Page 34 of A Late-Blooming Rose
A boy raced through the doorway, still carrying his schoolbooks tied up in a strap, wearing a blue cap on his head. He had intelligent, azure eyes and windswept mink-brown hair. “Grand-père, there’s news!”
Andre reached over and plucked off the cap. “News can wait until you make your bow to Miss Collier.”
With a bob of his head, Micah greeted her. “Ma’am—” the boy rattled off “—welcome to Sweetwater Springs—” he turned to grab Andre’s arm. “The posse’s back! They’ve caught the bad guys! Everyone’ssafe!” He paused for breath.
With a thunderstruck expression, Andre placed a hand over his heart, his face paling. He closed his eyes, and his shoulders caved. He gasped for air.
Rose glanced at Andre, her stomach tight, not knowing if she should go to him and concerned that good news would bring on such a reaction.Then again, he has been carrying a great weight of guilt and fear. Surely that combination can’t be good for a man who’s had a heart attack.
Before Rose could move closer, a man entered. Probably the Reverend Joshua Norton she suspected from the resemblance to Micah.
After one look at Andre, in two strides the minister reached his side and took his arm. “Micah, bring a glass of water,” he ordered. “Do you need your medication?”
Medication?Rose inhaled a sharp breath.
Andre waved a hand. “I’m fine, I’m fine.” His voice sounded strained. “Just a bit shocked, is all. In a good way.” He straightened. “Had to send up a quick thanks to the Almighty.”
Micah dropped his books, ran around the desk, and seized the pitcher, pouring a glass. More slowly, the boy brought the water over and handed the drink to Andre.
He sipped.
With relief, Rose watched the color return to his face.
“You’re sure everyone’s all right?” Andre asked, his tone anxious.
“I’ve just come from the parsonage. My parents already met with Sheriff Granger and Deputy Red Wolf, and I have some unexpectedly good news arising from this tragedy that will tickle your fancy. Come into the parlor, and I’ll tell everyone at the same time.”
The minister flashed Rose a warm smile. “In case you haven’t guessed, I’m Joshua Norton, and you must be the long-awaited Miss Collier. You and your niece are most welcome in our home, in our town.” After a studied glance at Andre, Joshua touched Rose’s arm and extended a hand toward the doorway, obviously ushering her from the room.
Rose wanted to linger, making sure Andre was really as fine as he claimed to be. But she was just a guest here and had no right to any but the shallowest concerns about her host.
Reluctantly, she allowed herself to be guided away from him.
CHAPTER NINE
Andre waited until Rose followed Joshua from the room before he slipped the small bottle of digitalis from his pocket, pulled off the top, and popped a pill into his mouth, washing it down with more water. First came a wave of dizziness, then a painful stricture closed off his breathing.
Always frightening.Today, he supposed, with Rose’s arrival and being near her, topped by news of the robbers, had been a bit too much.
Once he swallowed, he allowed himself to feel the tremendous relief Joshua’s news brought him.Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord!
Micah watched him with an anxious expression.
Seeing the fear in the boy’s eyes gave Andre a pang. He wished his weak heart didn’t worry his loved ones so. He’d do anything to spare his family the pain of watching him slowly die. “I’m all right,mon fils. Truly, I am.” He fisted his hand to his chest. “Just the good news gave the old ticker a wallop, is all.” He dropped an arm around the boy’s shoulders. “Come on. I’m anxious to hear your father’s story of our victorious posse.”
As Micah had done before when Andre felt shaky, when they walked down the hallway the boy remained close and offered his shoulder for him to lean on. He availed himself of the offer for a bit, giving himself a chance to catch his breath, but straightening when they approached the parlor, not wanting Rose to see additional signs of his debilitation.
When they didn’t have company, the family tended to use one corner of the double parlor with two wing-backed chairs adjacent to the sofas along the wall near the fireplace, and a butler’s table between them. The balloon-back chairs scattered throughout the room could be easily moved to accommodate guests.
Delia perched on the edge of one of the sofas, hands clasped on her lap as if to contain her excitement, her expression more animated than he’d seen all week.
Cora, who’d pulled her wet hair into a bun and wore a fresh dress, sat next to her.
Micah leapt toward Delia, and then apparently remembering his manners, slowed to drop to the sofa on her other side. But his body quivered in obvious eagerness to hear the story.
Joshua pulled over one balloon-backed chair between the sofa and the wingback chairs, then gestured for Rose to take a place. Then he sat in his usual wingback chair.
Andre pulled his own chair to an angle where he could observe everyone, especially Rose, and took a seat. His heartbeat slowly calmed.
