Behind His Blue Eyes Read Free

article in the contest—other than the fact it would have been even more dishonest than offering it for publication—was that she guessed Richard would be submitting his own paper on cave drawings in the southern Appalachians. He was so desperate to establish himself as a leading American historian it was almost painful to watch. Sadly, he was a much better researcher than writer.
    Uxley waved the others toward the door. “We must be off, Miss Pearsall. Our congratulations again to your father.” As misters Beamis and Collins filed out, he glanced back at Richard, who hadn’t moved. “You coming, Villars?”
    â€œI’ll be along in a moment.”
    After the front door closed behind them, Richard frowned at Audra, then at the buggy house. Thankfully, neither the Abrahams nor Father were in sight. “Was that your father I saw, Audra?”
    â€œMy father? When?”
    â€œJust now. Out back.”
    She pretended confusion while her mind raced for a plausible lie. Then she smiled and shook her head. “You must have seen Uncle Edward, Father’s older brother. He took ill not long after my aunt died, and has been slow to recover. We’ve taken him in until Father returns.”
    â€œI could have sworn he was the professor.”
    â€œThey do look much alike, don’t they? Although since his illness, Uncle Edward has become alarmingly weak. I’m not sure how much longer we can keep him here without proper nursing. But I would hate to put him in a home. They’re so awful. I’m quite worried about him.” She realized she was babbling but couldn’t seem to stop herself. She was a horrid liar.
    Richard’s dark gaze bored into her in that intense way she had always found intrusive. “Maybe on my next visit I might meet him. Next week, perhaps?”
    â€œThat would be lovely.” The muscles in her face trembled with the effort to hold her smile. “But do let us know when you plan to come, won’t you, so we can be sure he’s up to a visit. As I said, he’s quite frail.”
    â€œOf course. Until then.”
    As he let himself out, Audra collapsed into the chair at the desk, tears further blurring her faulty vision. Now what was she to do?
    Winnie came in, still winded from her chase out back. “What happened?”
    â€œRichard Villars saw Father. I told him it was my uncle Edward, but I don’t think he believed me. He’s invited himself back next week to meet him. What should I tell him?”
    â€œThe truth.”
    Audra pressed fingertips against her throbbing temple. “I fear it’s gone too far, Winnie. If Richard tells Uxley, he’ll feel honor-bound to bring my deception to light. Father’s reputation will be ruined and all his hard work will be forever shrouded in doubt. And if I go to jail for fraud, you and Curtis will be on the street and Father will be shuffled off to one of those wretched institutions for mentally impaired indigents. I can’t allow that to happen.”
    â€œMr. Villars care enough to propose to you last year. Maybe he still take you.” Winnie gave Audra a critical look. “’Specially you fix up some.”
    Audra doubted it. Richard didn’t like being thwarted and had taken her refusal hard. But how could she have accepted him—even if she’d wanted to—without revealing Father’s dementia? And if he found out she’d been lying to him and had cheated him out of a coveted award, there was no telling what he might do.
    â€œIt’s too big a risk, Winnie. Richard has much to gain by exposing Father, and you know he has always been ambitious.”
    â€œThen leave.”
    She looked up in surprise. “Leave? How? You know I have barely enough money to keep the four of us fed. And even if I could afford it, where could we go?”
    Winnie dug through the waste bin, then straightened, the sealed envelope Audra had thrown