Page 108 of The Formation of Us

In the yard, Cora crawled through the leaves searching for Adam. When Adam lunged out of the pile, she shrieked with glee. They played all afternoon, raking the leaves into a pile, then scattering them across the lawn, before raking them up again.

Faith went inside to make supper, but she could hear Adam’s roars and Cora’s shrieks of laughter. They were happy sounds. They were happy children. She’d done the right thing for them. Maybe not for Duke or for herself, but she had made the right decision for Adam and Cora. Surely Duke would see that her choice was theonlychoice, right or wrong, good or bad. Maybe he would realize that there was no right or wrong involved, that she’d based her decision on what was useful, and perhaps then he could forgive her. Maybe then he would find his way back to being the tender man she married.

Cora’s scream, and Adam’s yell, pierced Faith’s thoughts so violently she dropped the potato she was peeling and ran for the door.

The instant she stepped outside, her insides turned liquid, drenching her in fear. Cold gray eyes stared down at her, like a bird of prey stalking its next meal. Judge Stone sat on a big, prancing horse, holding Cora, who was as limp as a wilted flower.

“Hello, Faith.”

She would never forget those predatory eyes or that gritty, commanding voice.

“What have you done to her?” she asked, her fear for Cora so acute she could barely breathe. The child’s eyes were closed as if she was sleeping, but she wasn’t sleeping. Had the judge knocked her out?

“Nothing to damage her.”

“I’ll do anything you ask, just . . . let her go.”

“Too late to negotiate, Mrs. Grayson. Now that your husband owns the brothel, my business is with him. You can thank him for sending me this letter. It helped me find you.” The judge tossed the folded parchment at her feet. “Tell him to bring the deed to the brothel and meet me in Syracuse. If he tries any tricks, his esteemed family will pay for his arrogance.”

He kicked the horse and bolted from the yard.

“No! Wait!” Faith leapt forward, but the horse raced down the street. “We don’t have the deed!” she yelled.

Panic exploded in her chest and she raced after the judge and Cora, but Stone turned the horse onto Eagle Street and disappeared. Faith slammed to a stop at the edge of her yard. She couldn’t scream for help. And that manipulative bastard had known that when he rode up as bold as brass and took Cora. Faith couldn’t tell anyone who he was or what happened without putting herself, and Duke and his family and their own children, at risk.

But she needed help.

She had to get Cora back.

Her heart pounded and she wrung her hands, feeling useless and frantic and, dear God, she’d find Stone and kill him for this. She’d slip foxglove or aconite into the bastard’s food. No longer would she let him threaten her and her family or put Duke’s family at risk. No longer would she live looking over her shoulder for that greedy parasite.

Leaves rustled and the sound of Adam’s groan terrified her. She rushed across the yard and fell to her knees beside him.

“Are you hurt?” she asked, not daring to touch him.

He curled forward, then rolled to his knees. His face was pinched and he clutched his chest, gulping as if he couldn’t get air.

“Just point to where you’re hurt.”

He shook his head, then sucked in a gulp of air. Then another. Then he began to sob. “I tried to stop him.” He groaned and rocked on his knees. “He kicked me in the chest.”

“Oh, honey.” Faith pulled him into her arms, terrified and furious and sick to her soul. The children she was trying to protect were in more danger than ever.

So help her God, she would make Stone pay for this.

The neighbor lady stepped onto her porch and peered in their direction. “I heard a scream. Is everything all right?”

“Yes, Mrs. Brooks.” Faith kept her chin down so the woman wouldn’t notice her wet cheeks. “My brother just took a hard spill in the leaves, but everything’s fine.”

“All right then.” To Faith’s relief, the woman went back inside.

Adam pulled away and struggled to his feet. “I got to get help.”

“Wait.” She put her hand on his shoulder. “We need to get a message to Duke without letting anyone know what happened.”

Chapter 34

Duke road his weary mount out of Westfield, tired but certain he would win the election next week. Every township and village he’d visited had shown their support, and his under-sheriff and deputies stood solidly behind him. But of all the trips he’d made on sheriff’s business, none had ever been so tedious or unfulfilling.