Page 14

“O h, good heavens!” Tabitha gasped, before breaking into a run, and heading down the slope toward Joanna.

Urgency kicked Nic into action and he ran ahead of Tabitha, dashing down the cliff’s trail toward the girl. Jacob screamed his daughter’s name as he struggled to stand. Up ahead, Joanna’s hair could be seen as she bobbed inside the hole. She sobbed for her father.

The tide crept closer. Nic didn’t have time to stop and assist Mr. Jacobs. Instead, Nic sprinted toward the girl. Mere seconds before he reached her, the water rolled in, filling the hole.

Surprisingly, the hole was larger than Nic had expected—big enough for two. He slid down inside. When his hands brushed against a smaller body, he grasped her and pulled her up above the water level. Another wave came toward him quickly.

“Hold your breath again,” he told the girl. Within seconds the water hit them, covering them once more. As the tide moved out, so did some of the water. He lifted Joanna higher so that her head was above water.

“Give me your hands, Joanna,” Tabitha called.

Blinking the water out of his eyes, Nic tried to focus on Tabitha. She lay near the hole, her hands stretched out, as she latched on to Joanna’s arms. The girl sobbed and flailed her arms, trying to get out as quickly as possible.

“Hold still, Joanna. I’ve got you,” Nic reassured her as he lifted her toward Tabitha. As she pulled, Nic pushed the little girl until she was out of the hole. As soon as Joanna was on her feet, she broke into a run toward her father.

“Grab this limb,” Tabitha instructed as she pushed the broken tree branch toward Nic, “and I’ll help you out.”

It took all of his strength to climb out of the sandy, slippery hole, but within minutes, he was out. Taking deep breaths, he inhaled the fresh air. He swiped his wet hair away from his face and nodded. “Thank you for thinking so quickly.” He glanced at the tree branch.

“Thank heavens it was close by.” She paused briefly, and then asked, “Are you all right.”

“I’m fine.” He motioned his head toward Mr. Jacobs and the little girl in his arms. “But we need to check on them.”

“I agree.” Tabitha hurried toward the blacksmith. The man was limping harder than before, but Sally was beside him, helping him walk.

When the three of them reached Nic, Mr. Jacobs’ eyes were misty. “Thank you, Mr. Woodland. You saved my girl from drowning.”

Nodding, Nic wiped away the mixture of water and sand still clinging to his face. “I’m just relieved I was here to help.”

Mr. Jacobs looked at Tabitha and gave her a grateful smile. “I thank you for your assistance as well, Miss Tabitha.” He switched his attention to Sally. “And yours, of course.”

“Would you like us to help you back to your house?” Tabitha moved her attention to Joanna. Tabitha’s expression softened as she stroked the girl’s cheek. “We would be more than happy to help you both.”

“That’s very kind of you, Miss Tabitha.” Jacobs beamed. “I’d greatly appreciate your help if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all, Mr. Jacobs. Sally and I would be very happy to.” Tabitha looked at Nic, sweeping her gaze over him from head to toe. “Mr. Woodland, how are you faring? Since you have just recovered from being ill, I fear you are probably very weak right now.”

His heart lightened to know she was worried about him—even if only a little. “I’m actually fine now. I thank you for your concern.”

“Well, thank you for taking the time to talk with me earlier. I think you should return home and get changed before you catch your death with a chill, as well.”

“Indeed, I will.” He offered a small smile.

And with that, she and her maid walked Jacobs and his daughter back up the trail, toward the other man’s home.

Dripping wet, Nic stood and watched them until they disappeared from sight.

She was right, and he should hurry home to get out of these wet clothes, but he wasn’t sure he liked the way she had so easily dismissed him and then walked off with another man as if Nic had never been standing here at all.

Grumbling, he stomped back up the trail all the way home. When he opened the door and walked inside, he closed the door so hard the walls shook. Frederick scrambled from the kitchen, his eyes enlarged with surprise.

“What are you doing—” Frederick gasped. “Why are you wet?”

“Because I rescued a little girl from drowning.” Nic raked his fingers through his hair, removing more of the wetness and sand.

“Oh, dear. Who was it?” Frederick hurried to Nic’s side, helping him remove his overcoat.

“Jacobs’ daughter, Joanna. She fell in a hole near the beach and the tide came in and filled the hole quickly.”

Frederick wrinkled his forehead. “A hole? Are you sure?”

