The Gilded Curse: Will the young heiress be the next victim of her family's curse? Read Online Free PDF Page B

remember the time you fell out of the oak tree in your yard right into a mud puddle! I don’t know if your folks were more upset about you ruining your pretty dress or getting hurt. Thank goodness, you didn’t get hurt.”
    “I wouldn’t say that. I did get a spanking for disobeying and climbing that tree in my new dress.”
    As they strolled down the road, Lexie noted several gardeners working the club grounds. Russell waved and they nodded. One man though, an older man with leathered skin, scowled at them as he leaned on his rake. Lexie turned to see Russell’s reaction.
    “Whatever is the matter with that man? Did the two of you have a disagreement?”
    “That’s Abner Jones. It’s not me he’s got a beef with, though. It’s you.”
    “Me? Why on earth would he have anything against me?”
    “He was the gardener for Destiny before your family fired him.”
    Lexie gulped, her stomach churning. “We didn’t mean him any harm, you know. Our accountant didn’t think we needed the additional cost for a place we didn’t use.” Not with the rising costs of Mother’s care. “Should I go apologize to him?”
    Russell placed his hand on her arm, holding her back. “I don’t believe that’s necessary. You better just keep your distance. Some people hold grudges a long time.”
    Lexie shook off the chill from the gardener’s gaze. “I hope he didn’t suffer any hardship.”
    “Fortunately, we found him a place on our grounds crew. Don’t let it worry that pretty head of yours.” Russell gave her a wink. “Besides, Idon’t think I’ve ever seen the fellow smile, anyway.”
    Her face flamed and she turned away, focusing on the stately Crane Cottage on their right with its formal gardens. She remembered her grandfather complaining about Mr. Crane building the massive Italianate-villa style home, the largest cottage on the island, which wasn’t in keeping with the other more “modest” homes of the compound. She noted the red tile roof, unique to the neighborhood, and admired the arches and wrought iron railings as they walked past.
    Once past Crane, Lexie jolted to a stop. She stared, covering her open mouth with her gloved hand.
    Instead of seeing Chichota Cottage, which used to be the next house on the street, two stone lions glared at intruders as they stood alone guarding steps that led to nothing. No grand front door and foyer greeted visitors anymore. Instead, all that remained of the Gould’s former cottage were the foundations and the palm-lined courtyard with an empty swimming pool—the only evidence the impressive home had ever existed.
    “What happened to Chichota?” she asked Russell as she struggled to comprehend what she saw. Where was the grand home where she had played with Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Gould’s grandchildren?
    “It had to be demolished last year.”
    “But why? Where are the Goulds?”
    “Their other son Frank still lives here with his family at his cottage, Villa Marianna, but his mother refused to return to Jekyll after Edwin Jr. died here in a hunting accident. Mr. Gould Senior only came to the island a few times after that, and when he died, the house fell into very poor condition. Plus, even with our patrols, vandals managed to cause more damage in the off-season. It became an eyesore and a potential fire hazard to the other homes, so it had to be torn down.”
    Hunting accident? Lexie barely heard the rest of what Russell said. A shudder coursed through her body. When Father was killed in a hunting accident, her family had quit coming to the island too. Maybe it really was cursed.
    “Lexie, are you all right?” Russell searched her face before a look of understanding crossed his. “Oh dear. I shouldn’t have mentioned the accident. I’m sorry, Lexie. How inconsiderate of me.”
    Lexie shook her head. “No need to apologize, Russell. I’m just surprised to hear about another hunting accident. Have there been many here?”
    His gaze drifted away to a place she