Read Online Dangerous Men (Flynn Family Saga Book 2) by Erica Graham - Free Book Online Page A

“You shouldn’t have come.”
    “I had to, Kate.”  He crossed the
room and took her shoulders.  Gently, he turned her to face him.  “Hamilton did
this?”
    Kate smiled tremulously.  “Would
you believe me if I said no?”
    Sam shook his head.
    She looked away.  “Please, Sam. 
There’s nothing you can do.”
    “I can beat the tar out of that son
of a—”
    Kate put her hand across his
mouth.  “Don’t swear, Sam.  Not in front of Maggie.”
    He smiled faintly.  His smile faded
quickly.  “If you ever need anything, Kate, Maggie knows where to find me.”
    Kate let her hand fall to her
side.  For a moment, she rested her head against his broad shoulder.  Then, she
raised her head.  “Thank you, Sam.  Now go before I get you into trouble.”
    Sam nodded.  He turned and started
toward the door.  Before he reached it, he turned back.  “Maggie, at the first
sign of trouble, you come and get me.  You hear?”
    Maggie nodded.  “Yes sir.”
    Sam nodded back.  He left the
house.
    Maggie drew a deep breath.  “Mrs.
Hamilton—”
    Kate held up her hand.  “Not now,
Maggie.  Give me a few minutes to collect myself.”
    Maggie nodded again.  She picked up
the knife from the floor and washed it.  She dried it on a towel and resumed
slicing bread.
    But there was a knot in her
stomach, just like there was the day that Flynn drove off with the Lonnegans.
    *  *  *
    Day after day, Maggie had to watch
while Richard Hamilton got drunk and Kate wilted.  Thanksgiving came, but
Maggie felt little joy in the preparations.  Even the smell of the turkey didn’t
cheer her up.  Kate’s husband stayed home for the feast, but the next day, he
went out as soon as he woke up.
    The knot in Maggie’s stomach
tightened.
    That night, he didn’t come home.
    Maggie pulled on her trousers and
work shirt.  She started down the stairs to look for him.
    Kate intercepted her.  She shook
her head.  “Don’t, Maggie.  Maybe the sheriff will let him sleep it off in the
jail.”
    Maggie nodded.  She went back upstairs
and got into bed without undressing.  She lay awake, listening.  Eventually,
she fell asleep.  The sound of someone pounding on the door woke her.  Maggie
rubbed her eyes, but it was still dark outside.  She lit a lantern and ran down
the stairs.  Kate stood in the doorway, and Craig Lister, the sheriff’s deputy,
stood outside.
    “He killed a man, Mrs. Hamilton.” 
Lister’s tone was cold.
    Kate sagged for a moment.  Maggie
put her arm around the older woman’s shoulders.  Slowly, Kate drew herself up
to her full height.  “Can I see him, Craig?”
    Lister shook his head.  “Visiting
hours are on Sunday.”
    Kate bowed her head a moment. 
Then, she lifted it.  “Can I at least bring him his meals?”
    Lister shrugged.  “It will save the
town the cost of feeding him.”  He descended the stairs and walked down the
street toward the jail.
    Kate started to shake.
    Maggie led her into the kitchen and
brewed a strong pot of tea.  She put two lumps of sugar in the cup and handed
it to Kate.
    Kate took a sip and made a face.  “Why
do people always put too much sugar in tea during a crisis?”
    Maggie smiled sadly.  “It’s
supposed to help with shock.”
    “Does it?”
    Maggie shrugged.  “I’m not sure.  I
didn’t faint when my parents died, so I guess it does.”
    Kate smiled.  “I can’t imagine you fainting
under any circumstances.”  Her smile faded, and she sighed.  “We’d better make
breakfast.  The boarders will be down soon.”
    Maggie shook her head stubbornly.  “You
go back to your room.  I can handle breakfast.”
    Kate laughed, a short, sharp bark that
sounded more like the yelp of a wounded animal than human laughter.  “No,
Maggie, you can’t.  You’ll burn the toast, and I shudder to think what you’ll
do with the eggs.”
    Maggie smiled ruefully.  “You’re
right.”
    Kate sighed.  “Besides, I need
something to