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Authors: Catherine Anderson
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rain.”
“Isn’t that just the way of it? We complain of the wetness all winter, then come mid-August, we pray for a downpour.”
Drawing up beside his horse at the hitching post, Alex observed, “Human nature is contrary.”
Muir glanced toward the house. “You aren’t telling me anything I don’t already know. Those folks are certainly a puzzle, and that’s a fact.”
Believing he referred to the judge’s concern about his political career, Alex said, “It’s not always possible to understand another man’s priorities.”
“True.” Squinting to study Alex through the moonlit gloom, Muir said, “Take you, for instance. I took you for a smart man, always on the lookout for an opportunity. Now, an opportunity’s knocking, and you’re passing it up.”
“Pardon?”
“Little Annie. Her breeding, and all,” the doctor clarified. “There you stand, creeping up on thirty, not yet married and convinced you can’t have children. Seems to me you’d jump at the chance to marry that girl Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
and claim Douglas’s child as your own. You can’t get much closer to having your own child than your own brother’s.”
Knowing how it must appear to the doctor, Alex looked away, unable to explain because he’d given his word not to repeat what Trimble had divulged to him. “Yeah, well, as much as I’d dearly love to have a child, Doc, I have my reasons for hesitating.”
Muir sighed. “Edie’s mad uncle, you mean?” The physician stepped around the hitching rail to his horse.
After tightening the belly strap, he looked at Alex over the saddle. “Oh, yes, I’ve heard the stories. And I’m telling you, Alex, that girl isn’t mad. I was with Edie when Annie was born, and I was the attending physician all during her early years. She was right as can be until that fever struck. There’s not a thing wrong with that girl that she’ll pass on to her children. I guarantee you that.”
Alex curled a hand over the rail and gripped with such force his knuckles ached. “You could be wrong.”
Daniel chuckled. “Water may start running uphill, too. I don’t say it lightly, Alex. I realize the consequences if I’m wrong. But I assure you, I’m not. That girl was as bright as a new penny before that illness struck.’’
“You’re certain it’s not hereditary?”
“Dead certain.”
Alex swallowed and glanced toward the house, his mind racing with possibilities. “I don’t know. If I married her, it’d cause a heap of talk, her not being right and all. People would think me lecherous, and who could blame them?”
“That’s probably true. If you’re sensitive to gossip, I guess you’d best stay clear of the situation.”
Alex drew a deep breath. “And that’s not to mention the responsibility I’d be taking on. A girl like Annie. Well, she’s bound to be a handful.”
The doctor smiled. “She’s a docile little thing, happy as a clam with her simple pleasures. With your money, you could hire a live-in nurse to look after her and scarcely realize she was in the house. There’s Annie’s welfare to consider as well. Moving to your place might unsettle her for a bit, but it’d be a sight less upsetting than if she’s sent away to God knows where. Living with you, at least she could wander in the woods she’s so familiar with, and when she took a fancy, she could mosey home to see her mama.
Not that you’re responsible for the misfortune that’s about to befall the poor little thing, but if you were to marry her, you could make things a hell of a lot easier on her.”
Alex fixed his gaze on the dark woods that bordered the Trimbles’ yard. “I don’t know, Doc.” He took a deep, bracing breath. “If you’re wrong about the girl—” He broke off and shrugged. “A child with mental problems? I didn’t do such a great job of raising Douglas, you know. Look how he turned out.
To consider bringing up a
“Isn’t that just the way of it? We complain of the wetness all winter, then come mid-August, we pray for a downpour.”
Drawing up beside his horse at the hitching post, Alex observed, “Human nature is contrary.”
Muir glanced toward the house. “You aren’t telling me anything I don’t already know. Those folks are certainly a puzzle, and that’s a fact.”
Believing he referred to the judge’s concern about his political career, Alex said, “It’s not always possible to understand another man’s priorities.”
“True.” Squinting to study Alex through the moonlit gloom, Muir said, “Take you, for instance. I took you for a smart man, always on the lookout for an opportunity. Now, an opportunity’s knocking, and you’re passing it up.”
“Pardon?”
“Little Annie. Her breeding, and all,” the doctor clarified. “There you stand, creeping up on thirty, not yet married and convinced you can’t have children. Seems to me you’d jump at the chance to marry that girl Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
and claim Douglas’s child as your own. You can’t get much closer to having your own child than your own brother’s.”
Knowing how it must appear to the doctor, Alex looked away, unable to explain because he’d given his word not to repeat what Trimble had divulged to him. “Yeah, well, as much as I’d dearly love to have a child, Doc, I have my reasons for hesitating.”
Muir sighed. “Edie’s mad uncle, you mean?” The physician stepped around the hitching rail to his horse.
After tightening the belly strap, he looked at Alex over the saddle. “Oh, yes, I’ve heard the stories. And I’m telling you, Alex, that girl isn’t mad. I was with Edie when Annie was born, and I was the attending physician all during her early years. She was right as can be until that fever struck. There’s not a thing wrong with that girl that she’ll pass on to her children. I guarantee you that.”
Alex curled a hand over the rail and gripped with such force his knuckles ached. “You could be wrong.”
Daniel chuckled. “Water may start running uphill, too. I don’t say it lightly, Alex. I realize the consequences if I’m wrong. But I assure you, I’m not. That girl was as bright as a new penny before that illness struck.’’
“You’re certain it’s not hereditary?”
“Dead certain.”
Alex swallowed and glanced toward the house, his mind racing with possibilities. “I don’t know. If I married her, it’d cause a heap of talk, her not being right and all. People would think me lecherous, and who could blame them?”
“That’s probably true. If you’re sensitive to gossip, I guess you’d best stay clear of the situation.”
Alex drew a deep breath. “And that’s not to mention the responsibility I’d be taking on. A girl like Annie. Well, she’s bound to be a handful.”
The doctor smiled. “She’s a docile little thing, happy as a clam with her simple pleasures. With your money, you could hire a live-in nurse to look after her and scarcely realize she was in the house. There’s Annie’s welfare to consider as well. Moving to your place might unsettle her for a bit, but it’d be a sight less upsetting than if she’s sent away to God knows where. Living with you, at least she could wander in the woods she’s so familiar with, and when she took a fancy, she could mosey home to see her mama.
Not that you’re responsible for the misfortune that’s about to befall the poor little thing, but if you were to marry her, you could make things a hell of a lot easier on her.”
Alex fixed his gaze on the dark woods that bordered the Trimbles’ yard. “I don’t know, Doc.” He took a deep, bracing breath. “If you’re wrong about the girl—” He broke off and shrugged. “A child with mental problems? I didn’t do such a great job of raising Douglas, you know. Look how he turned out.
To consider bringing up a
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