Chapters (40)
- Half Title Page
- Books by Mary Connealy
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Epilogue
- About the Author
- Back Ads
- Back Cover
She greeted him at the window in her ridiculous robe-nightgown-dress getup. She looked to weigh about twenty pounds more than usual, and he wanted to tell her how cute she was, all properly bound into three layers of clothes.
He didn’t because tonight she had news.
“I found a loose floorboard in Mr. Hawkins’s bedroom when he went out riding today. I’m sure there’s something strange about it, but I couldn’t get it lifted out. I’m afraid to take time to work on opening it when he’s here, even if he’s in his study. He’s so aware of where I am all the time, and he tends to come and ask me questions. I’m being extra careful not to be in his bedroom when he comes around.”
Wyatt’s jaw went tight to think of a fine woman like Molly having to put up with such unpleasant behavior. And unpleasant described it only if Hawkins wasn’t something far worse than unpleasant.
Wyatt couldn’t figure out a way to be in the house during the day. He had a few excuses lined up, things to talk to Hawkins about, but he needed to save them for when Molly needed time to get into the safe. But maybe . . . “The men say he rides out quite often.”
“He’s done it a few times since I’ve been here. Now that I’ve found the floorboard, I’m afraid we’ll just have to wait until he goes out again.”
Thankful their whispered conversation was covered by the distant sound of Hawkins’s snoring, Wyatt said, “We’ll be patient, then. I wasn’t around when he saddled up and left, so I didn’t know about it and didn’t come in to help.”
“You couldn’t come in anyway, the men would talk.”
“I don’t care about gossip.”
“You would if they told Mr. Hawkins.”
“They have nothing to do with the man.” Wyatt hesitated. “One of them saddled his horse today. So maybe you’re right.”
“At least now, if I’m right about that loose floorboard, the next chance I get, I should be able to open it. That’s progress.”
“Should we try and get him out of the house again soon? I could tell him I’ve got questions, or I want him to inspect something. I’ve been hunting around inside my head, thinking up questions I could ask. Now I’m afraid to even go and do normal cattle chores. I should’ve known he’d gone off.”