A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs Read Free Book Online Page A

However charming the lad, his presence made a serious conversation difficult, if not impossible. But that was no excuse. The truth could not wait a moment longer.
    He matched her stride, walking as close as he dared. “Miss Campbell, I have not been entirely honest with you.”
    “Oh?” She looked up at him expectantly. Then a distant church bell began to toll, and she counted the hours under her breath. “Is it only nine o’clock? I thought surely it must be midnight.”
    Gordon cared little about the hour. What mattered was they were halfway to Stirling, and he was running out of time.
Make haste to help me
. A short prayer and a desperate one.
    He gripped their bags, strengthening his resolve. “I too have stayed away from Stirling. Far longer than you, Miss Campbell, and for good reason.”
    Her eyes widened. “Is Stirling your home as well?”
    “It was, until I was seventeen.” He cleared his throat. “Then I … hurt someone without meaning to. A young boy of ten.”
    The slightest intake of air. “Just like my brother.”
    “Exactly like him, Miss Campbell.”
    There was no going back now. Gordon slowed to a stop, then turned to her, wanting to see her expression when the truth sank in and the punishment he so richly deserved would be meted out. “It was your brother, Alan, whom I injured. On a curling pond in King’s Park twelve years ago.”
    She wrinkled her brow. “But your name is …”
    “Mr. Gordon Shaw.”
    The pain etched on her face was worse than he’d imagined.Almost more than he could bear. Her chin trembled, and her blue eyes glistened with tears as she tried to speak but could not.
    “Aye, Miss Campbell. As you rightly said, I am the man who ruined your brother’s life.”
    “And mine,” she whispered.

Chapter Seven
    Disappointment tracks
the steps of hope.
    L ETITIA E LIZABETH L ANDON

W hy did you not tell me before?
Why?
” Meg turned away. She didn’t want an answer. Not from Gordon Shaw.
    “Miss Campbell, if I may ask—”
    “You may not.” Meg buried her face in Tam’s soft woolen bonnet. To think she’d unburdened her heart to this man! Taken him into her confidence. Shared how her brother’s injury had affected the family, affected her.
This
man, of all men, had let her talk on and on yet kept his identity a secret.
    She lifted her head and promptly strode off, her steps moreresolute than graceful. She dare not stumble, not with Tam in her arms. But she would not stay and hear Gordon Shaw justify his duplicity.
    Why had she not put the pieces together and realized who he was before he confessed it?
Because I didn’t wish to. Because I was enjoying his company
. She stopped in her tracks as the truth heated her cheeks afresh.
    A moment later Mr. Shaw was beside her. “I am grateful you waited—”
    “I did nothing of the kind.” Meg shifted Tam in her arms. The line of passengers now stretched some distance up and down the rails. Just as well, or they might get an earful if Mr. Shaw did not leave her alone.
    Had she looked more closely and listened more carefully, she might have recognized him. True, he’d not had a beard all those years ago. But his hair was the same bright shade, not easily forgotten. She should have known him. She should have
known
.
    “Miss Campbell, I do not expect—”
    “Then you’ll not be disappointed.”
    Meg hated the harshness in her tone, but she couldn’t help it.
Gordon Shaw
. How dare he endear himself to her! For years her family had spoken this man’s name with contempt. Did he think their heartache could be swept away with a simple apology? She was glad for the darkness, for the cold, for the snow.Even with Mr. Shaw walking right beside her, she could pretend he wasn’t there.
    Unfortunately, he kept talking. “I am entirely to blame for your brother’s condition, Miss Campbell. Discard any notion that you were responsible.”
    She glared up at him. “In the same manner you discarded your curling stone? Tossing