Free Ana Seymour by A Family For Carter Jones Page A

shoulder a squeeze as she shifted uncomfortably in the hardbacked chair. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I think what my sister needs most right now is some rest. We should say good-night.”
    The three miners had shuffled to their feet and begun mumbling apologies for keeping their pretty landlords up so late when Barnaby appeared, ducking under the parlor entrance curtain. “There’s a visitor at the door,” he told Jennie.
    Jennie’s surprise came from more than the late hour. The only visitors she and her sister had had for weeks were already in the room. “Who is it?”
    “Mr. Wentworth.”
    “Lyle?” Kate asked, her hand fluttering to her throat.
    When Barnaby nodded, Jennie looked at her sister, then said, “I’ll go speak with him.”
    Kate nodded and whispered. “I can’t see him.” The hand moved from her throat to her rounded stomach.
    “He says he wants to see both of you,” Barnaby said. “He says it’s important.”
    Jennie hesitated and the others in the room remainedsilent. Finally Carter stepped over next to Jennie and took her arm. “I’ll speak to him with you. There’s no need for Kate to see him if she doesn’t want to.”
    Kate’s look of gratitude was not lost on Jennie. She herself was feeling grateful for the solid support of Carter’s hand at her elbow. In spite of her brave words to Kate, Jennie had also felt herself affected by the ostracism of the town. It wasn’t easy to be shunned by people you’d known for years. In addition, Carter’s warm hand brought back the moment in the kitchen earlier when he’d kissed her. The sudden memory gave a lift to spirits that had been dampened by the sight of Kate looking so drawn and exhausted.
    “Thank you,” she said to him, starting toward the door.
    “Yes, thank you, Mr. Jones,” Kate said. “But I guess if Lyle’s braved his mother’s wrath to come to this house, the least I can do is hear what he has to say.” She stood, swaying a little, the exertion flushing her cheeks.
    Carter reached out with his free hand to steady her, guided her toward Jennie, who slipped an arm around her waist. “Are you sure, Katie?”
    At Kate’s nod the two sisters went into the front hall, followed by Carter, the Millards and the three miners. There was scarcely room for Lyle Wentworth to enter the narrow vestibule when Barnaby opened to door to admit him.
    His eyes went immediately to Kate’s, then to where her shawl discreetly covered the now noticeable pregnancy.There was a flicker of pain in his eyes, but his voice was businesslike. “Evening, Kate. Evening, Jennie.”
    “It’s a late hour for a social call, Lyle,” Jennie said. She noticed that Lyle was bigger than Carter and softer. Carter’s hand on her arm was strong with long, lean fingers. Lyle’s hands, rubbing across the top of his thirty-dollar felt hat, were short and puffy.
    He nodded. “It’s not a social call. I came to tell you that Sheriff Hammond’s back in town and old lady Billingsley’s after him with the rest of her pack, my mother included.” He turned to Kate with a shrug of apology. “I’m sorry, Kate. She usually listens to me, but Mrs. Billingsley’s so all fired up about you girls…”
    Jennie felt Kate stiffen. “We don’t need to talk about this tonight,” she began, then stopped to stare behind Lyle and out the open door. Sheriff Delbert Hammond, a shotgun cradled in his arms, was marching up their front walk, followed by a veritable army of women.
    Jennie tightened her hold around Kate’s waist. “Don’t let them bother you, sis,” she said quickly in an undertone. “They’re just busybodies with too much time on their hands.”
    “We’ll protect you, Miss Kate.” Brad Connors pushed past Lyle toward the front door, pulling a derringer from his boot en route.
    After a minute’s hesitation, Dennis and Smitty moved to each side of him, forming a flank, pushing Dr. Millard heavily against the hall whatnot.
    Dorie shouted,