An Unsinkable Love(69)
Bree passed through the open door to the porch then pushed through the swinging screen door. In her haste, she nearly 231
An Unsinkable Love
by Terri Benson
missed the step down to the lawn, and if not for the sudden appearance of Carlisle at her elbow, might have fallen ignominiously on her face.
"Here, now, miss. That could have been a bad tumble." He looked into her tear-stained face. "Are you all right? Should I call the missus?"
Bree shook her head, trying to stifle the sobs threatening to escape. "N-n-no, thank you, Carlisle. I needed some fresh air."
"Umm, if you ... Well, I'm going into town to fetch a few more cases of, umm, wine. Yes, that's right. A few cases of wine. If you'd like to go anywhere, I'd be glad to take you.
It's a lovely evening. You ever ride in Rolls Royce? Oh, yeah,
'course you did. When I brought you from the station." He glanced around, as if he were searching for something.
Bree was surprised at his eagerness to take her for a ride.
But she looked closer and saw a deep blush on his clean-shaven cheeks. He was a nice young man, a bit simple perhaps, but always polite. Her sudden arrival had obviously embarrassed him. She started to offer a polite refusal when a possible escape from her impossible situation came to mind.
"Yes, thank you, Carlisle. I think I would like to go to town.
Do you know the schedule at the station? I forgot I need to visit my aunt in Boston, to ... well, to tell her about Malcolm.
With all the excitement, it slipped my mind. She'd be so upset if I don't explain. I'll just run up and get my reticule." Bree hesitated. If she went back into the house someone would ask questions, or worse yet, she'd run into Malcolm and Melody. She couldn't face them.
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Carlisle frowned and tapped his chin, then said, "There's a train leaves in about an hour."
She jumped as another deep voice spoke from the darkness.
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233
An Unsinkable Love
by Terri Benson
Chapter 36
Fred Dunby watched the group from his perch in the big oak tree. He recognized the pretty copper-haired girl as the itty bitty thing he'd seen at the station and later through the window. The young man with her was vaguely familiar. The third party, although hidden in shadow, was his quarry.
Fred had rented a horse and ridden to the estate earlier in the afternoon. It had been an unpleasant trip to say the least.
As a sailor, he'd never had much use for horses, and even less skill. The nag had nearly unseated him several times, even though the man at the stables swore Peanut was as mild-mannered as they came. He sat, motionless, as Eldon strode out of the shadows.
"Is there a problem, my dear?" Eldon asked the girl.
"No, I ... I'm going into town with Carlisle. It's stuffy inside and I'd like some fresh air."
The uniformed man whipped off his cap and added, "Miss Bree wants to visit her aunt in Boston, but don't have any money with her for a ticket. She's going to get her bag."
Fred thought it odd the man explained this to DuMont, especially when it didn't seem any of his business. He saw the gleam of white teeth as Eldon smiled and reached into his coat pocket. He handed Carlisle something.
"See that she gets where she needs to go, Carl." He turned to the woman, "It's more than you'll need for the ticket, my dear. You can use it for food and such on the way to your 234
An Unsinkable Love
by Terri Benson
aunt's, " he said in an amused tone. He turned with a chuckle and walked away, entering the barn across the yard.
The two stood where he'd left them. Soon the young man started fidgeting.
"If you want to make the train, miss, we'll need to leave right away. It's a fair piece and I have to slow down in the dark. We have a lot of deer around here."
Bree nodded and followed him to the car. He held the door for her so she could climb into the back seat, then jogged around to the front and started the car. They crept slowly down the drive, the big engine rumbling quietly.
Fred was about to climb down and search for Eldon when another car started in the barn and rolled out. Headlights dark, the car followed leisurely along some distance behind the Rolls. From light spilling out a window at the back of the house, Fred recognized Eldon at the wheel. As soon as the car passed behind a shrub, he scrambled out of the tree and raced toward Peanut. It took him two tries to hoist himself up into the saddle. In his haste to keep the car in sight, Fred kicked the surprised animal repeatedly while jerking the reins first one way then another. The horse eventually took the bit in his teeth and cantered down the lane toward home.