Free Butterfly Palace by Colleen Coble Page B

“No, Lily. Not going to happen.”
    “Then I’ll do it on my own.” She rose and took a step toward the sidewalk.
    He couldn’t let her do anything reckless. He caught at her hand before she could leave him, then tugged her back onto the bench. “People are noticing our argument. Smile. Try to relax like you’re having a good time.”
    “No one is paying a bit of attention to us.”
    He nodded toward two men smoking cigars by the creek. A young woman sat on a boulder with a child in her arms. “Those two were watching with great interest.”
    Her eyes narrowed as she stared at them. “Who are they?”
    “I don’t know, but we can’t afford to take any chances.”
    “You’re just saying that to try to keep me from getting involved.” She gave a small gasp. “That’s the woman who was attacked the other day. Jane White.” She stood and started toward the group.
    Drew reached for her but missed. He leaped to his feet and hurried after her. They were too close to the group for him to stop her from speaking. He had noticed the men watching his discourse with Lily from the first moment. The young woman had a gruesome cut on her forehead, still purple and swollen.
    Lily smiled when she reached the young woman. “Miss White, how lovely to see you up and about. Are you quite recovered from the attack?”
    The woman gasped when she saw Lily, and she rose unsteadily. “M-Miss. How unexpected to see you.” She glanced at her companions, then shifted the child to the other shoulder. “Yes, I’m finenow. Still a little stiff and sore, but very thankful to be alive. And please, call me Jane.”
    “Only if you call me Lily. I’m Lily Donaldson.” She leaned close to look at the baby. “Who is this little one?”
    “This is my little Hannah. She is six months old.” A tender smile lit the woman’s pale features with an unexpected beauty, and she brushed her lips across the baby’s forehead.
    “She’s beautiful.” Lily glanced at the grass. “What’s this?” She picked up a glass globe containing a butterfly.
    Miss White winced. “I received that a couple of days ago. The butterfly was alive, and I wanted to break the globe to set it free, but I was afraid I’d kill it. By the time my brother, Nathan, got home to help me, it wasn’t moving. I probably shouldn’t have brought it, but Hannah loves to see it. Even though the butterfly is dead, it’s still beautiful.”
    Drew took it from Lily’s hand. “Did you tell the police?”
    Miss White shook her head. “I didn’t think to mention it.”
    The taller man stared them down. He was about twenty-two with a trim brown beard and piercing green eyes. He was neatly dressed in brown pants and a white shirt. “Who are you, and why are you bothering my sister?”
    Jane turned toward him. “This is the young lady who helped me after the attack, Nathan.”
    Nathan’s gaze softened, and he took off his hat. His longish hair curled over his ears. He was probably attractive to the ladies with his soulful eyes and muscular form. “I thank you for that then, miss.” He glanced at Drew. “This your fella?”
    Lily colored and shook her head. “Just an acquaintance.”
    The pang at her words took Drew by surprise. He’d chosen his course long ago.
    Nathan studied him. “I saw you talking to Vesters. Just afriendly warning since you helped my sister. He’s dangerous and you’d do well to stay away from him.”
    Drew lifted a brow. “Dangerous in what way?”
    Nathan turned away. “I’m not saying anything else. Just be careful.”
    This might be the break Drew was looking for. He fixed his gaze on the other man, a fellow in his forties with a straggly blond beard and a rumpled white shirt. “And you are . . . ?”
    The man shrugged. “Just a friend. This is none of my business.” He folded his arms over his chest.
    Lily turned to Jane. “We believe Vesters is associated with the man who killed our fathers. We need to know anything that might help