The Rose Legacy by Kristen Heitzmann Read Free Book Online

could anyone bless such a man?
    Mrs. Barton took the box from him, no sign of her tight-lipped grimace now. “Have a seat, and I’ll fix you something hot before you take off again.”
    He shook his head. “No thanks. No time for it.”
    Of course not, Carina thought. He’s much too busy to perform normal human functions. Sustenance and kindness must not interfere with commerce for such a one.
    “Well, you can’t take that pass on an empty stomach. If you won’t spare the time, I’ll pack something up.”
    “It’s not necessary.”
    She laid a hand on his arm. “I insist.”
    Quillan Shepard’s sudden smile transformed him, though it was brief and a little indulgent. Carina fumed. She would not be taken in. A mouse who considers the smile of the snake is soon made dinner. She had been naive yesterday, but she was no longer. She turned away and caught Mr. Beck’s gaze. Had she betrayed her contempt?
    Carina drained her cup, and Mr. Beck offered her more. She shook her head. “No, thank you.”
    He replaced the pot and threaded his fingers together. “Now then, if you accept my offer …”
    “I accept.”
    His face brightened, the brows pulling up abruptly like a marionette’s, the eyes wide and satisfied. “Good. Very good. As for compensation, the best I can do is pay your room and board and perhaps a dollar a week beyond.”
    “Mr. Beck, you’re too kind.” Relief washed over her. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
    He raised her hand and kissed it. “I’m very sorry for your misfortune, Miss DiGratia. Whatever I can do to ease your situation … it’s my pleasure, I assure you.”
    Carina felt the warmth of his lips on her fingers. “Thank you.” From the corner of her eye she saw Mrs. Barton tuck a wrapped parcel into Quillan Shepard’s hands.
    “Will you come to the office now?” Mr. Beck’s breath lingered on her fingers.
    Carina pulled her gaze from the now empty doorway. “I have an errand today.”
    “Then have dinner with me.”
    She laughed. “Mr. Beck, you are shameless.”
    “Guilty where you are concerned, Miss DiGratia.” He stood and pulled out her chair.
    Carina preceded him outside. The day had warmed, she saw, as she stepped into the sunlight. It would likely get as hot as yesterday, the heat with the strange sharpness she had not felt before. As Icarus flying too close to the sun, had she, too, melted her wings and was even now was falling to earth?

F OUR

    To rise to higher joy is to risk a deeper sorrow. Do I dare reach for the sun?
    —Rose
    C ARINA WENT BACK to her room and stripped the sheet from her bed. One look at the stains on the mattress made her wish she hadn’t. How Mamma would have scrubbed the ticking to keep it fresh. She balled the sheet under her arm and went downstairs.
    “Where you heading with that bed sheet?” Mae called from behind the desk.
    “I have some things to collect, but I won’t harm it.” Carina edged toward the door, wondering how it could matter.
    “See that you don’t. Things come dear up here.”
    If they were dear, why did Mae take such poor care of them? But it wasn’t for her to judge. She would be careful with the sheet, but she could think of no other way to take care of her business. Carina found Dom ready for her as Alan Tavish had promised. “I’ve no place to keep him at present. Will you board him for me?”
    “Sure and don’t worry. He makes a fine companion in the wee hours.”
    Did the rheumatism keep the old ostler awake? Carina took her eyes from the crab-apple knuckles. “I’ll likely have him all day. Is there a feed bag?”
    Tavish shuffled to the wall and unhooked a bag, then filled it with oats. He then filled a water pouch and tucked them in one saddlebag while she shoved the sheet into the other. “There now. That’ll keep ‘im.”
    “Thank you.” Leading Dom outside, she nearly collided with Quillan Shepard, coming for his horses, no doubt.
    He stepped aside, and, with a snort, she tugged