Adele (Angel Creek Christmas Brides #18) - Cynthia Woolf Page 0,24

green made her eyes seem darker. Sometimes she wished she had emerald eyes, like Ginger’s. The only thing she could think of that described the color of her eyes was lettuce, and that comparison wasn’t very romantic. Oh, well, many people thought her eyes were her best feature, so maybe lettuce was a good description.

Adele hurried toward the door.

Edward was getting dressed, too. “What about a kiss for your husband?”

He hasn’t wanted a kiss when we had relations, why should I give him one now? She turned and lifted a brow. “I don’t have kisses for anyone who doesn’t believe me.” Then she left, leaving him with a frown. But she didn’t care. He didn’t trust her and didn’t believe her, so no way she would voluntarily give him a kiss.

*****

Lissa was already in the barn when Adele entered.

“Good morning, Lissa.”

“Good morning.”

Adele folded her hands in front of her. “How is the milking going?”

Lissa turned toward her and smiled. “It’s fine this morning. I think I’ll do the whole bucket. It’s already half-full and my hands aren’t tired yet.”

Adele smiled back. “That’s wonderful. I’ll gather the eggs while you continue.”

She grabbed a lantern from the wall of the barn, lit it and then went out to the chicken coop. She set down the lantern, took the basket from where it hung on the fence and then got a scoop of corn before letting herself in. Inside the fence, she poured the corn into her apron then scattered it by handful all over the yard. When the chickens were out of the coop and eating the corn, Adele went inside and quickly grabbed the eggs from the nests. Two dozen hens lived in the coop, and most of them produced an egg every day. The last nest was still occupied by the meanest hen in the yard. Adele called her Hera because she was the meanest of the Greek goddesses.

She pushed Hera up and grabbed the egg.

But the chicken was fast and pecked her arm.

“You witch. I’ll ask Edward if we can cook you. Then you’ll be sorry you pecked me.”

The hen paid her no mind and went back to preening herself.

Adele hurried out of the coop and tried to see her arm with the lantern light, but it was still too dark. She’d have to wait to get to the kitchen to assess the damage from the peck.

She walked back to the barn and found Lissa was done. The bucket was full. “I’ll trade you.” She smiled as she held up the basket of eggs.

Lissa laughed. “Deal.”

Adele retrieved the milk bucket from under Elsie, picked up the lantern and headed back to the kitchen.

Richard stepped out of the shadows gun in hand. “Come with me, Adele or I’ll kill the little girl.” He aimed his gun at Lissa.

Adele stepped in front of her. “Leave her alone. I’ll come with you, just leave her alone.” She put down the milk pail and knelt down to Lissa, kissed her on the cheek and hugged her. “When I’m gone you run to your father and tell him what has happened,” she whispered and let her go. Standing, she turned toward Richard. “I’m ready.”

“Good. I have two horses tied behind the barn. Come with me.” He took her right arm with his left hand, never letting go of his gun. He led her behind the barn.

When they reached the horses, Adele turned, kneed him in the groin and ran for the barn door. She threw it open and ran straight for the other door.

A shot rang out and she felt a burning in her side. She fell to the ground.

Richard came up to her. “Now, see what you made me do? You’ll probably die, but I won’t leave until I’m sure. If you don’t, you’ll see me again. I don’t give up easily and you will return to New York with me…or die.” He turned and ran out the door.

*****

Edward had made coffee and was putting the pot on the stove to boil.

Ruama laid bacon in a couple of skillets. When Edward walked to the table and sat, she put the skillets on the stove and then stoked the fire under all the burners.

Edward heard a shot, looked at Ruama and ran for the back door.

Lissa ran in as he opened the door. “Daddy. A bad man took Adele.” She pulled on his arm. “You have to save her.”

Edward hurried out the door and heard a horse galloping out of the yard toward the