Free Doubting Thomas (Tarnished Saints Series) by Elizabeth Rose Page A

wanted to run after him, but didn’t.
    “My brother doesn’t lie,” Dan told her. “If he says he didn’t throw a rock, then you must be mistaken.”
    “I saw him throw it,” she said, puzzled as to why they would all stick up for each other, but admiring their loyalty to one another.
    “She’s wrong,” came yet another voice from over by the barn. “I threw the rock, not Josh.”
    Angel looked up to see a boy step out of the shadows. He had the same build as Josh, the same dark eyes and same exact looks. This boy wore a coonskin cap, just like the boy who’d thrown the rock at her. Her heart sank as she realized she’d made a very bad mistake.
    “I’m Jacob,” the boy told her, walking up to her with his arms crossed. “I’m Josh’s twin brother, and you’re going to be in deep shit trouble with my Pa when he gets back.”

Chapter 6
     
     
    Angel stood there with her mouth wide open, not at all sure what to say. She’d just assumed Joshua was Jacob, and in doing so had not only made a false accusation, but made an enemy with more than one of the boys.
    “You . . . you’re twins,” she muttered, sounding utterly foolish.
    “That’s what I said,” snapped Jacob. “You hurt my brother’s feelings, and you don’t even give a damn.”
    “Jake!” Sam interrupted. “Stop swearing. You know what Pa thinks about swearing.”
    “Yeah, I do,” the boy said, his face raised in challenge to his older brother. “He thinks he can do it, but yet none of us can. I’m old enough to do what I want.”
    “Jake,” Dan said, taking the boy by the collar. “Stop with the tough talk while there’s a lady present. Besides, you may be tough, but I’m bigger than you, not to mention in charge while Pa’s gone. Keep it up and I’ll make you scrub the pots tonight.”
    That quieted the boy, but the anger on his face did not subside.
    “I’ve made a terrible mistake,” said Angel. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to Josh and apologize.”
    “No!” spat Jake.
    “It’s not a good idea,” said Sam.
    Daniel eyed her curiously, and she knew she had to win him over to not only apologize, but get a look inside the house.
    “I really don’t mean any harm. I’ll just go apologize to Josh and then I’ll be on my way.”
    She started for the house, with five pairs of feet running after her. Little Elijah kept pace beside her and she couldn’t help but notice the poor child had no shoes. His clothes were thin and torn, and dirt streaked his face. It looked as if he hadn’t combed his hair in a month.
    The twins were as thin as rails, and Zeke, she noticed, had bruises on his knees and arms. Sam limped on behind her, and her heart went out to him to have to live with a bad leg.
    Suddenly, she was wondering if Thomas was the cause of it. Only Daniel looked to be well fed and properly clothed. But he looked tired and overworked, and she wondered just how many chores his father made him do.
    “I don’t think she should go in the house,” said Jake in a hushed whisper to his oldest brother.
    “She’s a girl. There’s only one of her and six of us,” Daniel answered, as if saying they could take her down if need be.
    “She’s trouble,” retorted Jake loud enough to make sure she heard it.
    “I like her,” said Zeke. “She reminds me of Mom.”
    She stopped short at the door, wondering what the boy meant by that comment. Had he meant the mom who just got murdered, or the one that died before that? Either way, she wasn’t sure she liked the comparison.
    She reached for the knob on the cabin door, but Jake stepped in front of her, stopping her from entering.
    “Move aside,” Daniel told him.
    “Pa said she was supposed to leave our land. He’s not going to like this,” Jake answered.
    “She will leave, as soon as she apologizes to Josh,” Dan reassured him.
    “You know what Pa will do to us if he finds out we disobeyed him,” said Sam in a low voice from behind her.
    Angel turned so