Tall, Dark, and Determined Read Online Free PDF Page A

lurch.
    â€œHe’s both!”
    â€œNo.” Cora refuted her sister, much to everyone’s shock. “Either he’s Creed, a man all four of us admire and rely upon, who’s proven himself knowledgable and trustworthy, or else—”
    â€œHe’s still all of that,” Evie broke in. “We’ve simply learned he hid his name for the noble purpose of tracking down his brother’s killer. If he whipped into town as Granger, Twyler would’ve hied off before Jake could see through his disguise!”
    â€œThere’s purpose to his plan and his actions.” Naomi’s attempt to soothe Evie tore through the crooked stitches holding Lacey’s layers of emotions in check, unearthing ragged edges.
    â€œHis purpose, and his plan,” she choked. “Things your Jake, whoever he is, never bothered to tell us while he used Hope Falls to enact them. He deceived us as much as Twyler did.”
    â€œThere’s nobility in clearing his brother’s name and catching his murderer.” Naomi’s judgment leveled things for a moment. “But Lacey’s right; Mr. Granger knew who we are and what we want to accomplish. His failure to repay our trust is a betrayal.”
    â€œWhat would you have him do? Flaunt his real name at the cost of justice?” Evie flared. “Abandon his responsibility to the people Twyler would hurt if left to roam free?”
    Cora laid a hand on her sister’s shoulder. “Return our confidence. Perhaps not the first day or so, but at some point he should have revealed his identity and warned us.”
    â€œHe warned us about being careful and not trusting the men from the moment I met him! Every step of the way, he watched over us to provide protection. Who helped enforce town rules? Kept order? Stopped those evil men from sneaking into our house with Mr. Kane that night? Jake, that’s who. And you turn on him?”
    â€œCreed did.” Lacey tried to make her see. “Not Granger.”
    â€œAll right, then who’s out there right now, ridding the town of the brutes who began brawling yesterday? Eight burly men who won’t leave quietly, and who’s protecting us right now?”
    â€œThey think it’s Creed, but it’s not, is it?” Lacey pointed out. “If those men knew Creed wasn’t real, he wouldn’t hold any sway with them either. That’s why you’re having difficulty getting our approval. There’s a reason we implemented the vote, Evie. Remember, you convinced me of its wisdom when I balked.”
    â€œBut I never imagined there would be a problem with
my
choice of groom,” Evie grumbled. “The three of you practically pushed me into Jake’s arms, and now you won’t give me your sanction for a wedding? Seems to me you three have changed.”
    â€œDon’t go admonishing me about changing my mind, Evie.” Cora held ground against her older sister. “If Jacob Creed existed, I’d still agree he’d make a fine groom. But he never did. This Jacob Granger stands little more than a stranger.”
    â€œHis name doesn’t matter—the man wearing it does!” Evie wrung her apron into a mass of wrinkles. “Jake hasn’t changed.”
    â€œThen I’m even more worried. You’re willing to bind yourself to a liar.” The heat of anger eased some of the ache from constant tension, but Lacey didn’t welcome it. “Bad enough, his words hid his identity. His silence hid a killer.”
    â€œA killer he saved you from, Lacey Lyman! A criminal he tracked down and exposed when Twyler would have gone free.”
    â€œI wouldn’t have needed rescuing if I’d been warned.” Stung, she snapped the words.
I came here to prove I don’t need to be treated like a china doll, and I wound up being rescued?
But beneath the rage simmered a lingering fear. “We all trusted him, Evie, but none of