Rocky Mountain Dreams. Danica Favorite

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СКАЧАТЬ her arm away. Men like Joseph came to town believing they’d leave in a carriage like that. Few did.

      She straightened. “I’m perfectly fine. But the longer we dally, the more likely it is to worry my father.”

      “He knows you’re safe with me.”

      Except she wasn’t. Every kindness from Joseph only punctuated the fact that she couldn’t allow herself to enjoy it. Henry had been all politeness and kindness—until she’d truly needed him. And he was gone.

      The ache didn’t leave until after she was seated in the kitchen, Maddie fussing over her.

      “I can’t believe you fainted and didn’t let anyone call for the doctor. You should have at least had someone get you a carriage.” Maddie placed a cup of tea in front of her.

      “I got too warm, that’s all.” As Annabelle sipped her tea, she watched Joseph slip in the back door.

      Annabelle looked up at him. “Would you care for some tea?”

      “Thank you, no.” He turned his gaze to Maddie. “I want to visit my pa’s cabin. Frank gave me the information, but I’ll admit the directions don’t make much sense.”

      Maddie stirred the pot of soup. “I never venture out of town. Don’t want to get mixed up with the riffraff. Annabelle used to go up to the camps with her father. She might know.”

      Annabelle slumped in her seat. She had purposely avoided going to any of the mining camps since the illness that had taken her family. It hurt too much to see the work they’d done together, and realize that for the ones who’d died, it had been all in vain.

      “Of course I’ll help.” She tried to sound cheerful, but the look on Joseph’s face told her that he didn’t believe her.

      Joseph held up a hand. “Don’t put yourself out on account of me.”

      “I want to,” Annabelle said quietly. She wanted to add that she was sorry for not being more welcoming, but that would only serve to get a scolding from Maddie.

      Surely he would be able to accept her peace offering after explaining her feelings last night. This was as much as she could give, and he had to be gentlemanly enough to know that.

      The door opened, and her father walked in. “The soup smells delicious, Maddie.”

      Maddie beamed. “I’ll get you a bowl, and for everyone else. Joseph is going to look at his father’s cabin, and Annabelle fainted dead away on Harrison Avenue. A bit of soup will perk everyone up.”

      “I did not faint dead away.” Annabelle met her father’s look. “I got too warm, that’s all.”

      “She did, too!” Nugget piped up. “Fell on the ground and everything.”

      The worry on her father’s face nearly killed her. After having so much illness in the family, the last thing he needed was to be concerned about Annabelle’s health. Especially if what Lucy had said was true. He’d never let her leave if he thought she was taking ill.

      “I’m fine. It was just warm, and my dress was a bit...tight.” She whispered the word, knowing that ladies of her acquaintance often said that they sometimes got a little dizzy if their corsets were too tight. She would have easily said such a thing to her mother, or Maddie, if they were alone. But her father, being a man...still, if it eased his worry, a little diminished modesty would be worth it.

      “Well, land’s sakes, child!” Maddie set the bowl in front of her with a thud. “Why didn’t you just say your corset was too tight? No sense in suffering misery for the sake of fashion. I told you I thought that dress was too much. I don’t care what the other girls are wearing. We’re getting you upstairs and changing out of that monstrosity and into that nice calico where you don’t have to be laced so tight.”

      Annabelle’s face heated. She’d at least been discreet in her words. But for Maddie to be so free in front of... She stole a glance at Joseph, who winked at her.

      Annabelle looked down at her bowl. Of all the...

      “It’s all right, Annabelle. I have sisters. I never did see the point in those contraptions making a woman miserable.”

      She opened her mouth to say something, anything, to make this man know that such talk was completely inappropriate. But Maddie was tugging her out of her chair.

      “Let’s get you changed.”

      If only a change of clothes was enough to fix the woes in Annabelle’s life.

       Chapter Six

      Joseph watched Annabelle leave with a smile. She was like a wet cat when she got all riled up. And even though he assumed he was supposed to take her seriously, it only made him want to laugh. Someday, she’d figure out that she didn’t have to pretend with him.

      Wait. What was he talking about, someday? As soon as he finalized his pa’s estate, he’d be taking what he could and going back to his family in Ohio. There he wouldn’t need to worry about getting closer to Annabelle Lassiter.

      Frank coughed, and Joseph looked up. He probably shouldn’t have said all that about corsets. At home, that’s all his sisters ever talked about. But in polite company, it was highly inappropriate.

      “I’m sorry. I should have been less frank with your daughter.”

      Frank smiled. “No need for apologies. When her mother was alive, she had a woman to tell her these things. Poor Maddie isn’t equipped for the society Annabelle runs with.”

      “It must be hard on her, losing her mother.”

      Joseph took a mouthful of soup, pleased that the flavor was every bit as good as the aroma that had been tantalizing him since this morning.

      “I’m sure it’s just as hard for you and your sisters,” Frank said in a pastorly tone.

      Joseph looked around the large table. “We at least have each other.”

      He continued eating his soup, remembering Annabelle’s confession from the previous night. Yes, he’d lost his parents, but he had his siblings left. People to care for, people who counted on him, people who cared about him.

      Who did Annabelle have other than Maddie and her pa?

      “You must miss them.” The knowing smile warmed him even more than the soup. How could Annabelle be devoid of the same warmth?

      “I do. But I’ll wrap up things with my pa’s estate, then return home.” Hopefully with enough money to get by until he could support them all. As his ma’s sister, Aunt Ina would surely refuse to help their pa’s out-of-wedlock child.

      “I hope you find what you’re looking for,” Frank said, then continued eating his soup.

      It was too bad there weren’t more men like Frank Lassiter in Ohio. He would never forget Frank’s kindness. Someday, he’d take Frank’s challenge and help someone else in need.

      Annabelle СКАЧАТЬ