Silken Dreams Read Online Free PDF Page B

squeak tore from Lettie’s throat before the man had moved into the dim light and Lettie recognized her brother.
    “Jacob! You nearly scared the life out of me!”
    Her brother didn’t speak. He stepped into the room, his revolver raised, his eyes carefully scanning the shadows before returning to glance at Lettie.
    “Are you all right?”
    “Of course I’m all right!”
    “Where is everyone?”
    When three other men moved to enter behind him, Jacob swore and barked an order for them to wait on the porch, motioning for Lettie to retrieve her bodice.
    “They’ve gone to the poetry reading in town.” Lettie avoided her brother’s gaze, looking down to pay strict attention to the task of buttoning her bodice.
    “Have you seen anyone tonight?”
    Lettie’s fingers fumbled. “Anyone?” she repeated vaguely. She glanced up to find Jacob staring at her curiously, then returned her attention to her buttons. “Do you mean boarders?”
    “Strangers. Have you seen any strangers?”
    The bodice completely fastened, Lettie shook her head. “No. I haven’t seen any strangers.” She felt a small twinge of guilt at the lie: the Highwayman wasn’t really a stranger.
    Jacob motioned for his men to move into the house. One crept toward the parlor, while the other two took the back stairs, heading toward the bedrooms. Her brother waited until they had disappeared from sight before turning, finally looking her straight in the eye. “You’re sure?”
    “I’m sure.” Quickly crossing to the other side of the room, Lettie hurriedly added, “Would you and your men like some coffee? Maybe a piece of pie?”
    Without waiting for her brother to answer her, she reached for the gooseberry pie in the pie safe and placed it on the counter, grasping the butcher knife kept on the counter of the dry sink.
    “There’s plenty. I made it just yesterday.” When her brother didn’t answer her, Lettie turned. She quickly bit her lip to keep from making a betraying sound when she found her brother squatting on the floor, his finger reaching out toward the splash of blood on the polished floorboards.
    Lettie’s eyes widened in fear. Upon closer examination, she could see the way the drops of blood led to the edge of the rug. If Jacob were to suspect the man of coming here, it would only take a moment for him to realize where he was hiding.
    Whirling away from her brother, Lettie took the knife and, closing her eyes, drew the edge over the pad of her finger. Clenching her teeth, she held her hand out so that a few drops of blood splashed onto the floor at her feet and dripped onto the counter. Then, taking a dishcloth, she pressed it tightly against her finger to stop the flow of blood.
    “Jacob?” she asked again as casually as she could. Turning, she smiled. “Do you want some pie or not?”
    Her brother glanced up, his eyes probing her expression in the dim light of the kitchen. He rose slowly to his feet and stepped toward her. “Are you sure you’re all right? Has anyone bothered you?” he asked softly. So softly, no one could have heard him more than a few inches away. His gaze moved to peer into the dark corners as if some sense warned him of the Highwayman’s presence.
    Lettie smiled brightly, cocking her head in mock confusion. “All right? Of course I’m all right.” She tried to laugh and held up her hand. “Unless you count cutting myself with the knife earlier this evening. I was peeling a potato and the blade slipped and—Jacob?”
    Her brother glanced from her hand, with its evident wound, to the floor, to the edge of the rug, to the streaks of blood on the counter. Lettie held her breath, trying to smile, though her jaw ached with the effort of attempting to appear natural.
    “Jacob, what’s wrong?”
    He took a deep breath and stepped toward the door, staring thoughtfully into the darkness. “Another robbery.”
    Lettie turned back to her pie. “Oh?” When her brother didn’t elaborate, she was forced to