Read Online Heidi Vanlandingham - Lucie: Bride of Tennessee (American Mail-Order Bride 16) by Heidi Vanlandingham - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Heidi Vanlandingham
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Saga, Western, Short-Story, Religious, Christian, Inspirational, Bachelor, Marriage of Convenience, Faith, Brother, Tennessee, widower, victorian era, responsibility, Forever Love, Single Woman, Fifth In Series, Fifty-Books, Forty-Five Authors, Newspaper Ad, American Mail-Order Bride, Factory Burned, Pioneer, Single Father, Little Girl, Twelve-Year-Old, Train Travel, Chattanooga, Groom Deceased, Hotel Owner
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helping,” Stella said.
John ignored her, continuing his story. “I caught her and Peter Singleton down by the tracks. They claim to be guarding the Addison’s chickens from a fox that keeps trying to get into the coop, but—”
“We were!” Stella whined but stopped when his eyes narrowed.
“The Addison’s haven’t had any fox problems. And someone,” he said, glancing down at Stella, “shot their dog.” John shook his head then turned his gaze back to Sebastian. “She’s lucky the puppy was excited and running around the fence. Her shot clipped his back leg, but he should be fine.”
Sebastian closed his eyes, willing his anger to recede. He was at his wit’s end. Where had this ornery streak come from? He knew better though, he’d been just as rambunctious as a boy. And she missed Maggie. If his mother was right about that…maybe she was right about Lucie as well.
From everything he remembered from his own childhood friends, girls were prim and proper. They cared about dresses and hair, learning how to take care of a home and family from a young age. His daughter? He didn’t think she ever brushed her hair. Why hadn’t he taken the time to make sure? Repugnance filled him. He’d done the one thing he always swore he never would. He’d become his father.
He met her gaze, worry quickly replacing the previous fury on her face. “Stella, go to your room.” When she opened her mouth to object, he added in a low tone, “Now.”
John dropped her arm, and she stomped up the stairs then across the porch, slamming the front door behind her. The glass panes in both the door and the large window in the adjoining wall shook from the force.
“You need to figure somethin’ out quick, Sebastian. If you ask me, she’s spiraling down an angry well, and if you don’t stop her now, someone’s gonna get hurt. Maybe even Stella herself.”
“I’ve been reminded of that a lot lately.” Sebastian ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. “I know I haven’t made the best decisions, but after Maggie left…well, let’s just say I’m seeing things a bit clearer now.”
John turned and took a few steps toward the street, but glanced back at him. “Maybe takin’ your mother’s advice might not be such a bad thing. Oh, and I thought you’d like to know the judge ruled in Lucie’s favor. Beauregard will serve not only for what he did to her, but also for stealing from businesses around Chattanooga.”
Sebastian dropped back down into the wicker chair. His gaze followed the sheriff’s dark form as he walked back toward the hotel, knowing the man would check in on his mother, just like he’d done every night since his father left. When he couldn’t see John any longer, he stared up at the night sky, watching the thousands of tiny pinpricks of white lights blinking across the inky blanket.
He wouldn’t admit it to anyone else, but he was worried—no, that wasn’t exactly the truth. He was scared. He had to finally admit to himself that he had no idea what he was doing or how to raise a child, much less a girl. His mother was right—had been right all along, but he’d been too prideful to see it. He should have just sold the house after Maggie left. But could he follow through with his mother’s wishes? Could he marry solely for his daughter?
He heard her rummaging around in her room, hopefully getting ready for bed, but probably not. The cool late September breeze sent a chill over his skin, but he didn’t mind. He loved this time of year. The corners of his mouth turned up. His patrons smelled better this time of year too.
Knowing he needed to go inside and talk to Stella didn’t make him feel better. For her sake, he knew he would go and talk to Lucie tomorrow morning, but he didn’t have to like it. Something about Lucie intrigued him, but the last thing he wanted to do was put himself in such a position again. For his daughter though, he’d do
John ignored her, continuing his story. “I caught her and Peter Singleton down by the tracks. They claim to be guarding the Addison’s chickens from a fox that keeps trying to get into the coop, but—”
“We were!” Stella whined but stopped when his eyes narrowed.
“The Addison’s haven’t had any fox problems. And someone,” he said, glancing down at Stella, “shot their dog.” John shook his head then turned his gaze back to Sebastian. “She’s lucky the puppy was excited and running around the fence. Her shot clipped his back leg, but he should be fine.”
Sebastian closed his eyes, willing his anger to recede. He was at his wit’s end. Where had this ornery streak come from? He knew better though, he’d been just as rambunctious as a boy. And she missed Maggie. If his mother was right about that…maybe she was right about Lucie as well.
From everything he remembered from his own childhood friends, girls were prim and proper. They cared about dresses and hair, learning how to take care of a home and family from a young age. His daughter? He didn’t think she ever brushed her hair. Why hadn’t he taken the time to make sure? Repugnance filled him. He’d done the one thing he always swore he never would. He’d become his father.
He met her gaze, worry quickly replacing the previous fury on her face. “Stella, go to your room.” When she opened her mouth to object, he added in a low tone, “Now.”
John dropped her arm, and she stomped up the stairs then across the porch, slamming the front door behind her. The glass panes in both the door and the large window in the adjoining wall shook from the force.
“You need to figure somethin’ out quick, Sebastian. If you ask me, she’s spiraling down an angry well, and if you don’t stop her now, someone’s gonna get hurt. Maybe even Stella herself.”
“I’ve been reminded of that a lot lately.” Sebastian ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. “I know I haven’t made the best decisions, but after Maggie left…well, let’s just say I’m seeing things a bit clearer now.”
John turned and took a few steps toward the street, but glanced back at him. “Maybe takin’ your mother’s advice might not be such a bad thing. Oh, and I thought you’d like to know the judge ruled in Lucie’s favor. Beauregard will serve not only for what he did to her, but also for stealing from businesses around Chattanooga.”
Sebastian dropped back down into the wicker chair. His gaze followed the sheriff’s dark form as he walked back toward the hotel, knowing the man would check in on his mother, just like he’d done every night since his father left. When he couldn’t see John any longer, he stared up at the night sky, watching the thousands of tiny pinpricks of white lights blinking across the inky blanket.
He wouldn’t admit it to anyone else, but he was worried—no, that wasn’t exactly the truth. He was scared. He had to finally admit to himself that he had no idea what he was doing or how to raise a child, much less a girl. His mother was right—had been right all along, but he’d been too prideful to see it. He should have just sold the house after Maggie left. But could he follow through with his mother’s wishes? Could he marry solely for his daughter?
He heard her rummaging around in her room, hopefully getting ready for bed, but probably not. The cool late September breeze sent a chill over his skin, but he didn’t mind. He loved this time of year. The corners of his mouth turned up. His patrons smelled better this time of year too.
Knowing he needed to go inside and talk to Stella didn’t make him feel better. For her sake, he knew he would go and talk to Lucie tomorrow morning, but he didn’t have to like it. Something about Lucie intrigued him, but the last thing he wanted to do was put himself in such a position again. For his daughter though, he’d do
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