Read Online Silverton: Claims On The Heart by Karen Cogan - Free Book Online

Tom said he was doing business at the Town Hall and saw you walking down the very worst part of Blair Street. Surely someone has warned you that nice women do not go there.” Nancy sank onto the settee and fanned herself as she rambled on. “But you are new here. I should have told you. But you must not do it again.”
    “You don’t have to worry about that. I’ve never been so uncomfortable in my life.” She wanted to change the subject. “Apparently not all of Blair Street is bad. Papa says he’s found another house for us. He’s written the address down and wants me to go by the bank and get the key.”
    Nancy brightened. “Well, that explains why you were on Blair Street. You were looking for the house. You should have said so. I’ll go by the bank with you and then help you find it. How big is it? Do you know?”
    “Papa says it has six rooms.”
    “Oh, it sounds wonderful. I never thought you belonged in this house. Though the house Tom and I have is not much bigger, it isn’t quite so worn.” Nancy linked their arms as they headed for the bank. “This will be so much fun.”
    They walked into the cool lobby.
    Kathleen asked for Mr. Evers.
    A young man with a thin mustache and slender, nervous hands directed them to a desk behind a thin partition of wood.
    “Mr. Evers, these ladies are here to see you.”
    Evers ran his fingers across his slicked black hair and looked up at them. “Ladies to see me? What a pleasure.” He rose from his chair and bestowed a wide grin.
    Kathleen supposed he must only be in his early thirties. He had a pointed chin and a pixie face that looked at odds with the ample girth of the rest of his body. His dark eyes looked over her with a bold interest that immediately offended her.
    “So good to see you, Mrs. Parker. And your friend?”
    “I am Kathleen Morris. My father told me to see you about a key to a house he wants to buy.” She deliberately avoided extending her hand.
    “Oh, yes. Do sit down while I look for it.” He gestured to two chairs beside the scarred chestnut desk. He rummaged, muttering to himself about having just seen the key. “Here it is. Right on this chain. I told your father what a good buy this would be. And I think I could have a buyer for your leased home before the end of the week. New families moving in, you know.”
    Kathleen took the outstretched key careful not to touch his plump fingers. “We appreciate your help. But don’t find a buyer until we decide about the new house. I haven’t even seen it yet.”
    “I feel sure you’ll like it. It’s a house fit for a lady like yourself.”
    “Thank you.”
    “I hope to see Silverton full of families someday. Lots of single men are looking for wives. Of course, not many are like Mrs. Parker’s husband, suited for fine women like yourselves.”
    “It’s good I’m not in the market, then,” Kathleen informed him.
    He raised an unruly brow. “But perhaps you wouldn’t be opposed to sharing a meal with a new friend. I would love to take you to the hotel for supper if you’re free.”
    There was nothing about the man that appealed to her. Still, he was the banker and it wouldn’t be wise to offend him. So she forced a smile. “That is kind of you. However, I’m so busy now with settling in and helping my father at the store I just don’t have time.”
    He nodded, rising as they prepared to leave. “You can think it over and let me know when you’ll be free for supper, or lunch, if you’d rather. Tell me when you bring back the key.”
    Kathleen hoped to get away without touching the man. But he reached across the desk to shake her hand and she found her fingers in his clammy grip.
    “When you come back we can talk about the house and what you think of it,” he said.
    “Yes. Well, I’d better go see it.” She withdrew her hand from his grip and followed Nancy through the lobby.
    They pushed through the door like mice escaping a chase.
    Kathleen sucked in a gulp of air that was