Free These Sheltering Walls: A Cane River Romance by Mary Jane Hathaway Page A

his
gaze. He was frowning at her, a look of concern on his face. She remembered
that he thought she had some sort of anxiety disorder.
                “Henry
has archeology students staying at the park for a few months. They’re working
on an excavation project in the former slave homes,” Gideon said into the
silence. “And she’s kindly agreed to help sort that basement full of historical
documents on Trudeau Street.”
                “The
old Finnamore place?” Bix asked. “Why not move all that stuff somewhere nicer. That
house isn’t fit for habitation.”
                “We
just don’t have the room at the archives. And it’s true, from what I
understand, the wiring issues and the structural problems might make it
unsaleable,” Gideon said. “But I have an agreement with the estate that I can
use the basement for now.”
                “Henry,
this is excellent news,” Father Tom said. “I tried to help out a bit, but I’m a
talker. I probably slowed Gideon down more than anything else.”
                Bix
said, “Just don’t take him away from us on Saturdays. Right Father Tom? Bream
fishing is good for the soul. Any other day of the week you two can hole up
together with your dusty treasures.”
                “Oh,
we won’t be working―” Gideon said, speaking at the same time as Henry.
                “No,
I’m sure I’ll be―”
                “―at
the same time,” he said.
                “―working
alone,” she said.
                “Sorry.”
Gideon rubbed a hand over his beard. “We’ll both just work… separately.”
                Father
Tom looked from Gideon to Henry, then back to Gideon. “But you have to show her
where to start, right? You were just saying that. In fact, you said that when I
ran into you on Tuesday and twice just this afternoon.”
                 “I
was trying not to forget.” He was giving Father Tom such a look. “When would be
best?”
                “Anytime.
In fact, later this evening is fine, if that works for you,” Henry said.
                “How
about I came back here around six? Too late?”
                “Perfect,”
she said. She wanted to make the easy for him. He was clearly busy. She saw Bix
nudge Charlie and glanced around the circle. They were probably keeping Alice
and Paul from their trip. “Alice, are you headed out now?”
                “Yep,
we’d better be on our way. We’ll only be gone a week. Call me if you need
anything. And you have Bix’s number?” Alice reached into her purse and took out
a slip of paper. “Paul’s mom lives pretty near and she can run over, too, if
you need anything. I know this place can be sort of scary at night, the way it
creeks and settles. Don’t let it spook you. Or the cats.” She looked up and
gave Mr. Darcy a pointed look.
                “I’m
sure everything will be fine. I’m used to living alone,” Henry said.
                There
was another round of hugging, a few kisses, and then Paul and Alice were out
the door.
                “Hey,”
Charlie said. “Did y’all come to see them, or did you need a book? Father Tom,
I got a new Clive Cussler in yesterday. But you probably already read his last
one.”
                “Actually,
I haven’t,” he said. “I’d love to get it. I came in here to see if I could find
something for my mom. Her birthday is coming up and I want to get her some new
cookbooks.”
                Gideon’s
shoulders tensed. She wondered if he was in contact with his parents or if his
actions had severed those ties forever. She felt sympathy rise up and then
reminded herself that taking responsibility was part of being an adult. So many
times she’d had to handle the fall-out of others’ actions, their lies, their
inability to admit