Peppermint Sticks for Susie by Joannie Kay Read Free Book Online

greet her, shaking a finger at her. "You are not the sweet girl you pretended to be, Jenny. I am embarrassed by your shenanigans. Get your things and leave my home!"

     

Chapter Four

    Jeffrey Dixon was still furious several hours after his dunking in the pond. Things were going so well with Jennifer Shelley when Alex Martin came charging in and made him look like a fool! If he'd been armed the situation would have had a completely different outcome. But a minister didn't wear guns strapped to his hip, so Jeffrey was left floundering in the water while Martin made off with his girl.
    Jeffrey took care of Jennifer, too. A visit with Mrs. Neely made sure that Miss Jenny wouldn't have a decent place to stay that night, and as a minister, he could come to her rescue and arrange housing that was out from under the watchful widow's eye. He'd spent the last few weeks trying to win Jennifer's affection, and he wasn't going to let Martin beat him out. With a smile in the mirror for himself, the minister put on his black hat and walked toward the widow's boarding house. He wanted to be close by, taking his walk, when that cowboy brought the redhead home. He was going to rescue her from the streets. With another wicked smile of anticipation, Jeffrey picked up his step.

    * * *

    Jennifer was stunned when Mrs. Neely ordered her to get her things and leave. "But, Mrs. Neely, I..."
    "I do not want to hear any excuses, young lady. I am bitterly disappointed in your behavior and worried about your morals. I will not tolerate your presence in this house one minute longer."
    Alex was sure he knew what happened, but he refused to think about that in the moment. "Miss Jenny, it will be fine. I'll help you pack and..."
    "I have already packed Miss Shelley's belongings, sir, and they are right here beside the door!"
    The woman was fairly bristling with indignation and sweet little Jenny was crying and in distress. Alex felt his temper flare. "Ma'am, you'd better hope that you have not damaged one thing, or left one out of the trunk or I will see to it that you are arrested. Miss Jenny, does this woman owe you anything by the way of rent you've already paid? You are entitled to a refund, and you should also be able to sue for undue stress as well."
    "Just one minute, young man! You have no call to question my integrity. I live an exemplary life!"
    "You live a judgmental, sanctimonious life, ma'am," he corrected her. "Jenny, does she owe you money?"
    Jennifer nodded, and then told him, "I also have something upstairs that was hidden in my room, Alex."
    "Go and get it," he instructed her and gave the widow his most intimidating look. Mrs. Neely did not argue, but stood there stiffly. Jenny wasn't gone long. "Did you get it?" he asked and when she nodded, he said, "Go and sit in the buggy while I load everything."
    "Where are you taking this child, sir?"
    "Away from you, ma'am," Alex replied. It didn't take him long to load the small trunk and several other baskets containing smaller items. It pained him that this was all she owned. "The money you owe Miss Jenny...?" Alex held out his hand, palm side up. The widow sighed, but she took a small purse out of her pocket and counted out six dollars, which she gave him. "Is six dollars the right amount, Miss Jenny?" he asked and could instantly see by the look in her eyes that it was not correct. "Ma'am, I thought you said you were morally upright...? Stealing from your boarders is not very Christian." The woman gasped in outrage and quickly produced another ten dollars. "Does sixteen dollars cover it?" Jenny nodded tearfully, and without another word to Mrs. Neely, he went to climb into the buggy beside Jennifer.
    "Hold up there! What is this?" Reverend Dixon demanded, struggling to keep a concerned smile on his face. "Where are you taking Miss Jenny?"
    "Preacher, thanks to whatever story you told Mrs. Neely, Jennifer has been kicked out of her home. Of course you are here to offer your assistance, but it