Read Online Hunter's Prize by Marcia Gruver - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Marcia Gruver
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The words were right, but the slight buckling between his brows said otherwise.
His reaction surprised Addie so completely she scarcely heard the prayer. She found his discomfort so unexpected, her unruly eyes wouldn’t stay off him throughout the rest of the meal—a meal that passed in a blinding flash of lively conversation and pleasant laughter.
Pearson explained that they were in the wrecker business—adding “sort of” in a most mysterious tone—and in Marshall on an expedition to raise a shipwrecked steamboat from nearby Caddo Lake.
Mother asked a few polite questions, but their answers were vague, so she tactfully steered the conversation to safer ground.
Once Addie relaxed, she began to enjoy herself. The Ginocchio salad was a first for her, but she vowed it wouldn’t be her last. Both men seemed content to focus on conversing with her mother, so Addie was free to sit back and savor every bite.
“I’m mostly a meat and potatoes man,” Pearson said, talking around a generous bite. “But this is really good.”
Theo shoved in the last bit he could scrape from his plate. “I’m a pasta and sauce man myself, but I have to agree.”
They laughed together while Pearson signaled the waiter and handed him several wrinkled bills.
Mother held up her hand. “No, dear. It’s my treat. It’s the least I can do after you two came to our rescue.”
“Sorry, ma’am, it’s taken care of.” He ducked his head at the waiter. “Go ahead, sir, and keep the change.”
“Well then—” Mother pushed back her chair and stood while the others followed suit. She held out her hand to Pearson with a big smile. “I don’t know what to say, except thank you. You’re very kind.”
A faraway look crossed his face, and a tinge of sadness darkened his eyes. “You’re very welcome, Mrs. McRae. I’d like to think someone would offer the same courtesy to my mother and sister.” His throat rose and fell. “If they were still with us, that is.”
Mother’s chin jerked up. “Oh Pearson. Do you mean—?”
“Yes, ma’am. I lost them, along with the rest of my family. Almost five years ago now, in the great storm on Galveston Isle.”
Addie’s heart stirred to pity. She knew which storm he meant. News of the terrible hurricane that swept over the island, washing hundreds of people into the sea, had spread quickly. Shocked by the dreadful report, the citizens of Canton mourned the tragic loss for days.
Her mother reached for Pearson’s hand, gripping so hard her knuckles turned white. “I’m so sorry, dear boy. It must’ve been a devastating loss. But how fortunate that you were spared.”
Blushing, he blinked rapidly and turned his face aside. “Thank you, ma’am.”
Catching Theo’s sleeve, he shook him gently. “Are you ready, old boy? We have work to do, and we’d best get at it.”
Mother gave his hand a final pat then turned him loose. “Yes, we need to get started ourselves. We’re running late for an appointment.”
Addie glanced at her. How could one be late to an appointment they’d never set?
She leaned to pick up her bags, but Pearson’s long fingers closed over the handles. With a combination smirk and challenging smile, he hoisted them and nodded at the door.
Theo collected Mother’s two cases, and they followed her out to the street.
Fishing in her handbag, she brought out the letter from Miss Whitfield and held up the envelope. “I realize you’re new in town as well, but do you have any idea where we might find this address?”
Theo shoved back his cap and whistled. “You don’t have to be around Marshall long to hear of Whitfield Manor. It’s the grandest place in town.”
Mother brightened. “Is it close by? Within walking distance?”
Pearson shook his head. “It’s not too far, but you’ll have to hire a ride.” He pointed. “The house is built on a rise a few miles outside of town. You could see it from here, if not for the trees.”
Theo flagged a
His reaction surprised Addie so completely she scarcely heard the prayer. She found his discomfort so unexpected, her unruly eyes wouldn’t stay off him throughout the rest of the meal—a meal that passed in a blinding flash of lively conversation and pleasant laughter.
Pearson explained that they were in the wrecker business—adding “sort of” in a most mysterious tone—and in Marshall on an expedition to raise a shipwrecked steamboat from nearby Caddo Lake.
Mother asked a few polite questions, but their answers were vague, so she tactfully steered the conversation to safer ground.
Once Addie relaxed, she began to enjoy herself. The Ginocchio salad was a first for her, but she vowed it wouldn’t be her last. Both men seemed content to focus on conversing with her mother, so Addie was free to sit back and savor every bite.
“I’m mostly a meat and potatoes man,” Pearson said, talking around a generous bite. “But this is really good.”
Theo shoved in the last bit he could scrape from his plate. “I’m a pasta and sauce man myself, but I have to agree.”
They laughed together while Pearson signaled the waiter and handed him several wrinkled bills.
Mother held up her hand. “No, dear. It’s my treat. It’s the least I can do after you two came to our rescue.”
“Sorry, ma’am, it’s taken care of.” He ducked his head at the waiter. “Go ahead, sir, and keep the change.”
“Well then—” Mother pushed back her chair and stood while the others followed suit. She held out her hand to Pearson with a big smile. “I don’t know what to say, except thank you. You’re very kind.”
A faraway look crossed his face, and a tinge of sadness darkened his eyes. “You’re very welcome, Mrs. McRae. I’d like to think someone would offer the same courtesy to my mother and sister.” His throat rose and fell. “If they were still with us, that is.”
Mother’s chin jerked up. “Oh Pearson. Do you mean—?”
“Yes, ma’am. I lost them, along with the rest of my family. Almost five years ago now, in the great storm on Galveston Isle.”
Addie’s heart stirred to pity. She knew which storm he meant. News of the terrible hurricane that swept over the island, washing hundreds of people into the sea, had spread quickly. Shocked by the dreadful report, the citizens of Canton mourned the tragic loss for days.
Her mother reached for Pearson’s hand, gripping so hard her knuckles turned white. “I’m so sorry, dear boy. It must’ve been a devastating loss. But how fortunate that you were spared.”
Blushing, he blinked rapidly and turned his face aside. “Thank you, ma’am.”
Catching Theo’s sleeve, he shook him gently. “Are you ready, old boy? We have work to do, and we’d best get at it.”
Mother gave his hand a final pat then turned him loose. “Yes, we need to get started ourselves. We’re running late for an appointment.”
Addie glanced at her. How could one be late to an appointment they’d never set?
She leaned to pick up her bags, but Pearson’s long fingers closed over the handles. With a combination smirk and challenging smile, he hoisted them and nodded at the door.
Theo collected Mother’s two cases, and they followed her out to the street.
Fishing in her handbag, she brought out the letter from Miss Whitfield and held up the envelope. “I realize you’re new in town as well, but do you have any idea where we might find this address?”
Theo shoved back his cap and whistled. “You don’t have to be around Marshall long to hear of Whitfield Manor. It’s the grandest place in town.”
Mother brightened. “Is it close by? Within walking distance?”
Pearson shook his head. “It’s not too far, but you’ll have to hire a ride.” He pointed. “The house is built on a rise a few miles outside of town. You could see it from here, if not for the trees.”
Theo flagged a
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