Autumn's Angel by Robin Lee Hatcher Read Free Book Online Page B

the minister would see the things he wasn’t willing to talk about.
    The older man broke the lengthening silence. “But because you’re willing to employ Miss Abbott, even for the short term, you will still have the children around the theater sometimes. Won’t you?”
    â€œI suppose. But not for long. Not permanently. This is a temporary solution. As soon as other arrangements can be made, Miss Abbott and the children will leave Grand Coeur.”
    Reverend Adair leaned forward. “I believe there is something you aren’t telling me, Clay. Something that has nothing to do with Miss Abbott. Something that weighs heavily on you and has for a long while.”
    Clay tensed. “There’s nothing more to tell.” It was an outright lie, and he figured the reverend knew it.
    â€œIt might help to talk it through.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œMmm. Well, it seems your mind is made up, then.”
    â€œYes.” It surprised Clay, the regret he felt.
    â€œWould you mind if I paid Miss Abbott a call? Perhaps our church can be of some assistance to her. I might know of someone down in Boise City who could give her employment and find a suitable place for her and the children to live.”
    â€œSure.” He shrugged. “Sounds good to me.”
    â€œThen I shall do so.” Reverend Adair rose. “And I shall continue to pray for you both.”
    Clay stood too. “Thanks. I reckon we’ll need it.”
    â€œMmm.”
    The two men shook hands, and Clay left the reverend’s office.
    He’d expected to feel relief after talking to his good friend and trusted mentor. But he didn’t. Instead, he felt more unsettled than before, though he couldn’t put his finger on the reason why.
    â€œWould you mind if I paid Miss Abbott a call?”
    Strange question. Why would Clay mind if the reverend called on Luvena? Especially if he could be of some help to her.
    â€œI might know of someone down in Boise City who could give her employment and find a suitable place for her and the children to live.”
    Clay hoped—if the person the reverend had mentioned came through with a job and house—that it wouldn’t be too soon. After all, he’d asked Luvena to help him with the opening of the opera house. He was depending on her now.
    â€¢â€¢â€¢
    Since Clay hadn’t wanted Luvena along when he met with the minister—and she hadn’t wanted to go—she decided the morning was a good time to go exploring. She and the children had been inactive too long. They’d been shut up in railroad cars and stagecoaches and even this small house for what seemed an eternity.
    But it wasn’t the town that Luvena wanted to see. It was the forested hillsides that beckoned to her. And so, as soon as the breakfast dishes were washed, dried, and put back on the shelf, she and her young charges set off. It took a few tries before they found the right road to follow, but soon enough they left Grand Coeur behind them. The cool nights of September had begun to turn the leaves on the aspens to gold. The colors weren’t dramatic yet, but they made a nice contrast amid the green of the tall pines.
    Grand Coeur, she’d learned, was close to five thousand feet above sea level. Luvena could tell the difference between here and where she’d lived her entire life. The air was thinner and drier. Not better or worse. Just different.
    After walking a long while, they caught sight of a stream running through a draw far below them. Two men stood in the water. They were bent over, and each held something between his hands.
    Ethan said, “I think they’re panning for gold.”
    â€œI believe you’re right,” Luvena answered.
    Their voices must have carried through the forest because both men straightened and looked up. Something about the miners’ posture gave Luvena the feeling they weren’t happy to be watched as they worked