Read Online Ripples Along the Shore by Mona Hodgson - Free Book Online
Authors: Mona Hodgson
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mouth dropped open. “You are?”
“I have to do something.”
Anna nodded. “That’s how I feel. I talked to my grandfather about making the trip, and he talked to Mr. Cowlishaw earlier today. Doesn’t like crowds, so he told me to find a ride and come.”
Hattie slid her reticule onto her arm and looked at Caroline. “Your sister knows you’re gone? However did you slip away?”
“Jewell knows. Mary told her I was dressing for church instead of for bed.”
Anna tittered. “You do look well put together.”
Proof that looks can indeed be deceiving .
Hattie nodded toward the peacock-feathered creation on Caroline’s head. “Is your hat new?”
“It belonged to my aunt. Jewell said the hat was too gaudy for her.”
“It becomes you.” Stepping to one side, Anna viewed the back. “I may need to use it as a pattern for my collection next winter.”
A young man opened the door and stared at them. When they didn’t budge, he cleared his throat. “Good evening, ladies.” He doffed his hat. Although it had been stripped of its sabers and cord, it was a Union cavalry hat. “You’re here for the meeting, are you?”
“We are indeed, kind sir.” Hattie inched closer to the open door.
“Boney?” Anna pressed her gloved hand to her mouth in a failed attempt to stifle a laugh.
“Since when does The Western House have a butler?” Hattie pressed her gloved finger to her chin. “Or are you standing guard against hostile attack?”
“I work for Garrett Cowlishaw now.” His shoulders squared. “Hired me to work the wagon train.”
Anna jerked her gaze to Caroline. “Forgive our poor manners. Boney, this is our friend, Caroline Milburn.”
“It’s my pleasure to make your acquaintance, ma’am.” His smile revealed a gap between his teeth. “Robert Hughes. My friends call me Boney, and any friend of Anna’s is a friend of mine.”
“Thank you.” She couldn’t help but smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Boney lived in Saint Charles when we were all in school.” Anna looked at Hattie. “He was good friends with our brothers.”
When a line began to form behind the ladies, the charming young man ushered them inside, then leaned toward Anna. “We didn’t have much opportunity to visit the other day. Think we could talk after the meeting?”
Anna’s face paled. “That depends upon my companions. We came together.” She nodded toward Hattie. “Charles escorted us.”
At the mention of Charles’s name, a shadow crossed the young man’s face, piquing Caroline’s curiosity. Was Mr. Hughes sweet on Anna?
Perhaps so. He didn’t seem to notice Hattie’s attentions.
“I don’t mind waiting.” Caroline sidestepped two children in a chase.
When Anna nodded, Mr. Hughes waved them through the door.
The hum of chatter filled the meeting room. Men straddled the benches on either side of three rows of tables. Men and women competed for attention while getting acquainted and talking about wagons and provisions. Children scrambled up and around the aisles between the tables.
If she joined the caravan, she’d be traveling with all these folks. Rowdy children that weren’t her nieces and nephew. For months. What was she thinking?
Caroline had all but convinced herself to leave when Charles walked through the door. Hattie waved her gloved hand, signaling their whereabouts, and Charles escorted them to the second table in the far row. Seating herself on the end of a bench, Caroline glanced to the single table at the front of the room. Garrett Cowlishaw stood fumbling with a stack of paper, dressed in the style of a frontiersman, not of the dandified leaders of the city. Four men of varying size and age stood beside him.
Anna’s lean friend—Caroline wasn’t sure she could politely call a man Boney—sprinted toward the front, joining the other men. That’s when Garrett looked up. His ready smile quickly faded, his brow pinched.
“Here! Here!” The thunder-boom voice
“I have to do something.”
Anna nodded. “That’s how I feel. I talked to my grandfather about making the trip, and he talked to Mr. Cowlishaw earlier today. Doesn’t like crowds, so he told me to find a ride and come.”
Hattie slid her reticule onto her arm and looked at Caroline. “Your sister knows you’re gone? However did you slip away?”
“Jewell knows. Mary told her I was dressing for church instead of for bed.”
Anna tittered. “You do look well put together.”
Proof that looks can indeed be deceiving .
Hattie nodded toward the peacock-feathered creation on Caroline’s head. “Is your hat new?”
“It belonged to my aunt. Jewell said the hat was too gaudy for her.”
“It becomes you.” Stepping to one side, Anna viewed the back. “I may need to use it as a pattern for my collection next winter.”
A young man opened the door and stared at them. When they didn’t budge, he cleared his throat. “Good evening, ladies.” He doffed his hat. Although it had been stripped of its sabers and cord, it was a Union cavalry hat. “You’re here for the meeting, are you?”
“We are indeed, kind sir.” Hattie inched closer to the open door.
“Boney?” Anna pressed her gloved hand to her mouth in a failed attempt to stifle a laugh.
“Since when does The Western House have a butler?” Hattie pressed her gloved finger to her chin. “Or are you standing guard against hostile attack?”
“I work for Garrett Cowlishaw now.” His shoulders squared. “Hired me to work the wagon train.”
Anna jerked her gaze to Caroline. “Forgive our poor manners. Boney, this is our friend, Caroline Milburn.”
“It’s my pleasure to make your acquaintance, ma’am.” His smile revealed a gap between his teeth. “Robert Hughes. My friends call me Boney, and any friend of Anna’s is a friend of mine.”
“Thank you.” She couldn’t help but smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Boney lived in Saint Charles when we were all in school.” Anna looked at Hattie. “He was good friends with our brothers.”
When a line began to form behind the ladies, the charming young man ushered them inside, then leaned toward Anna. “We didn’t have much opportunity to visit the other day. Think we could talk after the meeting?”
Anna’s face paled. “That depends upon my companions. We came together.” She nodded toward Hattie. “Charles escorted us.”
At the mention of Charles’s name, a shadow crossed the young man’s face, piquing Caroline’s curiosity. Was Mr. Hughes sweet on Anna?
Perhaps so. He didn’t seem to notice Hattie’s attentions.
“I don’t mind waiting.” Caroline sidestepped two children in a chase.
When Anna nodded, Mr. Hughes waved them through the door.
The hum of chatter filled the meeting room. Men straddled the benches on either side of three rows of tables. Men and women competed for attention while getting acquainted and talking about wagons and provisions. Children scrambled up and around the aisles between the tables.
If she joined the caravan, she’d be traveling with all these folks. Rowdy children that weren’t her nieces and nephew. For months. What was she thinking?
Caroline had all but convinced herself to leave when Charles walked through the door. Hattie waved her gloved hand, signaling their whereabouts, and Charles escorted them to the second table in the far row. Seating herself on the end of a bench, Caroline glanced to the single table at the front of the room. Garrett Cowlishaw stood fumbling with a stack of paper, dressed in the style of a frontiersman, not of the dandified leaders of the city. Four men of varying size and age stood beside him.
Anna’s lean friend—Caroline wasn’t sure she could politely call a man Boney—sprinted toward the front, joining the other men. That’s when Garrett looked up. His ready smile quickly faded, his brow pinched.
“Here! Here!” The thunder-boom voice
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