When Lightning Strikes by Kathryn Kaleigh

Author:Kathryn Kaleigh
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: KST Publishing

CHAPTER 42

“At least come out with me and take a look,” Reginald said. “It might not be as bad as you think.”

Martinique picked up his coffee mug and sipped. The coffee here was better than back home in Virginia, though he hated to admit it.

“Can I least have my breakfast first?” Martinique asked, taking a plate and filling it with biscuits, eggs, and bacon.

Reginald sat back in his chair at the dining room table and laughed.

“Of course you can,” he said. “But if you don’t mind, I’m going to run out, check on a couple of things, then come back and get you.”

Relieved, Martinique watched his cousin head out to the fields.

With any luck, he’d forget to come back.

Martinique had no interest in getting a tour of the indigo vats or even the plants for that matter. He didn’t care much about crops. Now if Reginald had livestock, that would be a different story.

He would be quite interested in taking a look at some horses or—

His thoughts were interrupted by a commotion going on out on the back veranda.

Reginald was coming back inside.

“Bring him into the study,” he said, his voice serious and urgent, not at all the usual easy-going person he usually was.

He passed by the dining room, several people following along behind him.

Martinique didn’t even know where all those people came from. Servants, no doubt.

He counted six men.

And they were carrying another man.

A bit alarmed, he pushed aside his plate and stood up.

Then he froze.

Hannah was following them.

“Hannah,” he said, moving toward the door and getting her attention.

She stopped and looked in his direction.

Her expression was distraught.

“What’s going on?” he asked, putting a hand on her arm.

“It’s Uncle Nathaniel.” She pressed a hand against her forehead and closed her eyes. “He was outside. Just lying there. I thought—”

“Here,” Martinique said, pulling out a chair. “Sit here while I go find out.”

She nodded and sat down. She was trembling.

He followed the men toward the study where they’d taken Uncle Nathaniel.

“Take a horse,” Reginald told one of the men. “and go get Doc. Tell him it’s urgent.”

The men darted past Martinique.

Reginald sent other men for a pail of water and clean clothes.

“What’s happened?” Martinique went to stand next to his cousin.

Uncle Nathaniel lay on the sofa. His eyes were closed and he was pale.

“He’s had this happen once before,” Reginald said, putting a pillow behind Uncle Nathaniel’s head.

Martinique went to stand next to Uncle Nathaniel. Placed the back of his hand on the older man’s forehead. “What causes it?” he asked.

Reginald shook his head.

“Doc said it has to do with his heart.”

Martinique straightened. It was odd seeing his uncle like this. He could see how it would cause Hannah distress to find him this way.

“Doc recommended that he not be overly taxed,” Reginald said.

“In what way?”

“His heart has been broken and it’s weak.”

Martinique had a sinking feeling in his stomach.

He and Hannah could very well be responsible for this.

They’d had him talking about Vaughn.

The one who’d broken his heart.

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