A Promise to Love Read Free

politely tipped his hat to them and left.
    Ingrid’s eyes followed him. There was something about Mr. Hunter, his concern for her, as well as the calm way he had dealt with Millicent’s accusation, that made her wish she could follow him right on out the door.
    â€œThat tea set will be taken out of your pay, you know,” Millicent hissed when he was out of earshot.
    Ingrid wasn’t at all surprised.

    Shaken by Millicent’s accusations, Joshua Hunter walked to his wagon outside the Bowerses’ home. His daughter Agnes sat on the wooden seat, holding the reins of their patient driving horse, Buttons.
    He had come to town to pay his bills and to pick up supplies. Although he knew that there had been some crazy talk from his mother-in-law about him being responsible for Diantha’s death, he hadn’t expected anyone to take her seriously. A coldness had developed between him and Richard, with whom he had always had a cordial relationship. He figured his grieving in-laws were resentful that their daughter was gone . . . and he was the one left alive.
    But wife killer? Is this what people in town were saying about him?
    No wonder there was going to be an inquest tomorrow into the cause of Diantha’s death! The official who had given him the subpoena had not told him that he was a suspect.
    Overwhelmed with the care of his children, dealing with his own grief, trying to get his fields planted—he had not realized that others might be echoing what Virgie had been saying.
    He knew, of course, that a small town starved for news would manufacture its own, but Diantha’s death had evidently set the gossips’ tongues wagging in ways he had not anticipated.
    When he returned to the wagon, a fight was brewing in the back between two of his little girls, Ellie and Trudy. It seemed like there was always some sort of altercation going on between those two. His wife had not been much of a disciplinarian, but things had gotten worse since she died.
    Unfortunately, he had little idea of how to deal with the girls’ disobedience and perpetual fussing with each other. Give him a regiment of men, and he knew how to lead them and keep proper discipline in the ranks. Give him a battle, and he would fight and, if given half a chance, would probably win.
    He knew how to fight a war, but military battles had not prepared him for a house filled with little girls. Domestic issues left him at a complete loss, which reminded him of that young Swedish woman whom George Bowers had hired. She was definitely having a hard time of it. A whip, for goodness sake! Millicent had been using a whip on her! He didn’t even use whips on his animals. The scene he had walked into had been a shock. He was glad he had been able to interrupt it.
    The hired girl had worn a shapeless brown garment that was faded and worn. She was also as thin as a rail—shockingly thin. There was no excuse for this. George’s store was well stocked and prosperous. The Bowerses could certainly afford to give her a new dress and enough to eat.
    George was a decent enough man, except for being a complete pushover when it came to his wife. Joshua had never particularly cared one way or another about Millicent, but now he felt a real revulsion toward her.
    â€œPa! Pa! Ellie’s a-hurting me!”
    â€œAm not!”
    â€œ Now what’s going on?” Joshua was exasperated. “What are you two fussing about now?”
    Twelve-year-old Agnes seemed unperturbed by the battle taking place between her sisters in the back of the wagon. She rolled her eyes and shrugged at his questioning glance.
    â€œEllie keeps taking my marble.” Trudy, his six-year-old towhead, wiped her nose on her sleeve and then pointed her finger at her sister.
    â€œWhy are you trying to take your sister’s marble, Ellie?”
    â€œI gots to have me somethin’ to play with.” Ellie, a solid little five-year-old with curly brown