Affairs of the Heart Read Free Page A

dear,” a voice whispered in
Emma’s ear.
    “ Maybe even
one or two,” it continued. Shivers soared through Emma. The
sensation caused her to rub her arms for warmth.
    Samuel! Stop
it or you’ll scare her off, said a scolding female voice that neither Emma nor Kate
heard. I didn’t send Manda’s
journal to her sister for our health, Samuel.
    “ Why don’t
you speak your words instead of think them, Josie?” Samuel Kinsman
looked on in disbelief, frustrated by his partner’s method of
communication.
    Because I
don’t want to take the chance of them hearing us. So think to me,
Samuel! Josie Kinsman stood
on the balcony, bound and determined to make her wishes clear to
her husband.
    Isn’t that
the idea here, Josie? Didn’t Royal ask us to keep watch over our
homestead? Samuel stood
defensively in front of Emma and allowed her to pass through him
unharmed.
    Yes and
no—you know full well that he really wasn’t speaking to us. We
never did let him know we were here—or has your memory faded, as
well? Josie gently reminded
him, then placed her hand lightly on his shoulder.
    Josephine
Marie! Just what is that comment supposed to imply?
    Oh, come on,
Samuel, ever since we’ve been in this state of spiritualness you
haven’t been yourself. Josie
lovingly teased him in hopes of getting his attention off their
house guests for a moment. She knew that Samuel believed his manly
needs had not disappeared through the years, even if he couldn’t
follow through. The man carried the lust for life strong. It was
one of the things that hadn’t died when his body had given into old
age.
    Josie, my
love, why don’t we retire to our bedroom and we’ll just see if I
have ‘it’ or not , Samuel
teased, wrapping his good arm tenderly around Josie’s
shoulder.
    Stop, Samuel.
We have business to take care of here. As much as I’d enjoy
re-experiencing your ways of lovemaking—
    Okay, then
let’s get rid of them NOW, Samuel responded with urgency.
    No! I like
her, Josie pleaded. She
watched as Emma’s eyes admired the interior of the house. Didn’t you notice the way she
touched my curtains?
    No, Josie, I
didn’t. I have been too busy trying to figure out how to get rid of
them, Samuel
replied.
    It was with
such tenderness, it nearly brought tears to my eyes. Josie looked on as Emma strolled
down the hallway, and lightly touched the woodwork along the way.
She traced the faded wood left by paintings long ago locked away.
It was as if she could see what had hung in the place years
ago.
    Josie, you’re
a ghost. You’re not supposed to have those ‘earthly’
feelings, he reminded her,
then gave Josie’s ear a whisper kiss.
    Not now,
Samuel. Hush now, please—they’re just about there, she anxiously pleaded. She followed
Emma and Kate, knowing she had delayed Samuel’s actions.
    It had been a long time
since they’d allowed someone other than family in the house.
Usually by the time prospective guests got to the top of the
stairs, they were visibly shaken.
    Not Emma,
though.
    Josie was more than
pleased with Emma’s reaction to the house and its contents. There
appeared a deep appreciation for the Kinsman homestead in her eyes
and touch. Josie wanted to see how Emma would act in the next room,
their bedroom. Emma’s actions would determine whether she and
Samuel had made a mistake about Samanda’s journal.
    “ This is the
master bedroom, Emma,” Kate said. She escorted her into the
spaciously furnished room. “It has remained undisturbed since the
death of Samuel and Josephine Kinsman.”
    “ Ahhhh” was
all that escaped from Emma when her eyes caught sight of the huge
four-poster bed. She seemed to stroke the carved bedposts with her
eyes. There came a sensual light from her green eyes that reached
out, caressing the crevices of the wood; a look equal to that of a
lover appreciating the object of her passion before foreplay
began.
    Emma walked over to the
bed, and softly fingered the yellowed satin drapes