Nann Dunne The War Between the Hearts

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stayed at the hotel, but he probably lied there, too. She looked up the
tracks as the train pulled in.
Phillip s last name is Showell. He might even come in person,
since Cranston is in Union hands now. He s a big, blond man and
might have an artificial leg by now.
I ll wait for news from him.
The train was about to leave, and they said their goodbyes.
Please, Leah, see if you can get the information about those soldiers
for me. I ll be looking for them as soon as I get the opportunity.
Oh, Sarah, forget about them for now. I ll get all that later and
mail it to you. You need to take care of yourself first. She gave the
taller woman a tight hug. I ll miss you. I hope we meet again.
Me, too. You ve been a true friend, and I ll never forget what
you did for me. Remember what I said about if you ever need me.
She released Leah and picked up Amy. I ll never forget you, either,
sweetheart. I love you dearly. She clasped the child to her, kissed her
cheek, and set her back down.
Will you come and see us again soon, Aunt Sarah? Amy s
wistful expression touched Sarah s heart, and when she saw the same
look on Leah s face, she sniffed and wiped at her cheeks.
I can t promise that, Amy, but someday, maybe you ll see me
again. No one knows for sure what might happen. The full meaning
of the words struck Sarah as she turned to board the train. She
couldn t have predicted the misfortunes that had befallen her, and
knowing that the future could be just as disastrous was a little scary.
She straightened up and sucked in a sharp breath. But I can do this.
After mounting the steps, she entered the carriage and waved to Leah
and Amy through the window as the train pulled away.
She sat down, leaned back, and closed her eyes. The noisy clack-
clack-clack of the wheels underscored the intensity of her thoughts.
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NANN DUNNE
I m going to my parents home. I ll have this baby. Then I ll go after
those bastards. They won t escape my vengeance.
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THE WAR BETWEEN THE HEARTS
CHAPTER EIGHT
rescott Coulter met Lindsay and little Prescott at the railroad
P station. Her father-in-law looked just as Lindsay knew Scott
would at his age, handsome and dignified. Bundled in hat, overcoat,
and gloves, he smiled with cheeks glowing from the trip to the station
in the sunny, but cold, December weather. They exchanged happy
greetings, and Lindsay gave thanks that the train trip had ended. Little
Pres had been generally well behaved but was beginning to show
signs of tiring. Prescott loaded the bags into the buggy and helped her
and Pres into the seat. He unhitched the reins, climbed in beside them,
and started home.
How is Sarah? Lindsay asked. She had written that she was
wounded in the leg, but she didn t give us any details. As soon as we
received Mother Coulter s letter that she was here, I had to come.
I think you d better prepare yourself for a shock, my dear. His
answer raised the fine hairs on the back of Lindsay s neck. The leg
wound gives her some trouble, and I think she has more pain than she
admits. Sometimes she limps. He took a ragged breath. But she
suffered a head wound that s much worse. She has a gouge on the
side of her forehead. And her face was burned. His jaw worked, but
no words came.
Lindsay held little Pres on her lap, but she freed one arm and
slipped it through her father-in-law s.
He continued in a controlled voice. The top half of one side of
her face is badly scarred, and the hair next to it was burned away and
has grown back completely white. He glanced down at the tears on
Lindsay s cheeks. It s better to get your tears out of the way now.
You know Sarah won t stand for anyone feeling sorry for her.
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NANN DUNNE
Nodding, Lindsay sniffled. She released Prescott s arm to get a
handkerchief from her pocket and dab at her face.
Prescott s voice got lower and hoarser. There s more.
His stern expression made Lindsay scrunch the handkerchief in
her hand. More?
Those men who shot her also violated her. Lindsay s sharp
intake of breath hissed in the chill air. Prescott rapidly blinked against
the tears evident in his eyes. And she s with child.
Lindsay was too stunned to speak. Every piece of information
she had just received struck a blow to her heart, each harder than the
one before. My God, she thought, this is overwhelming to me, and
I m only hearing it. Sarah has lived through it. Is now living through
it, she amended. She s an incredibly strong woman, but is she strong
enough to cope with so much, and all at once?
They rode in silence for a while. Apparently, even little Pres was
affected by the somber atmosphere. He curled against his mother and
fell asleep.
When Prescott spoke again, Lindsay started. Sarah has
changed, Lindsay, and not for the better.
She needed a moment to gather her thoughts and refocus her
attention, but the ominous words hung in the air like buzzards, ready
to tear at her flesh. She spoke with trepidation. How, Father?
It s understandable that she s bitter. She s had a lot to handle.
But there s a moodiness about her, a blackness. Sometimes she s fine.
Other times, she acts as though she has closed down a part of herself.
The better part, I m afraid. I m hoping you can help her with that.
I ll do my best. Maybe having Pres around will help, too.
Sarah s always loved children. But Lindsay wondered how Sarah
felt about the one she was carrying.
Sarah glanced down as Lindsay took her arm and urged her
toward the kitchen table. Everyone s outside, Sarah. Sit down and
talk to me.
Am I ready for this? Sarah wondered. She pulled back, but
Lindsay sat in a chair and dragged her down into the next one.
A hint of amusement flickered across Sarah s face as Lindsay
immediately jumped up. She spooned some tea leaves into a china
teapot and poured hot water over them from a kettle that simmered
constantly on the back of the cast iron woodstove. Next, she put the
pot and a sieve on the table. After she gathered cups, saucers, and
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THE WAR BETWEEN THE HEARTS
spoons from the cupboard and a covered stoneware bowl from the ice
chest, she added them to the table and resettled in her chair. She
propped her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand.
Sarah, I know you re hurting. Please talk to me about it.
Sarah leaned forward and set her arms on the table. She cocked
her head toward Lindsay, glad to have her undamaged profile on the
side next to her companion. Her fingertips drummed softly against the
tabletop, but she became aware of it and stilled them. She lifted one
shoulder. You ve heard all the details, and you can see the results.
I m not talking about what I ve heard or what I can see. I want [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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