Page 61 of A Secret Heart
As Mr. Sullivan approached, he looked at the article still pinned to the door. “You wrote that article? While I was away? That’s not what I hired you for.”
The words felt like a blow. Ed’s hand rested on her back.
Mr. Sullivan pivoted away from them, knocking his hat off with one hand and burrowing the other in his thinning hair. “My livelihood. Destroyed.”
“The press can be repaired,” Ed offered.
Mr. Sullivan glared at him, then turned his focus to Rebekah. “You’ve painted a target on the back of both of us,” he spat.
“I—” She couldn’t argue. Not when he was right. It seemed her article had brought the bandit and destruction right to Mr. Sullivan’s door.
From where she stood, she saw the pulse pounding in Mr. Sullivan’s throat. His shaking hand at his side.
“Are you afraid?” she asked.
“Of course I am,” he shouted. “I promised him?—”
Ed went still behind her.
“Promised who?” she asked.
For one moment, his eyes looked like a wild animal’s. Trapped and terrorized. And then a mask slipped over his features. “The bank. I signed a promissory note. How will I repay the mortgage now?”
“The marshal—” Ed started.
“The marshal can’t do anything,” Mr. Sullivan growled.
“Is someone threatening you?” Rebekah pressed.
“Stay out of it.” Mr. Sullivan’s glare landed on her. “You’re fired.”
Rebekah froze.
“Get out.”
Ed tugged her arm. In stunned silence, she let him pull her out onto the boardwalk.
Tillie was sobbing with loud gulps, probably from Mr. Sullivan’s shouting. Rebekah froze. Even the glances from passersby on the street didn’t touch her.
Mr. Sullivan had fired her.
With his arms wrapped around their shoulders—the girls on one side and Rebekah on the other—Ed led them down the street. He handed the girls into the wagon, then clasped Rebekah’s hand. “We’ll go see the marshal. Then figure out what to do.”
His steady presence helped calm the storm inside her. For the second time, he was protecting her. Caring for her.
She wasn’t alone.
* * *
Ed exited the marshal’s office ahead of Rebekah, scanning the boardwalk for any signs of danger as he held the door. Only the usual shopkeepers and pedestrians were on the street, but he couldn’t let his guard down.
He’d dropped Tillie and Jo off at his cousin Merritt’s house earlier, and it was a relief to know they were safe.
“Thank you for coming with me.” Rebekah had her arms wrapped around her middle. She looked lost, staring at the buildings across the street.
He wanted to punch Mr. Sullivan.
“Let’s grab the girls,” he said, reaching out to touch her arm. “I’ll take you to the Boutwell place.”
