11
Laura finished pulling on her gloves before heading downstairs to bid her father good-bye. She was heading out to church despite the deep snow left from the storm. Her father had plans to be gone for the evening as well, so he could hardly complain or forbid her to leave the house based on the weather.
“Father,” she said, coming into his study, “the Vogels will be here shortly, and I’ll be going to church. Do you know what time you plan to be home tonight?”
He glanced up from his desk and shook his head. “Hard to say. Sometimes these meetings go long.”
“Seems a shame to have to have them on the Sabbath.” She pulled on her wool bonnet and began to secure the ties. “I think there must be those who would prefer to do business on other days.”
“It’s really none of your concern, Laura.” He gave her a look that suggested she had crossed a line, but then he smiled. He could so easily change his manner. “My, don’t you look pretty.”
Laura came around his desk to offer a kiss on his cheek.“Thank you, Father. And as for my concerns, I just worry that you’re overextending yourself. You never seem to rest, and I fear you’ll fall ill.”
“Don’t worry about me. I assure you I am healthy and capable. You haven’t had the experience of being in my presence long enough to realize that this is a normal manner for me.”
And whose fault was that? She wanted to ask but didn’t.
“Well, the weather doesn’t help.” She didn’t want to make too much of the snow for fear he might suggest she stay home. “The cold causes all sorts of illness.”
“If I thought that to be true, I’d forbid you to traipse off to church. Now stop your fretting.”
Laura headed toward the door. “I’m sorry. You must remember that I love you and want only the best for you.”
Her father gave her a wave. “I want the same for you. By the way, what say we host a party on Washington’s birthday? I still want to get you properly introduced to my friends, especially my single friends.”
“The twenty-second of February?” Laura considered the fact that she likely wouldn’t get out of this no matter what she said. “I think that would be a good time. Spirits will be high in celebration, and as good Southerners we can hardly host a party on Lincoln’s birthday.” She smiled.
“I’ve never yet celebrated that man’s birthday and never will. Now go on with you. I’ll make the arrangements, and you make sure you have a pretty dress to wear. You know I have a fine collection of ready-made gowns at the store. You should come and pick something out.”
“I have a great many clothes already. I’m sure I’ll have something appropriate.”
Just then, someone gave a light rap on the door andopened it before her father could speak. The man was tall and lanky. He was dressed in a dark brown duster and dark trousers. A black broad-brimmed hat was worn low over his face. There was an air of danger about him, and Laura immediately disliked him.
“Laura, this is one of my men. I need to speak to him,” her father said. “You and I can finish up later.”
“Yes, Father. We can talk in the morning.” She wanted nothing more than to get out of the room. She knew it was probably silly, but the man made her most uncomfortable.
“Yes, yes. Go on with you now.”
She stepped into the hall and pulled the door partway closed. She would have closed it all the way, but strangely enough she heard her father mention the kitten.
“Remember I told you about that blasted kitten? Laura kept it, and I want it gone. While she’s at church tonight, take it out and drown it.”
Laura put her hand to her throat. Was he serious? She knew her father hadn’t been all that welcoming of the kitten, but since it stayed in Will’s room, she hadn’t thought it to be a real problem.
“Do you really want me to kill it?” the man asked.
“I hate that thing. I don’t care what you do with it. I just want it gone. I’ll tell her it ran off.”
“If that’s the way you want it.”
Laura heard her father confirm his desires before going off onto something else he wanted the man to oversee. She hurried down the hall to the kitchen. There she found one of the cook’s market baskets and grabbed it and a couple of dish towels. She’d take the kitten with her to church and find another home for it. She wasn’t about to leave it here to be killed. And no doubt if that was her father’s order, the manwould carry it out. She knew her father well enough to know that his hirelings would heed his orders or risk being fired.
Laura nearly ran into Mrs. Duffy as she was coming out of Will’s room. “I’m so sorry. I’m in a bit of a hurry. Would you mind watching for the Vogels? I need to tend to something, and they should be arriving most anytime now.”
“Of course, Laura.” The woman headed for the entryway. “I’ll get your heavy wool coat ready as well.”
“Thank you.” Laura pushed back the door to Will’s room and immediately spied the kitten on the bed. She closed the door behind her, then hurried to place the basket on the bed.
