Surrender Your Heart

by Marie Higgins

  She forced her legs to work this time and she stepped around him. He kept watching her the whole time. When she reached the door, she stopped. “I forgot to tell you that I’m proud of what you did today.”

  His gaze narrowed in question.

  “You know,” she continued, “becoming one of the sheriff’s deputies. I really hope you find some answers now.”

  Finally, he moved, but it was toward her, only stopping when he reached her. He rested his shoulder against the doorframe.

  “You were proud of me? Why?”

  “Because of your devotion to find out the truth. It shows that you really have a heart somewhere in there.”

  Without thinking, she placed her hand on his bare chest. Immediately, her palm burned from the intimate touch. He took a quick breath, which made her quiver inside.

  She should really yank her hand away, but then she didn’t want him to know she’d just felt the jolt of attraction bouncing back and forth between them.

  Just like before when she touched him, he covered his hand over hers, pressing it to his chest. Her breathing accelerated. Oh dear! What had she done now?

  SEVEN

  Adam was spellbound by Emily. There was something different about her tonight. Perhaps it was because she looked more like a woman in a nightdress that emphasized the gentle curves of her body...or maybe it was the way her long blonde hair hung around her shoulders...or it was the way she gazed at him in that adoring way of hers. Perhaps it was a combination of all three.

  Being with her this afternoon made him think about her differently, as well. Megan and Flynn took to Emily right away. Watching her play with the children made him remember when his own dear deceased wife, Mary, had played with their child. The love in Mary’s face had been evident, just as love glowed in Emily’s eyes as she laughed with the children.

  Now, as he stood so close to Emily with her hand on his chest, he didn’t want her to move. Desire strummed through his body, and he hadn’t had that feeling for five years. His mind argued that he couldn’t feel this way toward Emily, and yet, his body reasoned that he’d been lonely long enough.

  He mentally shook away the confusing thought. He couldn’t fall in love again. He was a jinxed man. Everything he cared for and loved had been taken from him. Going through that pain again would surely kill him.

  Adam expelled the pent-up breath he’d been holding and nodded. “Yes, I do have a heart, but as of late, I’ve been protecting it from getting hurt.”

  Even as hard as it was for him to pull away from her, he did. Her hand dropped, and disappointment washed over her face.

  “I understand,” she said in a shaky voice.

  “Good night, Emily.”

  “Good night, Adam.”

  As she left the room, her steps were hurried. Sighing heavily, he dragged his fingers through his hair and walked to the kitchen table. Her uneaten apple sat near the edge of the table. Hating to see food go to waste, he picked it up and finished eating it.

  Their meetings in the kitchen after dark would have to stop. Seeing her look so alluring tonight about drove him mad. He’d wanted her so much at that moment. She’d practically devoured him with her sultry gaze as it moved from the top of his head slowly down the length of his body, pausing in the area of his chest.

  Being a gentleman, he should have closed his shirt, and yet he enjoyed the way she had stared so openly at him with that spark of interest in her glorious sapphire eyes. It’d been too long since he’d seen a woman look at him that way. If they had, he hadn’t noticed.

  Stretching his arms above his head, he yawned. Maybe he would be able to sleep now. He could only hope.

  He walked out of the kitchen and toward the stairs, but from within the front room, he heard a noise. Changing direction, he moved toward the noise, taking careful steps. Slowly, he buttoned his shirt. If someone else was in the house, he definitely didn’t want them distracted as Emily had been.

  Hannah sat on the loveseat, rocking back and forth as she clutched a man’s shirt in her hands. Soft sobs came from her as she stared at the wall.

  His heart broke. He hated seeing her this way, knowing he felt the same emotion for losing his only brother. Helplessness swept over him, and the only thing he could think about doing was sitting by her and sharing her grief.

  He moved toward her slowly, not wanting to startle her, but the floor creaked and she jumped. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, and her cheeks were wet. She wore her nightdress and wrapper, and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail.

