Free Corner of the Housetop: Buried Secrets by Leen Elle Page B

yard towards the carriage house where Devon was waiting with Blueberry hitched to the wagon. As he went, he noticed Catherine sitting on the porch. Atty was close beside her, fanning her lightly.
    Feeling a surge of bravery at knowing she'd been angry on his behalf, he smiled, tipping his hat to her. "'Afternoon, Miss Catherine," he said.
    Smiling back, Catherine said, "'Afternoon, Derek."
    She still looked sickly pale and there were dark circles under her puffy eyes, but somehow she was beautiful again.
     
     
     
     

Chapter Six
     
     
     
    On the way to town Derek couldn't get the picture of Catherine out of his head. The way she was sitting there on the porch with her oddly white hands folded in her lap, her dull hair pulled away from her pale face. Despite it all, the thing that stood out most was the way her eyes could still light up when she smiled. Even if it was only a small light.
    Trying to make conversation, he asked, "Do we need to stop at the general store?"
    "Yeah."
    Derek looked at him for a minute before glancing at the brook they were passing. So that was all the answer he was going to get? All right. He sighed contently, leaning against the low seat back. The heat seemed to finally be breaking and as they got closer to the coastal town a cool breeze was blowing in more strongly off the water.
    "I bet Catherine would feel better if she could get off that farm. Jonathan should bring her out to the ocean for a couple hours."
    "Girl's lucky she can git out of bed," the man grunted, clicking the reigns a little.
    "She didn't look so bad this morning when I saw her. A little tired, but that's about it."
    Devon made an indistinct noise in the back of his throat by way of answer.
    Ignoring him, Derek looked back out over the brook, smiling to himself as they passed the Chandler Farm. It was the widest farming property in the area, supplying most of the needs of the people of Shady Meadows, as well as producing enough for Mr. Chandler to send shipments north to Charlestown and Richmond once a week. The sprawling fields and healthy vegetable patches spread along both sides of the road, covering the flat landscape with squares of green and gold as far as the eye could see.
    "Nice day, isn't it?"
    "I suppose."
    Derek looked at him and laughed. "You suppose? It's a perfect day." Already feeling better from his morning with Gabriel and his smile from Catherine, Derek had all but forgotten his conversation with Jonathan. Looking sideways at Devon again, he couldn't help but notice how unaffected the man seemed at the perfect weather.
    "Are you still mad at me for yesterday?"
    No answer.
    "I'm sorry about the thing with Blueberry. And I know, I know. 'Sorry never did nothin','" he said in a poor imitation of Devon. "But I am. I swear I won't drop anything on either of the horses. No matter how tempting it might be," he added, thinking of Lady Sarah Mary-Ruth.
    "We'll see," was all he said.
    Derek leaned back, his fingers laced behind his head, and watched the clouds. There weren't many of them, but they were dark around the edges and gathering fairly quickly. It looked like they were finally going to get the storm Derek felt they so desperately needed.
    Devon seemed lost in his own thoughts, not offering any conversation.
    Wonder what he thinks about when he's so quiet all the time , Derek mused.
    "When we git into town you just stay by me. Don' need you wanderin' off and causin' trouble."
    "Me? Cause trouble? You've got some sense of humor, old man." When Devon glared at him warningly, he just laughed a little. "I'll be a model citizen," he promised.
    Grunting in what might have been skepticism, Devon snapped the reigns once more to hurry Blueberry along.
    They rode the rest of the way to town in silence.
    As they came into town, Derek looked around. There were people in the shops, and hurrying from building to building. Children and horses dotted the street. The sunlight that streamed from between the gathering clouds