Free Shadow of Deceit (Shadow #2) by Barbara Goss Page B

was, and how I’d made a terrible decision.  I need you to continue making me a better person.
    I guarantee you can trust me from now on because if I were lucky enough to win you back, I’d never, ever, step out of Biblical principles.  I will get more involved in the church.  I’ll do anything if you will just let me court you again.  You are all I can think about.  I see your face in every store window, in every mirror, and in every stranger’s face.  I hear your voice and a thrill goes through me, making my heart beat faster, and then I realize—I’d imagined it. 
    I love you, Violet Jeffries, and no one else can ever capture me so completely.  I’m on my knees begging. I would give all that I own for just one more smile, and kiss from you.   
    All my love,
    Miles

    Julia’s head pounded, she tried to open her eyes but the light from somewhere hurt her head so badly she shut them tight again.  She wondered if she’d forgotten to pull the shade down when she’d gone to bed the night before.  Why else would the sun be so bright in her bedroom? 
    She finally called out weakly, “Mother?
    No one answered her.   That was strange.  She knew if she called louder her head would ache again.  She called her again, a bit louder.  Still nothing.
    “Julia, you’re awake.” Billy said.
    “Miles?” Julia asked.
    “I’m Billy,” he said.
    “No, your voice is too low to be Billy.”
    “Open your eyes,” he said.
    “I can’t, the light’s too bright,” she said.
    “I’ll close the drape,” he said.
    She heard rustling and even with her eyes closed she could see the room was dimmer.  She slowly opened her eyes.
    “Billy?  How did you grow up so fast?”
    “Huh?”
    “Just yesterday you were twelve.  What happened?  Did I sleep for years?  And why does my head ache so?”
    “Don’t you remember?  You went to Hays to pay off my debts, and never returned. The neighbors went out hunting for you, and found you a half-mile up the road, unconscious.  There was a log nearby and we are guessing the horse tripped over the log and you fell off, or something scared the horse and he threw you.”
    Julia rubbed her temples.  “Billy, I have no idea what you’re talking about.  Get Mother or Miles please, right away.”
    “Julia…mother died years ago, and Miles is living in Abilene.   You were just there with him.  You came here to bail me out of trouble.”
    “Mother’s dead?  Oh no!” Tears rolled down Julia’s face, and Billy tried to soothe her. 
    “Lydia is riding for the doctor now, just hold still.  Calm down, please,” Billy said.
    “I’m scared, Billy.  Nothing is making sense.  I’m confused and my head hurts.”
    Billy took her hand and put it on a lump at the back of her head.  “This is the reason your head hurts.  You hit your head on a rock when you fell.”
    “Just one thing, who is Lydia?” Julia asked.
    “She’s one of your dearest friends.  You met her when we lived in Hays. Lydia was living with the Dutton’s and she came to our house every day with leftover baked goods.  She’s married to the English guy, Geoffrey Grandville.  They have a baby named Edward,” Billy said, with a worried look.
    “I don’t know her…”
    “I think I hear Lydia,” Billy said.  “I’ll be right back.” 
    Billy returned with the doctor.  He introduced himself as, Doctor Hall.  He asked Billy to leave so he could examine Julia.  Billy left and let Lydia know her condition, since she waited patiently in the hall.
    The doctor felt her head, looked into her eyes, ears and mouth.  He took her pulse and listened to her heart.  “How do you feel?”
    “My head hurts.  It hurts to even talk, and the light hurts my head,” she answered.
    “What do you remember about last night?”
    “It’s scary, Doctor, because I don’t remember last night.  And Billy said my mother had died, and Billy is at least five or six years older than when I saw him last,