Free Between Two Worlds by Stacey Coverstone Page A

oak staircase, and a glass chandelier that
hung from the high ceiling. A hutch with glass doors, which housed a collection
of china plates with a pink floral pattern, stood against one wall of the
foyer, and several potted plants were scattered about on the floor. A mirror hung
on the wall, but it was covered with more black fabric.
    “Thank you, Lucinda,” Gabriel said.
    Delaney’s head tilted.
    The woman giggled again and explained. “I’m not Mrs. Quinn. My
name is Lucinda Evans. Come in! Come in! Please have a seat in the parlor.” She
led them into the front room, which was bedecked with exquisite furnishings. A
deep red velvet loveseat with claw feet sat in front of floor-to-ceiling
windows, which were graced with lace curtains. Two armchairs, covered in the same
velvet, stood guard on each side of the loveseat. On one wall was an upright
piano, and along the other wall was a small game table with a chess set on top.
A bookcase held volumes of hardbound books, and several small tables with etched
glass whale oil lamps atop them had been placed strategically about the room.
The plank floor was covered with a huge red, navy and beige oriental carpet
with fringed edges.
    “Please, have a seat. Charlotte will be with you soon,” Lucinda
said. “She has her hands deep in dough at the moment.” She showed them the
palms of her own hands, which were white with flour.
    Delaney and Gabriel sat opposite each other in the armchairs. “I
apologize for assuming you were Mrs. Quinn,” Delaney said.
    “No need.” Lucinda brushed her hands against her apron. “I’m a
border myself. I was just helping Charlotte in the kitchen with pies for
tonight’s dessert. She’s running late getting dinner on.”
    “Oh. I’m sorry to be interrupting the two of you at such a busy
time.”
    “Don’t be silly. We were hoping we’d get a chance to meet you in
person. We just didn’t know it would be so soon. She and I saw you save the
little boy earlier today. We happened to be sitting on the porch having a cup
of tea when those horses went wild. It was truly a brave thing you did. We’re
all so grateful to you.” Lucinda’s eyes crinkled as if she were about to tear
up.
    “Thank you. Anyone would have done the same thing. I just happened
to be at the right place at the right time. I’m glad the child wasn’t hurt.”
    Lucinda’s face was as round as the moon and just as bright.
Delaney already liked her. “Oh, he’s fine,” she said. “I think children must be
like cats.  They have nine lives, and probably more to spare. It’s a good
thing, too. They can get into a lot of mischief without even trying.” The three
of them chuckled and then Lucinda excused herself. “I’ll go get Charlotte. Can
I offer you a cup of tea or coffee while you wait?”
    “I’m fine, thanks,” Delaney said.
    “Dr. Whitman?”
    “None for me either.”
    Lucinda left the room. When she was out of hearing distance,
Delaney whispered, “She’s so cheerful. I really like her.”
    Gabriel nodded in agreement. “Lucinda’s a sweetheart. I don’t know
her well, but every time I see her, she’s always friendly.”
    “What’s her story?”
    “I don’t know much,” he answered in a quiet voice. “All I’ve heard
is that she came to Phoenix from Kansas a few years ago as a mail order bride.”
    Delaney’s mouth opened in surprise. “You don’t say! What
happened?”
    “Apparently she got off the stage, took one look at her future
husband, and turned tail and ran.”
    Delaney chuckled,  picturing the scene. “What was wrong with the
guy? Did he have one big eye in the center of his forehead or something?”
Memories of all the duds she’d dated in the past few years flashed through her
mind. She leaned in toward the doctor to hear the juicy details.
    “Apparently the gentleman smelled.” He didn’t bother to hide a
grin.
    Delaney sighed and nodded knowingly. She’d been there before.
“That’s too bad. She came all the