Nic rolled his eyes. “I’d think by now I’d know what a hole looks like. And since I was nearly trapped inside with her, I can assure you, it was a hole.”

“But there aren’t any holes that large near the beach.”

“Nevertheless, she fell into one and I climbed in to help her out.”

“Unbelievable.” Frederick shook his head in amazement. “Is she all right?”

“Yes, she’s a little shaken, but she’s fine,” Nic snapped.

“What has you so irritated?”

Once his overcoat was removed, he worked the knot loose on his cravat.

“Before this all happened, I’d been visiting with Tabitha and hearing how much she loathes Lord Hawthorne.

” He met his cousin’s gaze. “I really feel the need to tell her about our switch so I can at least defend myself and explain why I had accused her of murder.”

“You can’t.” Frederick folded his arms and scowled.

“If you say anything, she’s going to mention it to her aunt.

Not only that, but her resentment toward you will have the others in town wondering why she hates the clergyman so much.

If that happens, then others will become suspicious.

It’s bad enough right now that someone in my parish is a thief and making it look like I’m the one taking these items.” He shook his head, frowning.

“Right now I need to do all I can to make myself look good. I cannot have people blaming me for something I didn’t do.

I cannot lose their trust. Not now. Not ever! ”

Nic pulled off his shirt and wadded it into a ball. Fury raged inside him, but mainly because he couldn’t do what he knew was right in his heart. Yet, Frederick made sense. They didn’t need everyone in town being suspicious of Tabitha’s actions.

Growling, he tightened his hold on his crumpled shirt, wringing out more water in the wash basin. “Fine, I won’t say anything to her. I’m not happy about it, but I will keep my mouth shut.”

“And look at it this way.” Frederick moved closer and took the bunched up shirt from Nic. “During this time, you—as the clergyman—can be doing everything possible to make her like Lord Hawthorne once again.”

“No, I don’t think that’s possible.” Nic walked away from his cousin and to the window, peering out onto the street, now busy with the townspeople going from one shop to another.

“I cannot think of anything that I could do. She simply doesn’t like me, and discussing Lord Hawthorne only sets her on edge. ”

“Perhaps you can just become her friend.”

Nic glanced over his shoulder at Frederick. “Friends?”

“Of course. Go on long walks with her and discuss anything—the weather, her life, her great aunt. Find out what she likes to do in her leisure time; what kind of flowers are her favorite, or what she likes to eat. In fact, invite her and Mrs. Burls over for dinner. Take Miss Tabitha some flowers or candy, whatever you can do to soften her heart. Gradually, she’ll start to trust you and even like you. ”

“You are not thinking rationally.” Nic turned away from the window and leaned back against the wall. “If I’m seen taking her flowers or candy, then the townspeople will think Mr. Woodland is trying to court Miss Tabitha.”

Frederick laughed. “And what’s wrong with that?”

“You haven’t courted anyone since your wife died.”

“No, I haven’t, however that doesn’t mean I won’t eventually find a woman who interests me. It’s been six years, my parishioners expect that I’ll eventually emerge from grief enough to look for another wife.”

Nic grinned out of the corner of his mouth. “Very true. There’s always Miss Mildred Talbot. Perhaps I should start paying her extra attention while I’m playing you.” He wagged his eyebrows.

Frederick scowled. “You will not do that with Miss Talbot, or anyone else for that matter! However, we aren’t discussing my life. We are talking about yours and what you should do.”

“Actually, we are discussing your life, because I’m the one playing you!

Oh, this is so confusing.” Waving his hands in a dismissive wave, Nic walked to the chair to collect his wet coat and shirt.

“Nevertheless, I understand what you’re saying.

Let me think on it today. I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do about Tabitha. ”

“You’ll figure it out. I have confidence in you,” Frederick said as he moved back into the kitchen.

Nic hurried upstairs to his room. Once inside, he closed the door and sat on the edge of his bed, pulling off his damp boots, which was no easy task.

After a few minutes, he had his boots and socks pulled off and searched for a towel.

As he passed the full-length mirror, he took a quick glimpse.

Then stopped dead in his tracks. Staring at himself, worry washed over him like a bucket of cold water, making him colder than he already was.

The powder in his hair had come completely out! His true hair color was on display.

Blast it all! Had Tabitha seen him like this? If she did, he prayed that she didn’t suspect. Considering he didn’t pray often, he really hoped God was answering his prayer now.

*

Tabitha wasn’t an idiot, and if anyone called her one, she’d have plenty to say while stating her case.