Love on the Range (Brothers in Arms #3)(43)

Molly watched Mr. Hawkins during Win’s friendly chatter. She saw a glint in his eyes that reminded Molly of how he’d looked at her upstairs, while he’d held her arm tight enough to bruise it. She remembered Rachel saying he could be frightening.

As Win’s questions went on, he calmed down—or maybe he just got himself under control. He said in his usual falsely charming voice, “Well, now, you’re right. We’ve never spoken much of my family. It’s odd to think of that. Strange that you don’t know about either of your sets of grandparents at all.”

Mr. Hawkins rubbed his chin as if thinking of old memories, but it struck Molly that instead, he was thinking whether to tell the truth or lie. Or maybe he didn’t hesitate over it at all. Maybe he was concocting the lie.

“I don’t have pictures of them, nor pictures of myself or your mother.” He fell silent for too long. At last he said, “I may have some of your mother’s parents. I haven’t had them out in a long time. I might be a while finding them, but come into my study. That’s where they’d have to be. We’ll have a look.”

“Oliver, I’d like to visit with my sister, catch up. I haven’t seen her in a while. I’ll be right in to look at pictures though.”

The way he said it, letting Mr. Hawkins know he wouldn’t be alone with Win for long, sounded almost like a threat, for sure a warning.

Mr. Hawkins left the room with Win, the two of them talking as if they’d always enjoyed each other’s company. As soon as they left, Molly frantically unbuttoned the top three buttons of her dress, pulled out the envelopes, and hissed, “Hide these. Check on them with Wyatt before you leave the property.”

Kevin arched a brow as Molly, quickly rebuttoning her dress, looked past his shoulder to make sure Mr. Hawkins hadn’t come back. Kevin had a coat hanging in the entryway. He strode to it, thrust her small collection of evidence deep in a pocket, then came back.

She hissed, “It might be something to use against . . .” Her eyes shifted to the door Mr. Hawkins had just walked out of. “If it’s not, then I have turned thief, and I want a chance to put those envelopes back in the safe in his bedroom.”

Then, on an impulse, she threw her arms around Kevin’s neck and said, speaking normally, “I’ve missed you.”

He hugged her gently. Then, setting her back so their eyes met, he asked, “Are you safe here?”

There was only silence. Molly couldn’t lie and claim she was safe. But neither could she say the words that would make Kevin yank her out of here. But her very silence was an answer.

“You’re leaving with Win and me.”

“No, not yet. I want those envelopes opened, without them looking like they’ve been opened if possible. There may be something in them that, once I see it, would lead me to something else here in this house. Once I leave, we’ll never get anyone back in here.”

She held up the flat of her hand. “I’m leaving very soon. I very much doubt I’ll still be here tomorrow morning. I don’t like being here and”—she barely moved her lips, hoping not to be overheard—“Rachel was right. Mr. Hawkins is frightening. Open the envelopes so I know what’s in there. I intended to do that after Mr. Hawkins went to sleep tonight. Wyatt comes to my bedroom every night and—”

“He does what?” Kevin’s voice wasn’t a bit quiet on that question.

“Hush.” Molly shoved Kevin’s shoulders. “Nothing wrong is happening between us. He comes to my window to see if I’ve found anything, then he sneaks through my room.” She checked for Mr. Hawkins again. “And sleeps in a nearby pantry, so he’s close enough to hear me if I need help. But today I decided I’m done.”

She gripped Kevin’s wrist tightly and thought of how Mr. Hawkins had gripped her arm. And what had he been about to say when Win and Kevin had arrived? Yes, there was no more decision to make. Her time here was up. “I haven’t been hurt, but he’s a frightening man.”

“I’m going to go find Wyatt and give him these envelopes. We’ll look at them right now. Can you go into the study with Win and Hawkins? I don’t want her alone with him.”

“He won’t like me in there. I’d be forgetting my place. He’s very particular about how he treats servants.” Her eyes grew wide. “You should hear how he talks to Wyatt.”

Kevin’s brows arched. “And Wyatt puts up with it?”

“Go. And get back here. I’ll take coffee in. I think he’ll accept me coming in to serve him.”

Kevin kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll be back in five minutes. I didn’t see Wyatt when we rode in. If he’s not to hand, I’m not going hunting.” He ran out of the kitchen.

Molly picked up the coffeepot and set it on a tray. She added delicate china cups and saucers, white with blue flowers, as pretty as anything Molly had ever seen. Then she headed for the study, determined to interrupt even if nothing was going on.



“Pa, can I have these pictures?” Win looked at the small portraits of her grandmother and grandfather. She recognized her grandmother. It shocked her to realize she’d held the memory of the fine old lady all these years. Her heart warmed until it was nearly hot.

“Yes, of course you can. I should have given them to you years ago.”