The four women waited at the top of the stairs until they’d heard Luke and Marshall close the parlor door.
“This way.” Frances led them down the stairs and to the alcove outside Father’s office. She picked up the marble bust and set it aside. “Help me pull out the base. It’s heavy.”
“You always used to hide behind there when we were children,” Maude said, as the three of them “walked” the heavy wooden stand into the hallway.
“So often I almost forgot I knew about this.”
“You think the key will open this?” Judith pointed to the keyhole in the back.
“I do.” Frances removed the skeleton key from her pocket. “Does one of you want to do the honors?”
“You figured this all out,” Doris said. “You do it.”
So Frances opened the drawer. Inside was a folded piece of expensive-looking paper.
“That’s a bearer bond,” Judith said as Frances opened it. “Whoever holds it can turn it in to the issuer and get its value.”
“Half a million dollars,” Doris breathed.
“That’s good,” Maude said, her voice harsh, “since Uncle William did just what Edgar said he might and pilfered our inheritance. There’s only ten thousand dollars left in Father’s account.”
“You should show this to Luke,” Judith said, and the three of them headed to the parlor.
Frances was about to follow but something odd about the drawer caught her attention. She stepped back and compared its depth with its outside size. Going back, she bent over and examined the bottom. There must be a secret compartment. She couldn’t open it without Nick; he’d be furious. He’d love it. She glanced at the dining-room door. Would the doctor have given Nick ether, or would he be conscious? How badly would he be hurting?
Before she could decide, Charles opened the door. Beyond him, she could just make out a very haggard-looking Nick sitting up on the table.
“That’s a tough husband you have,” her brother-in-law said. “He’s just waking up and wants to see you.”
“Can you do me a favor and get this drawer loose?” Frances pointed to it as she hurried toward the dining room. “Please bring it to us.”
“Your husband’s one lucky man,” Doc Turner said as he wrapped up his instruments. “The bullet hit at an odd angle, so it ricocheted up and out. Lost a lot of blood, but I’ve got him all stitched up now.”
“Thank you.”
The older man looked up and met her gaze. “You two have given me an exciting day. That doesn’t happen very often to a man my age. I’m glad it ended well. Now I suppose I should check on your uncle. Charles was telling me about him. That’s some bad business, straight out of the Old Testament.” Doc Turner picked up his bag and strode from the room.
Frances stepped up to Nick, wanting to throw her arms around him but not daring to. He extended his left hand, and she took it. She tried not to touch him too much, but he urged her closer. She buried her face into his neck and let herself cry a little.
“I ain’t never been so scared in my life as when he pointed that gun at you,” he said into her hair.
Frances straightened and wiped her face on her sleeve. “Don’t even talk tomeabout being scared.Iwas the one pressing on your chest to keep you from bleeding to death before my very eyes.”
“It’s not a competition, my love.” Nick met her gaze. Hearing him call her “his love” had become one of her very favorite things. He asked, “Did you mean what you said about loving me?”
“Every word of it.” She took his face in her hands and kissed him, sending up a prayer for God’s gift of Nick’s life.
“I want to make sure I understand,” he said when she straightened. “Since you love me, we’ll be staying married, right?”
“Well, since you won’t stay otherwise, and I’ve discovered I can’t live without you…” Frances heaved out a sigh worthy of a martyr. “I guess we’ll have to.” Her voice tightened, and she blinked rapidly. “Idolove you, Nick.”
“Doc just left and said we should get Nick to bed soon,” Charles said, striding into the room. “I finally got this thing out for you.”
“Thanks.” Frances took the drawer. “Can you get the others to help carry him upstairs to the guest room?”
“Will do.” Charles turned to leave but said over his shoulder, “The rest of us will want to know what else you find.”
“You’ll see it later.” Frances carried the drawer to Nick.