  “I...didn’t mean to wake you,” she said.

  “I was already awake and in the kitchen.” He sat beside her. “If it makes you feel any better, I understand how you’re feeling. I miss him, too.”

  Her bottom lip quivered. “I want him back.”

  “I know.” He slipped his arm around her shoulders and she fell against his chest. He was grateful he’d buttoned up his shirt now.

  “I don’t think I can do this by myself.” Her voice cracked.

  “You’re not by yourself. You have me and your sister. You have Father Brian, and all the other townsfolks who knew Jacob and loved him.”

  As he stroked her hair, he felt his shirt dampening from her tears.

  “It’s just so hard.”

  “Yes, it is,” he whispered. “But let’s support each other instead of trying to deal with this on our own. I know I won’t be able to handle this if not for you...and Emily.” He added that last part in almost hushed tones.

  Hannah sniffed and raised her head. Their gazes met and held.

  “That’s right. You lost your wife a few years ago.”

  He nodded. “Mary and my son, Phillip.”

  “How...how did you get through it?”

  He shrugged. “The pain is still there, but I’ve masked it for so many years. Now I want answers, and I know that finding answers will help me finally put them to rest.”

  She wiped her eyes. “Is that why you wanted to help the sheriff?”

  “Yes, to find answers about what happened five years ago, and answers to what happened to Jacob.”

  She cleared her throat. “I think that would help me, too.”

  “Then are you strong enough to relive that night with me? I need to know every detail so that I’ll know what people to question.”

  She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “I’ll try.”

  He gave her an encouraging smile. “Do your best, but if it’s too much, let me know and we’ll stop.”

  “All right.” She wiped her wet eyes again as her gaze dropped to her lap. “Jacob and I had been to the opera. We had previously arranged for a hackney to take us home.”

  “A...hackney?”

  “Yes, a hackney carriage. The man who owns the small company had lived in England, which was where he had gotten the idea.”

  “How brilliant.” He nodded.

  “Our hackney was waiting for us,” she continued, “we climbed inside, and the driver took off.”

  “Did you notice anything about the driver? Was he drinking whiskey?”

  “No.” She paused as she stared at his throat. After a few moments she blinked and met his eyes again. “However, I do remember wondering why his coat looked so large on him, like it was the wrong size.”

  “Very interesting. Was he the same driver that had taken you to the opera?”

  “Yes. He wore the uniform coat that the drivers of the company always wear, but on him it looked too large.”

  “Then what happened.”

  Hannah shifted on the sofa, pulling away from him but turning her body to face him.

  “The first part of the ride home seemed fine, but gradually, the vehicle kept getting faster, and soon Jacob and I were being tossed on the seat. Jacob tried to yell up to the driver to slow down, but the next thing we knew, the carriage turned, and we were rolling around inside.”

  She paused again and her throat convulsed as though she was holding back from cryi
ng. She fisted her hands into Jacob’s shirt again.

  “During one of the rolls, the door opened,” her voice shook, “and Jacob tried to close it. He was also trying to keep me from being thrown out.”

  Tears burned Adam’s eyes. He could picture it clearly, and he experienced the same fear his brother must have been feeling.

  “I must have hit my head on the seat—or something—because the next thing I know, I was being carried up a ravine on a medical stretcher. The pain in my head was so fierce I could scarcely open my eyes. Many people had gathered around us. When I finally realized what must have happened, I called out for Jacob.” Tears fell from her eyes again. “I saw the saddened expressions from those around us, but I didn’t want to believe. I started yelling for Jacob, screaming his name.” Her voice broke and she looked away.

  Adam needed to stop her. Tightness consumed both his throat and chest, making it hard to breathe. The pain she’d felt was real, just as real as when he searched through the crowd surrounding his burning house, trying to find his wife and son.

