Read Online Flora's Wish by Kathleen Y'Barbo - Free Book Online

to cause her to look up to meet his eyes. “It just might, and that’s all I will say right now.”
    Flora studied him a moment, carefully weighing what little she knew of the dark-haired fellow. From his penchant for hiding to the deference shown him by the hotel staff, she had deduced there was something out of the ordinary about him. That he was a lawman had been one of her assumptions last night. To have it confirmed with the evidence of a badge gave Flora no reason to doubt his claim.
    â€œMr. McMinn, is it?” When he nodded, she continued. “Yes, Mr. McMinn, I do believe you. And I assume we’ve stopped here because you’re amenable to an arrangement other than jail, though I cannot imagine what charges anyone would have against me.”
    â€œThe charges are easy enough to explain.” He reached for her arm with, Flora hoped, the key to the handcuffs. Instead, he ran an index finger over her watch.
    For a moment his stern expression went soft. Then, in an instant, the lawman’s hard stare returned. “Flora Brimm, you are charged with accepting stolen property, aiding and abetting a known criminal, and a few other things I might choose to add once I get you situated in the jailhouse.”

Five

    O f all the nerve! Stolen property? I have no need of stealing anything, Mr. McMinn. The idea of it is preposterous.” Flora shook her head. “And how dare you accuse me of colluding with a person of that ilk? I am a woman of careful associations.”
    His chuckle belied his formidable presence. “Careful associations? Is that what you’re calling your engagement to Will Tucker? A careful association?”
    It was. Though she was loath to admit it to the man now, Flora had used those exact words in her letter to Father.
    Again he touched her watch. “Tell me where you got this.”
    â€œIt was a gift.”
    â€œFrom?”
    Once again, Flora met his gaze. Under other circumstances she might have allowed herself to note the way the dappled sunlight played across the angles of his face. The way his lashes, raven dark and thick as a woman’s, brushed high cheekbones when he closed his eyes.
    Now, however, she willed herself to form a more dispassionate opinion. Considering the man held the key to the handcuffs circling her wrists, the effort was not difficult to manage.
    â€œFrom my fiancé.” She let out a long breath. “Mr. Tucker.”
    A nod. And then another shift of positions as if he were seeking to assure himself they were truly alone.
    â€œLook, I want Tucker, not you. He is the true criminal. At least, that is my current assessment. It could change.” Before Flora could protest, Mr. McMinn held up his hands to stop her. “Did you ever wonder why the letter M was engraved on the back?”
    Indeed she had, but Mr. Tucker had explained it quite well. “That’s the initial of his mother’s given name. The watch was hers.” Flora gave him a sideways look. “How did you know about the engraving?”
    He said nothing for a moment, allowing her to draw her own conclusion. “Because I have an affidavit on file proving the watch’s ownership.” Another pause. “And asserting that your fiancé stole it.”
    She looked up sharply but said nothing. The handcuffs weighed heavily against the skin of her wrists. If only she’d thought to bring her gloves along when she left the suite this morning.
    â€œMiss Brimm? Don’t you have an opinion on what I’ve told you?”
    â€œOf course I do. I don’t give one whit for what your affidavit says. The assertion is preposterous.” She said it as much to convince herself as to make her companion see reason. “I know Mr. Tucker, and he wouldn’t…” Again she shook her head. “He just doesn’t appear the sort.”
    â€œAnd appearances are everything with your set, aren’t they? Which is why