Wanton Angel by Miller Linda Lael

Author:Miller, Linda Lael [Miller, Linda Lael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Published: 2011-05-23T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

THE AFTERNOON WAS chilly and dark and the sky was heavy with rain. Because of this, Bonnie had built a busy, crackling fire in the store’s potbellied stove and lit several kerosene lamps. As Katie perched on the lid of the pickle barrel, reading, and Rose sat contentedly on the floor, playing with her new doll, Bonnie was in the rear storeroom, making space for the merchandise Seth had ordered for the rebuilding of Patch Town. At the sound of the little bell over the front door, she smoothed her hair and her skirts and went out to wait on the customer.

The “customer” was Eli, who stood watching Rose with such a disapproving expression that Bonnie’s attention turned instantly to her daughter.

Rose was mercilessly spanking her doll.

Eli’s gaze sliced to Bonnie’s pinkened face. “Is that how you discipline my daughter?” he demanded, in a quiet but nonetheless lethal tone.

Before Bonnie could answer, Katie closed her book with a snap and blurted defensively, “Of course it isn’t! Our Rosie’s only acting out what she saw yesterday, aren’t you, sweetling?”

Rose Marie now had no interest in her doll. She struggled laboriously to her feet and toddled over to Eli, who immediately lifted her into his arms. He smiled at the child and embraced her, but there was a chill in the gaze he turned upon Bonnie.

“Go upstairs, Katie,” Bonnie said calmly.

The girl hesitated. There was defiance in her manner, defiance directed not at Bonnie, but at Eli. “Shall I take the baby, too?”

Just the thought of the squall Rose Marie would put up at being separated from her beloved papa gave Bonnie the beginnings of a sick headache. “No. She’s fine where she is.”

Katie gave Eli one last insurgent glance and scampered up the stairs.

“What exactly did Rose see?” Eli wanted to know. There was a note of suspicion in his voice and a quiet obstinacy in his manner.

Bonnie bit her lower lip, reluctant to admit what had happened—or nearly happened—but fully aware that she had to do just that. If she didn’t explain, Eli would draw his own conclusions and the result might be a terrible misunderstanding. Finally she said, “Webb 1-lost his temper and—and he—”

Eli blanched. “He what? By God, if he laid a hand on my daughter, I’ll—” he paused, and a knowing look flashed in his eyes. He drew in a deep breath and let it out again. “Wait a minute. It wasn’t Rose that Hutcheson walloped, was it? It was you!”

“Webb didn’t wallop anyone, “ Bonnie hissed, red to her ears, “Katie came in just in time to stop him. And don’t you dare turn self-righteous, Eli McKutchen, because you’re no better than he is! Why, just the other day, you were threatening to do the same thing!”

“Are you defending Hutcheson?”

Bonnie gripped the edge of the counter. “Certainly not,” she said loftily. “I wouldn’t even consider forgiving Webb, were it not for the fact that I know he didn’t really mean to hurt me.”

Laughter sparked in Eli’s golden eyes but left his mouth unchanged.

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