  He touched her arm. “You don’t need to say anymore,” he said softly. “I know exactly how you feel.” He hugged her to his chest again. Her body shook with silent sobs. “But now I know where to start my questioning. Tomorrow morning, I’ll go visit The Hackney Carriage Company.”

  EMILY WATCHED HANNAH as she moved around the kitchen, making breakfast for the family. The positive change in Hannah was quite noticeable, and Emily knew why.

  Last night, after she’d left Adam and returned to her room, she realized she’d forgotten her apple. As she quietly stepped down the stairs, she heard voices in the sitting room...and then saw her sister and Adam in an embrace.

  Jealousy reared its ugly head, making Emily think the worst. Before she could watch anymore, she turned and hurried back up the stairs. Sleep had been impossible after that. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Adam with his arms around Hannah as he gently stroked his palm down her ponytail. Emily’s stomach had churned all night long. Mixed feelings swirled inside of her. Was her sister just lonely and taking advantage of Adam? Or had Adam been in love with Hannah the whole time she was married to his brother?

  Apparently, last night’s cuddle had affected Hannah. After she had the food on the table and they all started eating, Hannah smiled at her children more, and a few times Hannah laughed at something Megan said. Emily caught her sister watching out the window quite often, as well...as if she was looking for someone. Was she waiting for Adam, perhaps?

  Once the meal was over, Emily helped her sister clean off the table and wash dishes. Staring at the dishwater, Emily wondered if her trip to Savannah had been a wasted trip. It appeared that Adam had helped Hannah more than Emily could.

  “You’ve been quiet this morning,” Hannah said, breaking the silence.

  Emily raised her gaze and met her sister’s confused stare. “I’m sorry.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  “No.”

  “Are the children bothering you?”

  Emily shook her head. “They are complete angels.”

  “What about Adam? Is he getting irritable?”

  Emily froze. “Uh...why would you say that?”

  Hannah smiled and touched Emily’s arm. “I noticed the way the two of you acted toward each other when you first arrived. And Brian hinted that the two of you exchanged some rather...unpleasant words on the train.”

  Chuckling lightly, Emily nodded. “Yes, that did happen, but I think Adam and I are past that. We played with the children yesterday, and we didn’t argue once.”

  Hannah’s expression relaxed. “I’m pleased to hear that. He’s a really sweet man. You just need to be patient with him.”

  Once again, jealousy crept inside of Emily. Had her sister’s eyes just twinkled when she said that? “Hannah, I’ve heard rumors about him.”

  Hannah’s happy expression left her face. She turned, walked back to the table, and sat on the chair.

  “I’d hoped the rumors would have died down by now.” Hannah shook her head. “Why can’t this town just forgive and forget?”

  “Hannah,” Emily said, going to the table to sit by her sister. “The rumors didn’t come from anyone in town. It’s what I heard from Brian.”

  “Oh, well I suppose that’s good.” Hannah rested her arms on the table. “What did he say?”

  “Our cousin told me that Adam’s wife and child burned in a house fire. Then a few years later, he remarried, and she died not long after that, as well. Brian said that the town wondered if Adam had killed them all.”

  “What?” Hannah scowled. “Who in the blazes told him that?”

  “Brian said that you told him.”

  Hannah gasped. “I didn’t say such a thing! Adam was only married once. And as for him killing his family...that is utterly ridiculous. He doesn’t have a violent bone in his body. The only time he ever fights is if he’s protecting himself or others that he cares for.”

  Flashbacks of the train robbery popped into Emily’s mind. She recalled thinking that he had appeared calm as he helped the other passengers prepare to fight the bandits. And, he had cared about Emily, especially after she’d shot the bandit through the window.

  “I’m relieved to know they were just rumors, then,” she said meekly.

  Hannah reached across the table and grasped Emily’s hand, squeezing it slightly. “I assure you, Adam is a very good man. He’s had a lot of heartache in his life, but underneath the mask of indifference he tries to show everyone, he has a giving and loving heart.”

