Heart of Glass Read Online Free PDF

our son, Mica. He disappeared when he drove Miss Marie upriver to her French cousin’s place durin’ the war.”
    “You never found him?”
    Eugenie’s eyes glistened. “Never did. We went up to Cleveland to look for work, but we couldn’t find any there either so we came back. We never knew any other life but the one we had here. Figured if no one was around, we’d stay on here until we got thrown out. About a month ago, Mr. Colin come ridin’ in. Could barely sit the saddle. He refused to stay in the house so we scrounged up what furniture we could find and set up the
garçonnière
for him. He’s been there ever since and I been cookin’ for him.”
    Eugenie served steaming chicory and heavenly biscuits slathered with butter. Kate’s mouth watered before she took the firstbite. Eugenie hovered over them and finally, at Kate’s insistence, sat down.
    “How was Colin injured?” Kate ventured to ask. “Did he say where he’s been since the war?”
    Eugenie shrugged and shook her head. “He’s in a bad way. Insists on takin’ too much laudanum, if you ask me. He told Simon that by the time the war ended he didn’t know anythin’ but soldierin’. With both his folks gone and Miss Amelie having run off with that no-account Johnny Reb deserter, Mr. Colin had nothin’ to come home to, so he signed up with the Union to fight the Indian wars out in West Texas.”
    “I had heard that much when I returned. Someone from his old regiment told a friend of a friend of mine he’d enlisted again.”
    Eugenie went on. “About a year ago, one of them savages shot an arrow clean through his ankle. Tore it near to pieces. It went putrid and he nearly died. It pains him so bad that he wishes they’d have taken his foot and ankle clean off.”
    Kate stared into the bitter chicory, trying to imagine the wealthy planter’s son she’d once known with nowhere to go, no choice but to reenlist and wear Union blue. The old Colin was a far cry from the shattered thirty-two-year-old holed up in the
garçonnière
.
    “He’s hurtin’ too much to walk, but I think he still ought to try ‘fore he can’t move at all. He ain’t left that room. Has me bring his food in and take it out but won’t let me tidy up.”
    Kate finished the tea and stood, thankful that she knew a little more than she had a few moments ago. She reached up and straightened her small hat, then smiled with far more confidence than she felt.
    “Who was that woman? The one with the red hair?”
    Pursing her lips, Eugenie shook her head in disgust. “That’s not the kind of woman you need to know anythin’ about, Miss Kate. She came here askin’ for Colin this afternoon. I tol’ her good luck, be my guest.”
    “He sent her packing and not too politely, I must say.”
    “Good.” Eugenie sniffed. “We don’t need her kind ‘round here.”
    Kate nodded. “Thank you, Eugenie, for the refreshment and the information. I suppose I should tell you that Colin wasn’t exactly happy when I told him I wasn’t leaving.”
    Eugenie laughed and shook her head.
    “He’s always in a wicked mood,” she warned. “But you don’t have to worry. He won’t be comin’ over to the house to throw you out anytime soon. That much is certain. For me it’s a blessin’ you’re here. I didn’t know what else to do for him.”
    Kate drew herself up. All of her hopes and dreams rested on a roll of architectural plans, dreams of restoring
Belle Fleuve
, and of seeing Colin again. She’d been given more than a chance to prove herself as an architect. It was up to her to help Colin find himself and be the man he used to be. The man she remembered.
    She wasn’t a shy, hesitant young girl anymore either. Gone was the cast-off orphan hiding in the shadows. Thanks to her adoptive parents, she was educated, well traveled, and independent. Before she was through here, Colin Delany would definitely have to take notice.
    “Helping Colin is the least I can do for Amelie,”