Free To Love and Cherish by Tracie Peterson Page B

hand to her bodice and shook her head. “He’s truly going to be an embarrassment to your family name, isn’t he?”
    Even Mrs. Mifflin’s unkind comments couldn’t crush Melinda’s pleasure at having her brother return to the city. Besides, when the wealthy residents of Cleveland realized her parents had died penniless, they’d crossed the Colson name off their social lists faster than it took to ring their servants for a pen. There was no longer a family name for Lawrence, or her, to embarrass.

CHAPTER 7
    October 1898
    Sharing supper with the O’Sullivans had become a time Evan cherished. Being with the older couple always made Evan feel cared for. It calmed his spirit in a way he couldn’t explain. Tonight, however, there was a storm brewing, and no one felt even the slightest sense of calm. Only moments before, Garrison O’Sullivan had made his way outside to check the skies.
    He returned with a look of worry and addressed Harland, who was eating with them, as well. “Wind’s picking up a little more, Harland. I’m thinkin’ ya may be right about gettin’ the animals to safety. I’ll get on down to the barn and saddle a couple of horses. If y’er a mind to, you can come and help me move the rest of the horses and the cattle to the pasture. We can only hope they won’t go wanderin’ too far when the storm moves in.” He grabbed his cap from a peg near the door. “If we lose the livestock, there’s gonna be more than a wee bit of complainin’ from the owners.”
    Emma waved a dish towel in the air. “Be sure and take care of the milk cows, Garrison. There’s plenty of folks dependin’ on milk from the dairy during the winter months.” Her lips tipped up in a grin. “And I depend on ’em all year round.”
    â€œI do na need ya telling me how to do me job, Emma, darlin’. I’ll be taking care of all the animals. I know full well they’re important to everyone—you and me included.” Garrison slapped his hat on his head. There was an edge to his voice that Evan knew had nothing to do with his irritation at Emma and everything to do with the storm.
    â€œI’ll be with you as soon as I give Evan some instructions.” Harland turned toward Evan. “I want you to go over to the workers’ quarters and roust the fellows over there. Between all of them, maybe they can get around and make sure everything is secure. Have several of them check the clubhouse to see that shutters are closed good and tight and the doors secured. Send the others to check as many of the cottages as you can. Close and tighten shutters on any that need it.”
    Most of the cottages had been shuttered when the owners went north for the summer. Still, there were a few, like the Mifflins, who had departed in a rush and might not have checked to see that their cottages had been properly secured by their servants.
    â€œYou go to the boathouse. Take Alfred with you. He’ll listen to you, and you’ll need help in there.”
    Evan nodded. Only a dozen men lived on the island this time of year. The seasonal workers returned home when the guests departed at the end of winter, and the rest of the workers who helped with painting and maintenance during the off-season months lived in Biscayne and arrived by boat each morning. Those men had already departed for the night.
    Alfred had the same opportunity to go home to Biscayne each night. But with a drinking, mean-spirited father, he preferred living in the workers’ quarters year-round. Each payday Alfred would take the launch across the river and give his wages to his father, and then he’d return to the island. He was far from their best employee, but Evan had a soft spot for him. Probably because the young man wanted to please his father but never could. Evan had felt the same way until he’d come to Bridal Veil and met Harland. Not