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Authors: Margaret Brownley
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Thomas’s death was more than just an unfortunate accident.
“Now, let’s see. Where were we?” Aunt Hetty said at last. “Oh yes, your wedding gown.”
Chapter 10
G arrett was in good spirits that night at supper and soon had the children roaring with laughter with his antics and riddles.
“Two bodies have I,” he said with a twinkle in his eye, “though both joined in one. The stiller I stand, the faster I run.”
“I give up,” Toby said after several wild guesses ranging from twins to bodies of water.
“An hourglass,” Garrett replied.
“Ah, gee,” Toby complained, folding his arms across his chest. “Nobody uses hourglasses anymore.”
Garrett winked at her. “Okay, how about this one? My nose is long, my back is broad and round, and in cold weather of use I’m found. No load I carry, yet I puff and blow, as much as heavy loaded porters do.”
“A big bad wolf,” Elise guessed.
“Bellows,” Toby said.
“You’re right,” Garrett said, nodding at his son. Elise’s face dropped, and he added, “You’re both right.”
Maggie laughed. “And I was just about to say the wind. Does that make me right, too?”
“Of course,” he said and smiled.
Oddly enough, she’d never enjoyed herself more. This was how she always pictured a real family in her mind. Sharing a meal together. Laughing. She couldn’t remember laughing with her own family. They were too busy staying ahead of the law.
Pushing her thoughts aside, she was startled to find that she had almost forgotten her real purpose for being here—and it wasn’t to have fun.
Later as she and Garrett finished washing and drying the dishes, she tried to think of how to broach the subject of his locked bedroom.
“Your aunt stopped by today,” she said, pulling off her apron.
“You should feel honored. That’s the second time this week she left her deathbed, and all because of you.”
“I suspect your aunt is just lonely,” she said.
Loneliness was something with which she was all too familiar. Her job required her to be constantly on the move, forcing her to live the life of a gypsy. She had no real home, no family. She hadn’t seen her brothers since the day her father was hung. Hadn’t even looked for them, out of fear that one or more had followed in Papa’s footsteps.
Garrett hung the dish towel on a rack to dry. “I suspect my aunt misses my uncle more than she lets on.” He leaned against the counter, arms folded. “What brought her here today?”
“She’s planning our wedding.”
He raised a dark eyebrow. “Do you mind?”
Trying to be tactful, she hesitated. She needed to earn his trust, and criticizing his aunt would likely defeat her purpose.
“I don’t mind going for a fitting, but your aunt plans on making a big fuss, and”—she bunched the apron into a ball—“I hoped for something simple.” Preparing for a wedding that would never take place would take up too much time.
Garrett studied her. “Believe me, the last thing I want is a big church wedding, but Aunt Hetty means well.”
“I know that.”
“And I’m her only living relative.” He hesitated. “After my parents died, she raised me. I owe her a lot, and I know that planning our wedding would give her a great deal of pleasure. But if you’re really against having a big affair, I’ll talk to her.”
She felt trapped. If she insisted on having her own way she would look childish—maybe even selfish. But if she granted his request, she would be putting a lot of people to work for nothing. Still, she was paid to do a job, and her allegiance was to the company paying her wages. That meant doing whatever was necessary—even if it meant planning a fake wedding—to get the job done.
“Very well,” she said. “We’ll do it your aunt’s way.”
His crooked grin was as engaging as it was disturbing, and she struggled not to fall under his spell.
“Then it’s settled,” he said.
It was far from settled, but she nodded
“Now, let’s see. Where were we?” Aunt Hetty said at last. “Oh yes, your wedding gown.”
Chapter 10
G arrett was in good spirits that night at supper and soon had the children roaring with laughter with his antics and riddles.
“Two bodies have I,” he said with a twinkle in his eye, “though both joined in one. The stiller I stand, the faster I run.”
“I give up,” Toby said after several wild guesses ranging from twins to bodies of water.
“An hourglass,” Garrett replied.
“Ah, gee,” Toby complained, folding his arms across his chest. “Nobody uses hourglasses anymore.”
Garrett winked at her. “Okay, how about this one? My nose is long, my back is broad and round, and in cold weather of use I’m found. No load I carry, yet I puff and blow, as much as heavy loaded porters do.”
“A big bad wolf,” Elise guessed.
“Bellows,” Toby said.
“You’re right,” Garrett said, nodding at his son. Elise’s face dropped, and he added, “You’re both right.”
Maggie laughed. “And I was just about to say the wind. Does that make me right, too?”
“Of course,” he said and smiled.
Oddly enough, she’d never enjoyed herself more. This was how she always pictured a real family in her mind. Sharing a meal together. Laughing. She couldn’t remember laughing with her own family. They were too busy staying ahead of the law.
Pushing her thoughts aside, she was startled to find that she had almost forgotten her real purpose for being here—and it wasn’t to have fun.
Later as she and Garrett finished washing and drying the dishes, she tried to think of how to broach the subject of his locked bedroom.
“Your aunt stopped by today,” she said, pulling off her apron.
“You should feel honored. That’s the second time this week she left her deathbed, and all because of you.”
“I suspect your aunt is just lonely,” she said.
Loneliness was something with which she was all too familiar. Her job required her to be constantly on the move, forcing her to live the life of a gypsy. She had no real home, no family. She hadn’t seen her brothers since the day her father was hung. Hadn’t even looked for them, out of fear that one or more had followed in Papa’s footsteps.
Garrett hung the dish towel on a rack to dry. “I suspect my aunt misses my uncle more than she lets on.” He leaned against the counter, arms folded. “What brought her here today?”
“She’s planning our wedding.”
He raised a dark eyebrow. “Do you mind?”
Trying to be tactful, she hesitated. She needed to earn his trust, and criticizing his aunt would likely defeat her purpose.
“I don’t mind going for a fitting, but your aunt plans on making a big fuss, and”—she bunched the apron into a ball—“I hoped for something simple.” Preparing for a wedding that would never take place would take up too much time.
Garrett studied her. “Believe me, the last thing I want is a big church wedding, but Aunt Hetty means well.”
“I know that.”
“And I’m her only living relative.” He hesitated. “After my parents died, she raised me. I owe her a lot, and I know that planning our wedding would give her a great deal of pleasure. But if you’re really against having a big affair, I’ll talk to her.”
She felt trapped. If she insisted on having her own way she would look childish—maybe even selfish. But if she granted his request, she would be putting a lot of people to work for nothing. Still, she was paid to do a job, and her allegiance was to the company paying her wages. That meant doing whatever was necessary—even if it meant planning a fake wedding—to get the job done.
“Very well,” she said. “We’ll do it your aunt’s way.”
His crooked grin was as engaging as it was disturbing, and she struggled not to fall under his spell.
“Then it’s settled,” he said.
It was far from settled, but she nodded
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