Read Online Chasing Charity by Marcia Gruver - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Marcia Gruver
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bite and rolled her eyes toward heaven. After pouring a tall glass of milk, she leaned against the counter and stared out the window at the storm, her thoughts turning to Daniel.
Her need for Daniel Clark rivaled her need to breathe. She wondered where he was at that moment. Did he think of her even now, yearn for her as she did for him? No one had ever made her feel the way he did. One glance from him and all was lost—her upbringing, her morals, her family ... even her best friend.
Remembering Charity, the next bite of sandwich stuck in her throat. She gulped her milk to try to coax it down then lay the food aside. Lightning struck and thunder pealed with a crash that rattled the kitchen window. Emmy leaped away from it, and her stomach lurched. She’d heard them say Charity had gone missing, might be out somewhere in the storm.
Well, I won’t think of it! I just won’t!
Emmy turned from the window and picked up the sandwich and milk. She’d finish them later, up in her room. Though she was loath to go back inside her dungeon, anything was better than spending the day with those cackling hens in the parlor.
She paused at the door. To get upstairs, she had to pass them one more time. After that, she’d hole up in her room until nightfall. Under cover of darkness, she’d sneak back down to the kitchen and pillage for more rations. After all, a girl had to keep up her strength.
CHAPTER 7
Charity clung to Buddy’s steadying arm as the wagon raced up the street, spewing muddy water in its wake. The heavy rainfall had emptied the boardwalk in front of the hotel, making it easy to pull close to the door.
Buddy hauled back on the reins, took one look at the quagmire on his side, and then crawled over Charity to descend, dragging her and her bag off behind him. They ran into the lobby, laughing so hard they had to hold on to each other to stay upright, their sodden clothes leaving puddles on the polished wood floor.
From behind the desk, Sam stared with an open mouth before loudly clearing his throat. “Say, there ... Miss Bloom ... are you all right?”
Charity stopped giggling long enough to look over Buddy’s shoulder at Sam then fell into more laughter at the astonished look on his face.
Before she could regain her composure, Buddy answered for her. “No, Sam, she’s not all right. Can’t you see she’s soaked clean through?” He took her arm and led her to the counter. “The lady’s in dire need of dry clothes. As a matter of fact, so am I.” He held out his hand to Sam, his soaked sleeve dripping rivulets on the counter. “The key to Mr. Allen’s room, if you please.”
Sam recoiled as if Buddy’s hand was a snake. “I’ll do no such thing. How dare you attempt to besmirch this girl’s reputation. Sir, I won’t allow it.”
Buddy’s earnest face relaxed into a slow grin. “Pick up your jaw, Sam. I have no lascivious notions toward our Miss Bloom.” He extended his other palm. “That’s why I also need Mr. Ritter’s key. For myself.”
He gestured at the guest book. “While you’re at it, scratch Lee Allen’s name from your registry and replace it with the lady’s. Mr. Allen has surrendered his reservation to her, effective immediately.”
Sam leaned into the counter. “On whose authority?”
Buddy’s eyes twinkled, but his jaw was set. “Just the man who pays the tab. You see, the current occupants of those two rooms work for me, and I foot the bill for their housing. We’ll find a corner of Mr. Ritter’s room to lay another bedroll. I’ll continue to pay for the other room as long as Miss Bloom needs it.”
Charity whirled to face him. “Oh, Mr. Pierce, I couldn’t.”
He pointed at the register where Sam had drawn a line through Mr. Allen’s name. “The deed is done, ma’am. Your protests won’t change it.”
“B–but I simply won’t t–take his bed from under him and leave the three of you to one room.” Yet even while she objected, she shivered so
Her need for Daniel Clark rivaled her need to breathe. She wondered where he was at that moment. Did he think of her even now, yearn for her as she did for him? No one had ever made her feel the way he did. One glance from him and all was lost—her upbringing, her morals, her family ... even her best friend.
Remembering Charity, the next bite of sandwich stuck in her throat. She gulped her milk to try to coax it down then lay the food aside. Lightning struck and thunder pealed with a crash that rattled the kitchen window. Emmy leaped away from it, and her stomach lurched. She’d heard them say Charity had gone missing, might be out somewhere in the storm.
Well, I won’t think of it! I just won’t!
Emmy turned from the window and picked up the sandwich and milk. She’d finish them later, up in her room. Though she was loath to go back inside her dungeon, anything was better than spending the day with those cackling hens in the parlor.
She paused at the door. To get upstairs, she had to pass them one more time. After that, she’d hole up in her room until nightfall. Under cover of darkness, she’d sneak back down to the kitchen and pillage for more rations. After all, a girl had to keep up her strength.
CHAPTER 7
Charity clung to Buddy’s steadying arm as the wagon raced up the street, spewing muddy water in its wake. The heavy rainfall had emptied the boardwalk in front of the hotel, making it easy to pull close to the door.
Buddy hauled back on the reins, took one look at the quagmire on his side, and then crawled over Charity to descend, dragging her and her bag off behind him. They ran into the lobby, laughing so hard they had to hold on to each other to stay upright, their sodden clothes leaving puddles on the polished wood floor.
From behind the desk, Sam stared with an open mouth before loudly clearing his throat. “Say, there ... Miss Bloom ... are you all right?”
Charity stopped giggling long enough to look over Buddy’s shoulder at Sam then fell into more laughter at the astonished look on his face.
Before she could regain her composure, Buddy answered for her. “No, Sam, she’s not all right. Can’t you see she’s soaked clean through?” He took her arm and led her to the counter. “The lady’s in dire need of dry clothes. As a matter of fact, so am I.” He held out his hand to Sam, his soaked sleeve dripping rivulets on the counter. “The key to Mr. Allen’s room, if you please.”
Sam recoiled as if Buddy’s hand was a snake. “I’ll do no such thing. How dare you attempt to besmirch this girl’s reputation. Sir, I won’t allow it.”
Buddy’s earnest face relaxed into a slow grin. “Pick up your jaw, Sam. I have no lascivious notions toward our Miss Bloom.” He extended his other palm. “That’s why I also need Mr. Ritter’s key. For myself.”
He gestured at the guest book. “While you’re at it, scratch Lee Allen’s name from your registry and replace it with the lady’s. Mr. Allen has surrendered his reservation to her, effective immediately.”
Sam leaned into the counter. “On whose authority?”
Buddy’s eyes twinkled, but his jaw was set. “Just the man who pays the tab. You see, the current occupants of those two rooms work for me, and I foot the bill for their housing. We’ll find a corner of Mr. Ritter’s room to lay another bedroll. I’ll continue to pay for the other room as long as Miss Bloom needs it.”
Charity whirled to face him. “Oh, Mr. Pierce, I couldn’t.”
He pointed at the register where Sam had drawn a line through Mr. Allen’s name. “The deed is done, ma’am. Your protests won’t change it.”
“B–but I simply won’t t–take his bed from under him and leave the three of you to one room.” Yet even while she objected, she shivered so
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