thought of Mr. Abbott’s advances and soldiered on. “My mother wanted to thank you for delivering Grandfather’s letter to us. And…I’m afraid I’m going to press upon your goodwill.”
His expression closed. Breanna watched both adults with rapt attention.
“In his letter, my grandfather indicated he has been a bit under the weather, and my mother wishes to send me and my brother out to visit him. Unfortunately, our father is too busy to arrange to take us. I was—we were hoping we could convince you to allow us to ride along with you to Grandfather’s place. If you have room in your wagon.”
He was silent, mouth slightly open as if he couldn’t understand her request.
“I know it is an imposition,” she rushed on, praying he wouldn’t say no. “We’d be willing to pay you a sum for your services, of course.”
Still he didn’t respond, only clutched his daughter’s shoulder and stared at Penny. He was going to deny her request. Panic seized Penny’s chest and she knew it must be showing on her face. She needed this man’s cooperation.
“Please, I—” Her throat closed over the rest of her words. What else could she say? She had to obtain his agreement.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity, he cleared his throat. “All right.”
Chapter Three
“A re you certain you want to do this? You haven’t spent more than an afternoon with your grandfather since you were younger…won’t you be bored on the homestead?”
I don’t have a choice. I won’t be pushed into courting a man I can’t abide.
Penny reassured her mother with a smile, clutching the small satchel she’d quickly stuffed with a couple of her older dresses and her tooth powder. She was acutely aware of the hall clock ticking away, every moment bringing Mr. Abbott’s pending visit closer. “Grandfather needs someone to help, and I’m sure Sam and I can manage for a bit.”
The sound of hooves and the creaking of a wagon in front of the house were a welcome sound. Penny flipped aside the curtain to ensure it was the farmer—she’d been so concerned with getting his agreement earlier that she had completely forgotten the proprieties and hadn’t properly introduced herself to the man—then moved into the foyer.
“Sam!” she called up the stairs. “It’s time to go!”
Her mother trailed her onto the front veranda and across the lawn as the farmer set the brake on his wagon and hopped down. He tipped his hat. “Ma’am.”
The little girl’s head popped up from inside the wagon and she leaned out over the side, arms hanging down as she smiled at Penny.
Mother looked to Penny for introductions and Penny felt her face heat. What good was an education at one of the finest ladies’ finishing schools in Philadelphia if she forgot her manners at inopportune moments?
“I’m terribly sorry for my rudeness earlier, but we weren’t properly introduced. I’m Penny Castlerock and this is my mother, Mary.”
An expression Penny couldn’t classify crossed the man’s face before he removed his hat and clutched it between his hands—a nervous trait? She’d seen him do it at least twice. “Jonas White.”
He seemed to be waiting for a reaction to his name, but Penny didn’t know what he expected. When she’d seen him at her father’s party, she’d experienced a moment of recognition, but couldn’t place where she’d seen him before.
“I’m sorry—” she stammered. “Have we…met before?”
A flush rose in his cheeks. “Not formally. But several years ago, I worked as a bricklayer’s apprentice in Philadelphia.”
And suddenly, she knew why he seemed familiar.
“You repaired the home next door to the finishing school.” And had been fired for compromising one of the other girls in Mrs. Trimble’s Academy.
A glance at the brown-haired girl hanging from the wagon made Penny’s heart beat uncomfortably. Was this the child born from that union? It had to be.
Penny’s mother looked between Jonas
Amira Rain, Simply Shifters
Mark Edwards, Louise Voss