Read Online Signed and Sealed by B.A. Stretke - Free Book Online
Authors: B.A. Stretke
Tags: Gay & Lesbian
Ads: Link
thing disconnected.”
“It will all work out for the best, I’m sure,” Mrs. Coleman sympathized. “Try to look at it like a vacation and enjoy yourself.”
Will wondered if she was referring to the scene that she interrupted last evening. Will smiled at the simplicity of Mrs. Coleman’s statement. He decided that he liked this woman. She was obviously very loyal to Elijah and his brother and would never say a word against them, but she also tried to put the best face on what she recognized as an uncomfortable situation. She was loyal, but she wasn’t blind.
“Vacation… hmm… I’ll try to do that.” Will chuckled. What worried him was the part that Elijah Hunter had to play in this vacation of his. He finished his cup and poured another.
“Elijah won’t do anything to hurt you,” Mrs. Coleman stated, as if reading his mind. “He’s worked hard to get to where he is. It has not been an easy road for him… ever.” She sighed. Will kept silent, hoping that she would continue. “He was only eighteen when he took custody of his nine-year-old brother. It wasn’t easy taking on the responsibility for the health and welfare of a child. He raised him well, though, taught him to be strong and honest and to be a man.”
“What happened to their parents?” Will was curious.
“Their father was not much in terms of responsibility.” She snorted, showing her contempt. “He ran out on the family just after Martin was born. Elijah was only nine at the time.” Pride began to show in her eyes as she related the rest of the story. “Elijah took care of the family as best he could. He worked, went to school, and took care of their small farm. When he was eighteen, he bought his own place with money he’d saved. Within weeks his mother was diagnosed with cancer. She only lived ten months after that.” That was so sad; Will patted his eyes, trying not to show that the story was having an effect on him. “He built that small ranch into this thirty-thousand-acre estate and also raised his brother. The man is more than people think, much more.”
“You seem very loyal, Mrs. Coleman.” Will did not mean this sarcastically. He admired her for it.
“People who really know Elijah know him to be a fair, kind, and generous man.”
“What about the people who don’t know him?” Will ventured to ask.
“They think that he is cold, hard, and uncaring. He can be cold and hard if the situation warrants it,” she added. “I’m not saying he’s a pushover, far from it, but he doesn’t hurt people just for sport.”
Mrs. Coleman was definitely one of Elijah’s admirers. Will hoped he paid her well for the level of loyalty that she exhibited. “What about Katrina? What are your thoughts on her situation and his handling of it?”
“It’s my guess that he is trying to teach her a lesson.”
“Is he teaching me a lesson too?” Will was less cordial.
Mrs. Coleman merely smiled that thin smile of someone who thought they knew something no one else did. “Can I offer you some breakfast?” she asked abruptly, changing the subject.
“No, thank you. I thought I’d have something in town while I’m there.” Will wanted to question her further, but knew that her loyalty to Elijah would prevent her saying anything that he didn’t want her saying. Why did she act so strange when questioned about Elijah’s intentions with regard to me? What is he planning? Will stood and walked over to the sink to rinse his mug and then placed it back on the counter. His mind was consumed with possible motives for Elijah wanting him there. What lesson is he planning on teaching me? he wondered. Whatever Eli’s plan, Mrs. Coleman wasn’t going to tell him.
“Before you leave,” Mrs. Coleman said, her voice breaking into his thoughts, “Elijah asked me to give you this.” She handed Will a bank card.
“What is this?”
“It’s Elijah’s bank card. He called and arranged for you to have full
“It will all work out for the best, I’m sure,” Mrs. Coleman sympathized. “Try to look at it like a vacation and enjoy yourself.”
Will wondered if she was referring to the scene that she interrupted last evening. Will smiled at the simplicity of Mrs. Coleman’s statement. He decided that he liked this woman. She was obviously very loyal to Elijah and his brother and would never say a word against them, but she also tried to put the best face on what she recognized as an uncomfortable situation. She was loyal, but she wasn’t blind.
“Vacation… hmm… I’ll try to do that.” Will chuckled. What worried him was the part that Elijah Hunter had to play in this vacation of his. He finished his cup and poured another.
“Elijah won’t do anything to hurt you,” Mrs. Coleman stated, as if reading his mind. “He’s worked hard to get to where he is. It has not been an easy road for him… ever.” She sighed. Will kept silent, hoping that she would continue. “He was only eighteen when he took custody of his nine-year-old brother. It wasn’t easy taking on the responsibility for the health and welfare of a child. He raised him well, though, taught him to be strong and honest and to be a man.”
“What happened to their parents?” Will was curious.
“Their father was not much in terms of responsibility.” She snorted, showing her contempt. “He ran out on the family just after Martin was born. Elijah was only nine at the time.” Pride began to show in her eyes as she related the rest of the story. “Elijah took care of the family as best he could. He worked, went to school, and took care of their small farm. When he was eighteen, he bought his own place with money he’d saved. Within weeks his mother was diagnosed with cancer. She only lived ten months after that.” That was so sad; Will patted his eyes, trying not to show that the story was having an effect on him. “He built that small ranch into this thirty-thousand-acre estate and also raised his brother. The man is more than people think, much more.”
“You seem very loyal, Mrs. Coleman.” Will did not mean this sarcastically. He admired her for it.
“People who really know Elijah know him to be a fair, kind, and generous man.”
“What about the people who don’t know him?” Will ventured to ask.
“They think that he is cold, hard, and uncaring. He can be cold and hard if the situation warrants it,” she added. “I’m not saying he’s a pushover, far from it, but he doesn’t hurt people just for sport.”
Mrs. Coleman was definitely one of Elijah’s admirers. Will hoped he paid her well for the level of loyalty that she exhibited. “What about Katrina? What are your thoughts on her situation and his handling of it?”
“It’s my guess that he is trying to teach her a lesson.”
“Is he teaching me a lesson too?” Will was less cordial.
Mrs. Coleman merely smiled that thin smile of someone who thought they knew something no one else did. “Can I offer you some breakfast?” she asked abruptly, changing the subject.
“No, thank you. I thought I’d have something in town while I’m there.” Will wanted to question her further, but knew that her loyalty to Elijah would prevent her saying anything that he didn’t want her saying. Why did she act so strange when questioned about Elijah’s intentions with regard to me? What is he planning? Will stood and walked over to the sink to rinse his mug and then placed it back on the counter. His mind was consumed with possible motives for Elijah wanting him there. What lesson is he planning on teaching me? he wondered. Whatever Eli’s plan, Mrs. Coleman wasn’t going to tell him.
“Before you leave,” Mrs. Coleman said, her voice breaking into his thoughts, “Elijah asked me to give you this.” She handed Will a bank card.
“What is this?”
“It’s Elijah’s bank card. He called and arranged for you to have full
Similar Books
