Armored Hearts Read Free Page A

He’d need to be careful. The staff was more alert with the old man home.
    Gareth smiled as he drifted off to sleep. He dreamed of flying off and never coming back. But another dream intermingled with that one, filled with a honey-blonde girl and large brown eyes. A girl he’d never seen before and wondered if he’d ever see again.

Chapter 2
4 years later

    Gareth watched nine-year-old Tabitha tuck bits of her dinner into her pockets as Grandfather spoke. Treats for the mutt she’d found . Gareth sighed and kicked her under the table. If Grandfather caught her, he’d ask her why, and then the dog would be discovered. She was already hiding the cat she’d found in the yard.
    Tabitha’s sky blue eyes met Gareth’s. They were just like his grandfather’s eyes, but full of warmth and kindness. Gareth was the image of his father, except for the hazel eyes that belonged to his mother, or so he’d been told.
    Gareth’s look was stern. She could sneak into the kitchen later and get something for the animals. He would help her keep her secret just as she’d kept his. The old man was growing stingier by the day. He had rid Waverly Park of most of its fulltime staff just the month before. Thankfully he’d kept Sarah for Tabitha’s sake. She was fond of the maid and her husband. If Grandfather disposed of the dog and cat, Tabitha would be heartbroken, and Gareth couldn’t allow that.
    “And how are things in the parish?” Grandfather sliced the meat on his plate as he questioned the minister, who came by every Tuesday to join them for dinner.
    Reverend Piper sat up in his chair. “We’ve had several parishioners’ homes robbed in the last week. Mrs. Duncan’s silver spoons were taken, along with Mr. Duncan’s gold watch. It’s dreadful. Just dreadful. These aren’t people with pockets full of silver and gold to spare. Those items were keepsakes—heirlooms. Things they’d probably do better selling for a bite to eat—only to be taken by some hoodlums.” He shook his head and bowed it.
    “What’s been done?” Grandfather asked in a bored tone and never glanced up from his dinner. He didn’t really care about the locals.
    “The authorities have been notified and are looking into it,” Reverend Piper answered, with his mouth full. He swallowed hard and continued, “All the intrusions have been on the east side of the village. Most of those hit are farmers already struggling to make it. Something like this only brings spirits down further.”
    Tabitha chimed in, “What can be done for them?”
    Her eyes were wide with concern. Gareth felt it too but he kept it masked. He was more practiced at hiding his true feelings.
    Grandfather glared at Tabitha, his expression stern. “Children are to be seen and not heard. If you cannot remember that, you will go back to dining in the nursery.”
    Tabitha’s head bowed. “Yes, Lord Pensees.”
    Reverend Piper stammered, “It’s sweet of the child to be concerned, don’t you think?” He looked across the table at Tabitha. “We can pray that God will send help. A guardian to watch over the shire. And for someone to bring work to the town. Farming isn’t sufficient for the people here any longer.”
    Tabitha peeked up at the minister but kept her head bowed. “I will pray for that now.” She closed her eyes in silent prayer.
    Gareth watched, amazed at her sweetness and faith. How could she keep it when she lived in a house run by Grandfather? Hard to believe she was related to the old man at all. She cared about stray animals and desperate people. All she could do was pray, and he knew she would do so every night.
    Her sweetness and desire to help was contagious as Gareth began to think and tune out the old men as they spoke.

    ***
    Reverend Piper had left and Grandfather had retired for the evening, but Tabitha was nowhere to be found. She normally waited by the stairs to keep lookout for Gareth so he could get himself to his room. He checked in