Read Online The Rescue by Lori Wick - Free Book Online Page A

there listening. He gave himself a little shake at his own stupidity and returned to browsing. He was vaguely aware that the threesome was speaking across the way, but he’d spotted a slim volume that held some of the more popular works of Shakespeare and thought his mother might enjoy it. Her birthday was months away, but that didn’t matter. He had plucked it from the shelf and was studying the pages when Benwick found him.
    “Are you finding everything, sir?”
    “I am, yes.”
    “If you need anything wrapped, we can do that at the counter.”
    “Thank you.”
    Benwick left Weston on his own, turning to check on a woman who had just entered the store. She was a handful, wanting items he didn’t stock and would have to order from London, but the shop owner was patient, as were some of his other customers. When he had the woman settled, packed up, and out the door at last, he found Weston at the counter. Weston had selected the book of Shakespeare, an intricate German-made clock, and some of the finest linen handkerchiefs the store carried.
    “Did you find everything you needed, sir?
    “Yes, thank you.”
    “Do you want these wrapped or delivered?”
    “Just wrapped. I’ll be taking everything with me.”
    Benwick, an old hand at the task, had Weston out the door in little time, wishing him a fine day and inwardly hoping he would shop there often.
    “Who was that man, Mr Benwick?” one of the gossiping women asked the moment Weston left.
    “I don’t know, Mrs Stanhope. He didn’t give his name.”
    The women, who had been doing more visiting than shopping, exchanged glances, neither one the least bit ashamed of her unnecessary interest. Benwick was used to such behavior and took it in stride. He truly didn’t know who the man was, but even if he had, he would have been very closemouthed to Mrs Stanhope and her companion.

    “Baby Liz is crying!” Meg announced, running to Anne where she worked at the stove.
    “I hear that,” Anne answered calmly. “Shall we check on her?”
    This time Anne was able to creep into the room, take the howling Liz from her cradle, and leave Lucy asleep. The night’s work had finally caught up with the new mother, and she was sleeping soundly.
    Meg started to cry when Anne changed Liz’s wet clothing. The baby was turning red in an effort to be heard, and Anne laughed at the two of them.
    “Well, this sounds interesting.” Billy had come in the door and spoke from behind Anne.
    “Oh, Billy,” Anne said on another laugh, “will you comfort Meg and tell her that Liz is fine? She seems to think she needs to commiserate.”
    Billy was smiling hugely when he scooped his two-year-old into his arms and let her bawl against his shoulder.
    “How’s Lucy?”
    “Sleeping soundly,” Anne told him as she transferred the now-dry baby to her shoulder. “I’m going to get a little sugar water into this one and see if I can’t buy Lucy a little more sleep.”
    “You’re a treasure, Anne.”
    “Do you think?” Anne teased him.
    Billy ducked his head, a bit of his old shyness surfacing, before turning to comfort his daughter.
    “I saw a kitten today,” he said, attempting to distract her.
    Meg turned to look at her father. She sniffed, but the tears were abating. The two sat at the table, Meg on the table surface and Billy in a chair, facing each other so they could talk.
    Anne settled Liz by dipping a soft towel into sugar water so she could suck, and when she seemed satisfied, rocked her back to sleep. She put her in a basket nearby and then readied lunch to go on the table.
    The simple everyday action caused her to wonder if her father was getting his meals. In the past he’d fared well on his own, but she wasn’t so confident now that he’d hurt his leg.
    He always lands on his feet, Anne reminded herself, knowing it was wrong to worry.
    Had Anne’s friends—especially those from the church family—known the direction of her thoughts, they would have advised her as