“Something has come up. I can’t take time to talk about it, but I’m taking the kitten to church with me. I’m hoping someone else can give him a home.” She took the kitten in hand and drew it to her face. She kissed his little head as he mewed.
“But why? I thought you enjoyed him.”
Laura met Will’s gaze. “My father doesn’t want him around. He ... he told his man to take it out while I was at church. He told him to kill it.”
“He what?” Will glanced at the closed door. “But why?”
“I don’t know, and I can’t take time to try and figure it out right now. The Vogels will be here any minute to take me to church. All I know is I can’t risk that horrible man finding him and carrying out his orders.”
“Of course not.” Will looked again at the door. “How will you explain his absence?”
“I don’t know. I suppose, if need be, I’ll tell the truth. That I found a home for him.” She tucked him into the basket and closed the lid. “Hopefully I can get him out to the wagon without anyone questioning me.”
“I’m sorry it’s come to this.”
Laura nodded. “Me too. I know you’ve come to care for him.”
“It’s not me I’m sorry for,” Will replied.
For a moment, Laura just looked at him. His expression was one of sympathy, but it was Will’s eyes that caught her attention most. He seemed to look through to her soul. As if he really understood her feelings in this matter.
There was a knock at Will’s door, and Etta Duffy looked in. “They’re here, Miss Laura.”
“I’m coming.” Laura grabbed the basket and hurried to where the housekeeper stood holding her coat. She handed the older woman the basket and took the dark green coat from her. Slipping into the warmth, Laura found it did little to help the cold that permeated her heart. How could her father be so ruthless and cruel? Surely, he didn’t really mean for the man to kill the kitten. It was too much to accept, much less try to sort out in a rush.
Climbing into the carriage, Laura held the basket tightly as the kitten mewed from within. Carrie was asleep on Marybeth’s lap, and Laura was grateful she only needed to explain to adults.
“I have a kitten in this basket,” she said. “It’s a complicated story, but I need to find it a home and didn’t feel that I could leave him at the house.”
“We were just saying that we could use a cat,” Marybeth replied. “In fact, a kitten is even better. Carrie would love a pet.”
“It’d be better to have a full-grown cat,” Edward chimed in. “The idea is for it to kill mice. This cold weather has really driven them inside.”
“He’ll be a good mouser in time,” Marybeth said. “Why don’t you swing us back by the house, and we can leave the basket there? We have plenty of time.”
Edward said nothing but turned the horse toward their place. Laura felt a huge sense of relief. “Thank you. I would hate it if something happened to him. He’s so little and sweet.”
“A three-year-old, a kitten, and soon a new baby,” Marybeth said, shifting Carrie in her arms. “Sounds perfect.”
“Sounds like more than we bargained for,” Edward muttered.
“Our entire marriage has been more than either of us bargained for,” she said, laughing. He chuckled as well.
Their levity gave immediate relief to Laura’s spirits. She still found it hard to stomach her father’s orders, but at least the kitten would be safe. She could figure out the rest of the matter in time.
Exactly a month after Will’s accident, he received the doctor’s approval to try to use the crutches Laura had found for him. His ribs and left side were still plenty sore, but he had been bed bound for too long and getting up on his feet was what he most wanted now.
“You seem to handle yourself very well,” Laura said as she swept into his room. She was gowned in a forest-green silk that had been trimmed in black cording and lace. The long sleeves were full to the elbow and then fitted to the wrist. It was done up in the new postwar style that eliminated the full belled skirts and had instead a bustled back. She looked quite lovely, and her dark red hair complemented the color of the gown.
“I ... uh...” He tried to move his thoughts away from how beautiful she looked this evening. “I’m doing my best.”
“I’m here to encourage you to join us for dinner. Fathersaid he’d like to know you better, and I know it’s been weeks since you sat at a table.”
“I’d like that too. The doctor said it won’t hurt for me to have my foot down. The swelling should be gone.” Will straightened. “I’m hardly dressed for a formal dinner, however.”
“Well, I can help you with that. You need only to don your coat and you’ll be proper enough.” She went to the wardrobe and opened it. She took out a suit coat that Mrs. Cooper had brought for him along with some of his other things when he’d first taken up residency at the Evans house.
She helped Will into his jacket, and that was when he noticed the scent of her perfume. It was new.
