When Love Calls Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Tess, go hold the horses. I don’t want them moving while I’m getting in.”
    As soon as Tessa shouted that she had the horses in hand, Hannah moved the dresser from the porch to the back of the wagon. The wagon shifted beneath her feet a bit, but she steadied herself and managed to move the awkward piece to the front of the wagon.
    Applause sounded from the ground near the porch, and she looked up. Who was this man? Her cheeks flushed ember hot, and she collected her skirts in her fist and climbed back through one of the wide drawer openings. Quickly she shook out her skirt and adjusted the folds. “How may I help you?”
    “You can kindly get out of the bank’s wagon.” A slow smirk formed on the man’s face, and his eyes seemed to say he enjoyed the one-sided game he was playing.
    “Excuse me, but who are you?”
    He removed his hat, revealing a balding head. “I’m Cedric Knox, attorney from the law firm of Williams and Harlington. We represent the bank to which that wagon now belongs.”
    Hannah marched out of the wagon and onto the porch. “Hasn’t your law firm done enough damage? We’re moving like you asked. How are we supposed to get our things to the new house?”
    Mr. Knox set his hat back on his head and hooked his thumbs in the pockets of his vest. “I don’t really care how you do it, as long as it doesn’t involve stealing the bank’s property.”
    “Stealing!” Charlotte nearly dropped the crate in her arms. “It was our father’s wagon.”
    The sound of a second wagon approaching drew their attention. The driver pulled his wagon in front of Hannah’s, and her eyes widened in recognition—Mr. Cole. What was he doing here?
    She sucked in her breath and squared her shoulders. If he thought he could team up with this Cedric Knox fellow, then she’d set them both straight.
    Mr. Cole climbed out of the wagon and joined Charlotte on the porch. He eyed Mr. Knox. “Why are you here?”
    Mr. Knox frowned. “I could ask you the same.”
    Hannah held up her hand. “Gentleman, my sisters and I don’t have all day. Let me explain to both of you that we were simply planning to borrow the wagon to transport our things to our new home in town. Then we were going to return the wagon and horses to the barn before the auction this afternoon.”
    Mr. Knox chuckled. “I’m well aware of what you’re planning to do, Miss Gregory, but as I said before, you won’t be using this wagon. It belongs to the bank now.”
    “What is the harm in us using it?” Charlotte looked from Mr. Knox to Mr. Cole. “The auction isn’t until four this afternoon.”
    “And what if you break an axle or a wheel? Have you the money to pay for the repairs?” Mr. Knox rocked on the heels of his well-polished black boots. “I know from your state of affairs you do not. Therefore, this wagon isn’t going anywhere.”
    “But nothing is going to happen,” Hannah said. “What are we supposed to do with our things?”
    Mr. Knox shrugged. “Leave them. They’ll be auctioned off with the rest of the farm goods.”
    “Cedric.” Mr. Cole crossed his arms over his chest. “You and I both know there’s no harm in letting them use that wagon.”
    “The law’s on my side, Lincoln, and you know it. Do I need to get the sheriff?” He raised his thick eyebrows.
    “Leave the sheriff out of this,” Mr. Cole growled.
    Hannah glared at the newcomer. “What kind of game is this?Last week you took our farm, and today you act like you’re on our side?”
    “I’m not on anyone’s side. The bank took your home. Not me. Today I came to help you move. I thought maybe you could use a second wagon, but it looks like it may be the only one at your disposal—thanks to him.”
    He came to help them move? Hannah took in Mr. Cole’s dungarees, chambray work shirt, and leather-gloved hands. If she hadn’t seen him dressed in a fine suit earlier in the week, she’d never have guessed he was a lawyer. But why would he come to