Shadow of Deceit (Shadow #2) Read Free

the wrong one. After assuring himself it was his own buggy, he said, “Yes, it is,”
    “It’s beautiful,” she said.  She walked closer to the buggy and ran her palm down the upholstery.  “Very nice.” She used her left hand and he noticed she didn’t wear a ring.  Did she display that hand on purpose?  Then Caleb shook his head to remove the ridiculous notions from his mind.
    Caleb smiled back at her. “Thank you.”
    “Do you suppose you could drop me off at my brother’s?  I wore the wrong shoes today, and my feet are sore.  It isn’t far,” she said.
    “Sure,” he answered.  He was shocked that after seeing him walk she still wanted to be near him. Or, she needed this ride more than he thought.
    She hopped in, and he turned the buggy toward her brother’s house, which was just two blocks down the street.  When he pulled up in front of the little gray house, she stepped down from the buggy, and faced him. “Thank you.  By the way, my name is Julia Croft.  And yours is—?”
    “Caleb Armstrong,” he said.  “Nice to meet you Julia.”
    “See you bright and early tomorrow morning, Caleb,” she said.  Julia turned and walked to the front door of the house, then turned back, and waved.
    Caleb drove home wondering what was different today from yesterday.  His limp hadn’t turned off a woman, and she was attractive. Dare he get his hopes up that he’d finally found someone who wasn’t repulsed by his bad leg?
     
    As soon as Caleb arrived home he walked to his private place.  His hobby was woodworking.  He learned a lot from the men in the mill.  He had a workshop built on the back of his barn.  He made furniture, mostly for himself or for Jonas or his father.  He checked to see if the glue was dry on the table he was making for Jonas and Ivy.  He’d hoped to have it finished by their wedding, but then they changed their wedding date from February to New Year’s Eve.  That didn’t leave him enough time to finish the table. 
    He also worked on a dog with wheels for his niece, Zoe.  Not that she needed more toys, because she was currently being spoiled by two sets of doting grandparents.
    He worked in his shop for several hours before shutting down for the night and heading inside to eat the meal Elsie had left for him, and go to bed.   
    In bed that night, every time he shut his eyes he saw Julia Croft smiling at him with her big green eyes that went well with her auburn hair.  She was lovely.  Dare he even hope?
     
    The first customer to walk into the lumber mill in the morning was Julia, wearing one of her provocative smiles, and a striped walking dress that hugged her slim figure perfectly, and a large hat to match her outfit. 
    “Good morning, Caleb.  I have the money.”  She handed him an envelope, while displaying another heartwarming smile.
    “Good morning,” Caleb replied, admiring her new hairdo.  She’d let her auburn hair down, held back from her face with ivory combs.  Previously she’d worn it in a bun at the back of her head.  Caleb thought her hair was beautiful and longed to touch the tresses.  They were shiny brown with strong red highlights.  He also noticed she wore less make-up and a more practical dress and shoes.
    Caleb counted the money and completed the paperwork necessary for the order.  “Well, we’re all set.  I’ll have Ben deliver before five today, although it might be pretty close to that time.  Will you be there to sign for the lumber?”
    “Yes, I will.” She bit her lower lip, and seemed to be deep in thought.  Caleb wondered if she was troubled by something.
    “Is there a problem?” he asked.
    “Oh!” she said as if he’d jarred her awake.  “I’m sorry. I just thought of another dilemma. Everything with the purchase is fine.   I- I just wish—”
    Caleb raised his eyebrow waiting for her to finish.
    “I wish I knew how to get to Grace Church.  I wanted to talk to the minister there.”
    “It’s not