Read Online Her Captain's Heart by Lyn Cote - Free Book Online Page A

with Alec and Mary. His conscience wouldn’t let him pass by on the other side of the road.
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    After breakfast, the widow sent her daughter out to feed the chickens and give the leftovers to the barn cats, who, along with the horses and the barn, had survived the night’s storm. Joseph rose from his place at the table and asked without preamble, “What was wrong with the boy?”
    â€œHe had been beaten unmercifully,” the widow replied.
    Matt heard the mix of concern and indignation in her voice. His nerves tightened another notch.
    â€œDisciplining a boy is one thing. Beating him is another.” Joseph looked concerned, his bushy white brows drawing together. “Alec is a good boy, too.”
    â€œI don’t know what to do. I’ve never dealt with anything like this.” The widow lowered her eyes and pleated the red-and-white-checked tablecloth between her fingers.
    Matt wished he could save her from worrying over this. “What can anyone do? A father has control over his children, absolute jurisdiction.” The bitter words echoed Matt’s frustration over his inability to take direct action. The world was the way it was and good intentions never went far enough.
    Matt had decided he wouldn’t tell the widow or Joseph what he planned to do. He didn’t want to give her hope when there probably wasn’t any. He had to admit to himself that he also didn’t want her to know he’d tried and failed. He ground his molars, irritated.
    â€œI will pray about this,” the widow said. “All things are possible with God.”
    Matt gritted his teeth tighter. Prayer didn’t help. He’d learned that while watching the life leak out of friends on the battlefield. He’d been the one who closed their eyes in death. Either God didn’t hear prayers in the midst of cannon fire or Matt didn’t rate much with God.
    Knowing his opinion would shock the Quaker, he pushed up from his place. “I’ve got things to do. See about hiring that housekeeper and find a laundress. I think you’ll find a lot of former slaves who will be happy to get work.” He regretted sounding so brusque. But he couldn’t help it. He was a captain—he was used to giving orders.
    â€œThank thee, Matthew.”
    Joseph gave him an approving look. “You show you understand how much work it takes to run a household. You must have had good parents.”
    Uneasy, Matt looked at the older man, wondering where this comment had come from. “Yes, I had good parents.”
    Joseph nodded and walked outside, whistling. Matt hurried out after him, not wanting any more discussion about Alec. He’d deal with the surveyor and then he’d do what he’d known he must do sooner or later. Deathbed promises were a burden he couldn’t ignore. And Alec could not be ignored.
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    Verity had left Beth at home with Joseph because, once again, she didn’t know what kind of reception she’d receive. And she didn’t want Beth troubled. Verity had a formidable errand this morning and could only hope that she was following God’s prompting.
    The memory of the battered young boy from last night haunted Verity. She had tried to turn Alec over to God, but the image of his injured body lingered in her mind. Some images were like that.
    She had seen many sights during the war that she wished she could erase from her mind. But that wasn’t possible. She wondered what images Matthew carried with him day after day, after four years of soldiering. What a burden. No wonder he was brusque at times. I will be more patient with him.
    Her steps slowing with her reluctance, she walked around St. John’s Church to the house behind it. Like all the other houses in Fiddlers Grove, the parsonage looked as if it had had no upkeep for a long time. White paint was peeling and green shingles needed replacing. She said a prayer for boldness to help conquer