Legacy of Love. Christine Johnson

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СКАЧАТЬ the fantasy to take note of the stranger. He must have been in the store the whole time, but she’d been too preoccupied to notice him. What a mistake. Judging by the quality of the stranger’s clothing, he had money and lots of it. His straight nose and commanding jaw made her tremble. He looked exactly like how she’d imagined Jane Eyre’s Mr. Rochester.

      “I thought you were finished,” he said in a rich timbre that resonated clear to her toes.

      “I, uh, uh...finished with what?”

      “You said I had to wait.” He pointed to the paper-wrapped package she cradled in her arm. “Since you walked away, I thought you were done.” He swept a magnanimous hand toward the counter. “Please, go ahead.”

      “Oh, no.” Anna felt heat infuse her cheeks. When she’d imagined telling the reporters to wait, she must have spoken aloud. “That is, I’m done.” The words came out all awkward, like a dumbstruck schoolgirl. “Go ahead.”

      “Thank you.” His lips curved slightly, greatly softening his appearance. “If I might correct you, the seals had been broken.”

      “Seals?” She stared blankly. “What seals?”

      “Clay seals. They are affixed to the entrance of any pharaoh’s tomb. You said the tomb had never been opened before, but the seals at the entrance had been broken sometime in the past. Fortunately for Mr. Carter and the Cairo Museum, the contents appear to be largely intact.”

      Anna could hardly breathe. Not only did he look distinguished, but he knew everything about the excavation. He must be a professor. Or an archaeologist. Maybe he’d take her to Egypt. Stupid idea. He’d never trust a girl who stammered and talked to herself. He certainly wouldn’t take someone poor. Expedition members had to pay their way.

      She bit her lip to force away the disappointment and tried to say something intelligent. “Why is it fortunate for the Cairo Museum?”

      His smile deepened. “They will receive the tomb’s contents after Mr. Carter inventories them.”

      “How do you know so much?” She was gushing, but how could she help it? A pharaoh’s tomb had been discovered, and this man knew all about it.

      “I read the archaeology journals and reports.”

      “You do? Do you think...?” She hesitated, but the twinkle in his eyes persuaded her to ask. “Do you think I might borrow your journals someday? When you’re done, of course.”

      “You may,” he corrected. “Come by my new bookstore, The Antiquarian, when it opens next month.”

      Next month? January was two weeks away. She didn’t know if she could wait that long, but she had no choice. He hadn’t offered to loan his precious journals a moment earlier.

      “Thank you, oh thank you,” she said a bit too eagerly.

      If he found her schoolgirl reaction amusing, he had the kindness not to mention it. “I suggest you begin with Dr. Davis’s book on Tutankhamun.”

      She nodded dumbly.

      “Until then.” He turned to the meat counter.

      “Until then,” she whispered, unable to tear her gaze from him.

      “Oh, good, you got the meat. Thank you.” Mariah gently took the string-tied package from her hands. “We should be going. I just need to sign the account first.” She tugged Anna toward the sales counter where the rest of her purchases were already piled into a crate.

      Anna reluctantly followed, but her mind lingered elsewhere. She glanced back at the butcher counter. This fascinating man was opening a bookstore. And he read archaeology journals.

      “Deliver it to the house with the rest,” the man said to the butcher. He grasped an ivory-headed ebony cane in his right hand. A cane like that could only have come from Africa. The Dark Continent. He must have traveled the world. She would do that one day.

      He limped toward the sales counter, and Anna turned away so he wouldn’t notice she’d been staring at him. The cane. The limp. Perhaps he’d been gored by a rhinoceros or barely survived a tiger attack. Maybe natives shot a poison dart into his calf, and he’d lost the use of his foot.

      “I’ll have Josh drop this off,” the clerk said to Mariah.

      After thanking the man, Mariah asked Anna if she wanted to come over for a cup of tea.

      Anna shook her head. “I’d better go home. Ma wanted me to make supper.” She sighed. “Cleaning and cooking. Does it ever end?”

      “When you’re doing it for your loved ones, it’s a joy,” Mariah started. “Goodness, is that the school bell?” She hastily buttoned her coat. “I’d better hurry.”

      “Go ahead. I want to look around a little.” And read more of the article.

      After a final farewell, Mariah left.

      Before Anna could drift back to the newspapers, the door opened with a rush of icy wind, and none other than Sally Neidecker entered. Sally had graduated from high school a few years before Anna and went to college the following year, which is where she should be now. Mrs. Neidecker hadn’t expected her daughter’s return until the end of the week. Her appearance now meant trouble.

      Anna pretended to be engrossed by the candy selection and hoped Sally wouldn’t spot her.

      No such luck. Within seconds, the girl had ferreted her out.

      “There you are.” Without so much as a greeting, Sally flounced toward her, the hem of her scandalously short skirt barely peeking out below the bottom of her fur-trimmed coat. “How could you leave Mother without help on the day of her Christmas party? She was beside herself. Absolutely hysterical. I thought we’d have to call in Dr. Stevens.”

      Anna’s tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. “I, uh—”

      “Is that any way to treat a friend? I thought we were friends, Anna. Haven’t I always helped you?”

      Not always. True, she’d looked up to Sally when she was younger, and Sally had taken her under her wing, but not like a friend. More like a foot soldier.

      “I, uh, thought you were still at the university. Your mother said Michigan didn’t let out for the semester until the end of the week.” It wasn’t much of a distraction, but it worked.

      Sally lifted her nose even higher. “I finished my coursework early, and my new guy drove me here.”

      The familiar way Sally mentioned her beau made Anna’s skin crawl. She acted as if he was some swell from the big city. Maybe he was, but driving all the way from Ann Arbor alone with a man?

      “He’s perfect,” Sally continued, her stained lips bright against the fox fur, “much too good for the girls around here.”

      Anna didn’t bother to point out that Sally came from here. Instead, she glanced toward the newspapers.

      That reminded Sally of her purpose. “You have to come back to work.”

      “I’m СКАЧАТЬ