  Watching her sister’s face, Emily noticed the love Hannah had for Adam. Emily smiled weakly. “Then I won’t worry about him taking care of my niece and nephew...or their mother.”

  A light laugh sprang from Hannah’s throat as she sat back in her chair. She flipped her hand. “Adam doesn’t need to take care of me, but I’m very grateful he’s here to help the children cope with their loss. And I’m also very grateful he’s going to help find out what really happened in the carriage accident that killed Jacob.”

  “Yeah, that’s what deputies do, right?”

  Hannah’s smile waned. “True, but I worry that he is after revenge more than he is after justice. And if I’m right, that will put him in grave danger.”

  Emily’s chest tightened. Although she was trying to convince herself that Adam would eventually marry Hannah, it still scared her to think that he might get hurt. Emily had always been the type of girl—and woman—who wanted to fix things or help people, and now she wondered what she might be able to do to help Adam.

  Whatever it was, she must not fall in love with him.

  EIGHT

  Adam was amazed at how well the office to The Hackney Carriage Company had been put together. As he walked in through the front door and to the waiting area, the bell hooked to the door rang, announcing his presence. He scanned the small room in awe. It was as if he’d stepped into London society. Adam had been to England once in his life, and he’d loved everything about it.

  A silver tea service sat on a small, round table. A baby-blue colored lounge sofa sat against one wall, and on the other wall was a full sized cream-colored sofa that had dark brown wood bordering the stylish piece. A miniature version of a grandfather clock stood next to the door of a smaller office.

  Within seconds, a man opened the door and exited. He wore the clothes of a man of nobility, and even had the traditional top hat and walking cane. The man was probably in his early forties and sported a mustache above his lip.

  “Good day, sir,” the man greeted.

  Adam nodded. “Good day. I would like to speak with the owner, please.”

  Straightening his shoulders, the man stood a little taller as he smiled proudly. “My name is Mr. Wiggins. I’m the owner.”

  Adam pointed to his badge. “I’m newly appointed Deputy Hamilton. I would like to ask you a few questions.”

  Mr. Wiggins motioned toward the full couch. “Would you care
to sit?”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  Both man sat, but the owner of the business looked more dignified than Adam. He chuckled silently. It didn’t matter how he looked, Adam wasn’t here to impress.

  “I would like you to tell me about the incident that happened nearly two weeks ago when the hackney carriage carrying Jacob and Hannah Hamilton overturned, and Jacob was killed.”

  The owner frowned and shook his head. “Twas such a mishap, I assure you. Nothing like that has ever happened to me.”

  Adam arched an eyebrow. “Actually, Mr. Wiggins, it didn’t happen to you. So, would you please explain how the driver of the carriage could suddenly go missing when he was supposed to be driving the vehicle?”

  Mr. Wiggins removed his hat and placed it on the cushion next to him. He slicked the palm of his hand over his greasy hair.

  “You see, Deputy, the driver who had been assigned to drive that night was sent a message and told his services were not needed.”

  “Who told the driver that?”

  Mr. Wiggins shrugged. “Now that, my good man, is something I would like to find out. All Mr. Tuttle told me was that a missive was delivered to his house with a message telling him that Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton had canceled.”

  Adam’s mind spun with ideas. It was clear that someone must have seen the person who had delivered the missive. If that person wasn’t the absentee driver, then he’d know who had instructed him to deliver the message to the original driver.

  “Is it possible to talk to Mr. Tuttle?” Adam asked.

  “Of course. He’s driving someone right now, but he should be back shortly. You may wait here if you’d like.” He nodded to the tea service. “Would you like some tea and crumpets while you wait?”

  Adam wanted to laugh but held it back. Hadn’t the other man realized that Savannah was in the south and most people here drank coffee? “No, but thanks for offering.” He stood, and the other man quickly followed. “In fact, if you don’t mind, I’m going to wait outside for Mr. Tuttle.”

  “That is most acceptable.” Mr. Wiggins smiled.