Framed in Death Valley
Page 20
“That’s not wise after what happened last night. I have two spare guest rooms on the second floor. Both would provide for your privacy.”
“And what would the town gossips say, William? Tongues would wag. I won’t dishonor your name.”
He smiled ruefully. “It would not be the first time people talked behind my back.”
“Perhaps, but the bishop would take issue with your father and insist he control his wayward son.”
Evidently, she didn’t know. “My father died five months ago.”
“Oh, William.” She clasped her hands over her heart. “I’m so sorry.”
“I am, as well, but it is the way of life.”
And death, which he failed to mention. Julianne knew enough about death.
“Now both of us are orphans, yah?” he said.
“I feel more like a teenager looking for what I left behind.” She peered into the empty pantry.
His heart went out to her and he stepped closer. “Your aunt asked some of the ladies to clean the kitchen of anything perishable before she closed up the house.”
“A wise decision.” Julie tugged a strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t remember much about those first few weeks.”
“The shock undoubtedly blocked your memory.”
She touched the dusty counter and then glanced up at him. “Aunt Mary said you tried to say goodbye.”
“Yah.” He pulled in a breath, seeing the question in her gaze. “I left Mountain Loft for a few years to find myself. My first stop was at your aunt’s house in Willkommen. She said you were not ready to receive visitors.”
“My aunt was protective.” Julie sighed. “Perhaps overly so.”
“She was thinking of your well-being.”
“For which I am grateful. When I left Willkommen—”
He raised an eyebrow. “You’re no longer staying with Mary?”
“I live in Dahlonega now.”
“The old gold mining town?”
She nodded. “The site of the first major US gold rush in 1828.”
He smiled. “You have become a history buff.”
“Hardly, but the tourists have questions. They visit the mines and pan for gold and then buy gifts in the shop where I work.”
Glancing at the Englischer clothing she wore and the car parked in the drive, he voiced the question that begged to be asked. “Am I right to believe you are no longer Amish?”
“I decided to make a fresh start in Dahlonega. That included embracing Englisch ways.” She angled her head and gazed at him with her jade-green eyes. “What about you? That night at the lake, you talked about leaving Mountain Loft. I presumed that meant leaving the faith as well.”
“Living Englisch was my plan. Then my father became ill...” He shrugged. “Someone needed to care for him.”
“Yet you struggled under his control when you were young.”
“Young and foolish. We reconciled. His lungs were bad, and his well-being was more important than hanging on to past misunderstandings.”
“You’re a good man, William Lavy.”
Her remark touched a chord. He didn’t think of himself as gut, but he couldn’t let his father languish alone. Julianne would have done the same if she’d been given the chance.
“The sheriff’s never been one of my favorite people.” She glanced around the kitchen and into the main room. “Especially the way he handled the investigation five years ago, but I need to report what happened last night, and I could use some support.”
“I’ll come with you. After we talk to the sheriff, we can stop at the Country Kitchen for waffles and coffee.”
A hint of a smile tugged at her lips. “You remembered.”
He remembered a lot of things about Julie that he needed to forget. Instead, he needed to focus on her safety. Someone had attacked her last night. William wanted to ensure the man in the red bandana didn’t try to harm her again.
Copyright © 2021 by Deborah W. Giusti
Love Harlequin romance?
DISCOVER.
Be the first to find out about promotions, news and exclusive content!
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
Instagram.com/HarlequinBooks
Pinterest.com/HarlequinBooks
ReaderService.com
EXPLORE.
Sign up for the Harlequin e-newsletter and download a free book from any series at
TryHarlequin.com
CONNECT.
Join our Harlequin community to share your thoughts and connect with other romance readers!
Facebook.com/groups/HarlequinConnection
ISBN-13: 9781488072222
Framed in Death Valley
Copyright © 2021 by Dana Mentink
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
For questions and comments about the quality of this book, please contact us at CustomerService@Harlequin.com.
Love Inspired
22 Adelaide St. West, 40th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5H 4E3, Canada
www.Harlequin.com