The Lightkeeper's Bride by Colleen Coble Read Free Book Online Page A

or not. And what about Jennie?”
    “If an upstanding man is willing to take responsibility for her parentage, I fail to see why you persist in sticking your nose into this affair. Leave it be.” He set down his cup with a rattle and turned to walk out.
    “Did you kill Eliza?” she blurted out then put her hand to her mouth.
    He stopped and turned to face her. “Is that what you think?” His eyes were hurt. “You know me much too well to jump to such a conclusion. At least I hope you do.”
    Looking into his familiar face, she couldn’t believe she’d actually harbored the notion her father could be a killer. She closed her eyes, thinking back. “I heard you leave. But then the door opened again. There was a frightful thump—what I assume was Eliza, hitting the floor.”
    Katie opened her eyes again. His face was white, and she knew that he had been there. “Did you tell this to the constable?” he asked.
    She nodded. “But not about your voice. I didn’t place it until a few moments ago.”
    “I did not go back,” he said, his voice firm. “You must believe me, Katie. I couldn’t bear it if you thought I might do something like that. There is no reason to implicate me in this. Please, Katie.”
    She gave a reluctant nod. “All right, Papa.”

S IX
    T HE CHILD’S SOLEMN gaze never left Will’s face. He’d already unloaded the buckboard, and he studied the baby sitting on the rug in front of the fireplace. The clock on the mantle chimed eight times, and twilight was giving into night. He’d need to wind the light soon. Philip had better arrive by then to take charge of this little girl.
    “A-a, eh-ooh?” she asked. Her index finger pointed for emphasis.
    Her expression indicated she was quite sure he knew exactly what she was saying. “Er, I see,” he said, feeling like a fool. Was he supposed to understand the string of vowels? “Are you hungry?”
    Her small fingers seized the edge of the chair beside her, and she pulled herself up until she stood beside the chair. She sidled around the cushion toward the end table that would support her weight. She glanced at him as if to ask if she was permitted to touch it.
    “I think we’d better move you.” He lifted her away from the chair and she squawked until he deposited her next to the davenport. Her eyes brightened, and she began to walk the length of it. What did he give a child to play with? And what had he been thinking to take responsibility for her? He’d thought he would insist Philip take charge and grow up, but he had no guarantees his brother would own up to his part in this child’s life.
    Carriage wheels crunched on gravel outside. Will scooped up Jennie and carried her to the front door in time to see his brother step onto the porch. He carried a glossy black bird on his arm.
    “What the devil do you have?” Will demanded, eyeing the bird’s yellow wattles.
    “A present for you. His name is Paco. He’s a mynah.”
    “I don’t need a bird.”
    “Well, I have no place to put it.” Philip eased the bird from his arm onto a nearby table. “And I understand he’s quite valuable.”
    “You’ve been playing cards again, haven’t you?” Will said.
    Philip rolled his eyes and shrugged off his coat, hanging it on a peg by the door.
    “I thought you intended to pursue this job like a man, Philip. You promised me.”
    “I am pursuing my job,” Philip said, shooting him an aggravated look. “Sometimes that means I must pursue clues where my informants are most likely to be, regardless of whether or not you approve of it.”
    The mynah screeched and Philip dumped a handful of seeds from his pocket onto the table. The creature picked up one and cracked it. “Step away from the cake!” it screeched.
    Will was in no mood for another responsibility. He glared at the bird.
    Philip glanced from Will to the baby in his arms, seeming to see her for the very first time. A frown gathered his brows. “Who is that ?” he asked. The baby