Free Behind His Blue Eyes by Kaki Warner Page A

patted her arm. “While we await word on that employment opportunity I mentioned, we’ll find a better place. This is horrid.”
    Horrid, yes. And lonely, and gloomy, and beyond rustic.
    But it was also peaceful, and much safer for Father than living on a busy city street. And it was hers. Until the mosquitoes came, she could live with that.
    By the end of the first week, the cabin was livable. The Abrahams took the curtained alcove off the main room. Audra and Father took the second room, which Audra furnished with two small, slightly battered hotel beds separated by a long curtain to give the illusion of privacy. It was a struggle to fit four adults and a dog into such a small house, but they managed.
    Several days later, when Audra was picking up supplies at the mercantile, Lucinda popped in to invite the four of them to dinner at the hotel. Apparently, it was a tradition among the “ladies” and their families to dine together after Sunday church services.
    â€œIt will be a boisterous crowd, as always.” Lucinda counted off the attendees other than her husband, herself, and Audra’s four. “The sheriff and his wife—Declan and Edwina Brodie. They’ll bring their five children—a new baby and four by Declan’s first marriage, and a rowdy group if there ever was one. Prudence Lincoln, Edwina’s half-black half sister will be there—her last gathering until she leaves for Indiana in a few days. Thomas Redstone will accompany her if he’s not off tracking whoever is causing all the problems with the sluice. The Wallaces aren’t back from Texas yet—Angus is a Scottish earl and Maddie is an English lady—they’re on a photography expedition. What does that come to? Fifteen? Oh, and Mr. Hardesty will be joining us, too. That makes sixteen.”
    Audra’s reservations must have shown on her face.
    Lucinda chuckled. “It won’t be as bad as it sounds. Especially since my guardian, Mrs. Throckmorton, and her two companions are away in Denver until next month. That cantankerous old dear can turn any gathering upside down.”
    â€œBut so many people . . .” Since Father’s illness, Audra had avoided social gatherings, and until the trip here, he had rarely left the house except for an occasional buggy ride in the park. “I’m not sure Father—”
    â€œHe’ll be fine. Certainly less disruptive than the younger Brodie children, who, fortunately, will be at another table.”
    â€œWhat about Winnie and Curtis?”
    â€œWhat about them?” Lucinda’s smile gave way to a frown. “Surely you’re not thinking that because they’re Negros they won’t be welcome?”
    â€œWell . . .”
    Lucinda gave a derisive snort—which was unsettling, coming from such a serene-looking woman. “We’re the last people to cast stones, Audra. Heavens, you’ll be sharing a meal with an Irish orphan who lived in a brothel, a Cheyenne Dog Soldier, several unruly children, a near-mute sheriff, a rather emotional Southerner, her stunning mulatto half sister, and a man who was once hanged and later fought for money. Do you truly think the addition of a couple of Africans will make a difference?” She laughed heartily at the notion.
    Audra blinked at her. “Who lived in a brothel?”
    â€œNever mind. Just meet us at the hotel at ten on Sunday. We’ll all walk to church together, weather permitting.”
    A parade of misfits off to worship the Lord. Add a muttering old man and a woman experienced in forgery and fraud, and the farce would be complete.
    * * *
    Sunday dawned clear and sunny—although Audra wasn’t entirely certain of that until the buggy broke out of the trees and rolled into sunshine. The air grew pleasantly warm, lacking the blustery winds that had moaned through the eaves during the previous few days, and the chill that had