps. When I got here, she was on the floor, the lamp was broken, and the front door was open.”

Lillian moaned.

“Are you all right?” Ma gently pushed the hair from Lillian’s face as the younger woman groaned some kind of answer.

Ma waved a hand at him. “Go fetch Doc Andley.”

Jonah couldn’t tear his eyes away from Lillian.

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