Page 27 of The Preacher's Wife
“It’s all over now,” Emily settled on the ground beside her, offering a handkerchief.
“I’m sorry.”
The words were repeating in her head. Not sorry that her papa was dead.Sorry to have caused more trouble.
She was certain Hubert would make her leave now. Prudence wouldn’t even blame him. Alex just kept hugging her, and she slowly started running her fingers through his hair, soothing them both with that movement.
“Let’s get you inside.”
Prudence shook her head. She didn’t think she could move right now.
The sudden sound of a horse jolted her out of her thoughts. She looked up and saw someone quickly riding away from the town, probably to alert the others about what had happened. The street was now devoid of people, and she noticed that the stagecoach driver was climbing back onto his seat. He didn’t make eye contact with them, which she thought was for the best.
“Wait!” she yelled suddenly, the child in her lap jerking away. The driver stilled, and she scrambled to her feet, putting Alex in Emily’s lap. “Did he have anything with him?” She rushed toward the coach.
“Just a bag inside, Miss.” The driver leaped back off the top and met her at the door. “Was he really your father?”
Prudence nodded, her teeth clamping down on her bottom lip to hold back more tears.
“I’m sorry for your loss.” He opened the door and pulled out her father’s traveling bag.
Accepting the bag, she looked at the driver. “Do you know how he knew where to find me?”
The driver shook his head. Murmuring her thanks, Prudence walked back over to Emily and didn’t bother to turn as the stage pulled out. Part of her wondered if he should stay until the marshal came back. Perhaps he knew something important, but Prudence couldn’t bother with the details.
“Let’s go inside, Prudence. I can put Alex down for his nap and make a pot of tea.”
Numbly, she followed Emily towards the store. Once inside, Prudence moved to the seat, which she affectionately calledher seatin the corner. She put the bag on her lap and started pulling things out.
There was an envelope with an Omaha address on it. Carefully pulling out the letter, she felt a sense of dread sweep over her once more.
Reverend Underwood,
I was surprised to see your daughter in Omaha recently. More so than to find out that she married the local minister’s son. I thought she was ineligible to be wed.
Let me know if you require anything.
J. Crumb
Anger. That was what she was feeling. She did not know any Crumbs and had seen no one she recognized when she’d been in Omaha.
All her careful plans to escape Boston and her father had crumbled because of an unseen Crumb.
This was something she could show Hubert.
If he listened to her.
Hubert found himself perched among the rafters of the Landry barn. He couldn’t shake off the feeling of wishing he were in town with Prudence instead. They had never been apart for longer than a few hours before, and he was taken aback by how much he missed her.
“Rider coming!” Silas called out, and Hubert almost fell off the beam he was sitting on. With speed and precision, he secured the last few nails into the board and hastily descended the nearest ladder.
“Jackson!”
Hubert heard Irving calling for the lawman and hurried his steps. He found the others standing near the porch, a jumble of voices making no sense to his ears until he heard her name. Prudence!None of the words made sense.
“John, I’m sorry, but we’re going to have to go.” The marshal glanced at the farmer and shook his head.
“I appreciate all the help, fellas. Do you need me to ride in?”
