Page 5

The local schoolchildren had likely built up an unrealistic mystique about the place, playing up the Manticore name with imaginary monsters.

He'd probably been trespassing on the manor grounds when he'd caught a glimpse of someone and the excitement of the moment had flared his imagination.

Boys tended to try to prove their courage in the most absurd ways.

How many times had the boys in her class challenged each other to pat a longhorn on the rump without getting skewered or see who could hold their hand over a candle flame the longest?

"Well, that's a chance I'll just have to take.

" Callista straightened to her full height, which was still several inches shorter than that of the lanky youth in front of her.

"I've accepted employment at the Manor, and I'll not renege on my promise to appear.

Perhaps the dog will be chained in anticipation of my arrival.

" She could hope. "Now. Since you obviously know where the manor is .

. ." She pulled a writing tablet from her travel bag, set it on the counter, and opened to a blank page.

"Could you draw me a map of how to get there? "

He closed the pages of the tablet and pushed it back toward her.

"No, ma'am. I can't in good conscience send you out there alone.

" He pushed back his bony shoulders and lifted his chin.

"My daddy raised me to treat womenfolk with honor and to protect those who are weaker than myself.

If you're set on going to Manticore Manor, I'll just have to escort you. "

Considering how much he feared the place, it was quite a chivalrous offer. Her heart warmed toward the lad. "That is very kind of you, but I'm not able to pay for your time or transport. I'm happy to walk if you'll just point me in the right direction."

"I'll take you free of charge, ma'am. It's my duty as a gentleman."

Callista bit back a smile. It seemed she'd run into her own Sir Galahad. "Why don't you check with your parents? If they agree, I'll be most appreciative of your escort."

The young man's eyes lit, and a wide smile bloomed across his face. "Just have a seat for a few minutes, and I'll arrange things with my ma." He gestured to a small sitting area by the front window then disappeared through a side door.

What a sweet boy. The Lord truly had blessed her journey. She'd met Mrs. Dawson and her son at the train station in Denton and had been able to adopt them as travel companions all the way to Graham. And now the Lord had provided an escort to her destination.

Thank you .

Settling into one of the two chairs, Callista allowed herself to relax against the padded back then opened her bag to replace the writing tablet and retrieve her book.

She'd covered this copy herself when Papa purchased the unbound sheets of Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for her twenty-first birthday.

She'd brought it as an example of her work, but she'd also brought it to have something that allowed her to feel close to her father.

Not to mention that getting lost in a fantastical story was her favorite way to pass the time.

Swept away to London as she followed Poole and Mr. Utterson to Dr. Jekyll's residence on a hunt for truth, Callista let herself forget about foul-tempered men with terrifying dogs for a few blissful moments. Until the door next to her opened and Mr. Batton strode inside.

"Ah! Here you are, Miss Rosenfeld. I'd wondered where you'd gotten to."

Don't respond. Just ignore him. Perhaps he'll go away.

She continued staring at her book, even though she was no longer able to concentrate on the words.

Mr. Batton claimed the seat next to hers with a loud sigh. Callista grimaced. Why must he pester her so? Good manners dictated that she put down her book and acknowledge his presence, but self-preservation insisted that she keep her shield in place.

"What are you reading?" Meaty fingers clamped down over the top of her pages and yanked the book straight from her hand. He idly flipped through the pages, pretending interest. A true book lover would have turned to the title page or the spine to discover the answer to the question.

Shock at his boldness held her immobile for precious seconds. Until anger flared in her belly.

"Ah. There are those beautiful eyes. So much better to look at than this bit of leather." He aimed a flirtatious grin in her direction as if he expected her to be flattered instead of outraged by his high-handed manner.

Callista held out her palm. "My book, sir. If you please."

He raised a brow then folded the book against his chest, a teasing light entering his eyes. "And what if I don't please? What if I plan to hold it hostage until you agree to have dinner with me?"

Ugh! Could the man be any more insufferable?

"Return my book to me or I'll be forced to summon the town marshal."

Mr. Batton laughed. "The marshal? That's taking things a bit too far, don't you think, darlin'? We're just having a little fun."

There was nothing the slightest bit fun about this encounter. "Stealing another person's property is a crime. And I intend to press charges."

"Ooo wee. I didn't think it was possible for you to get any prettier, but anger suits you."

Of all the condescending, ridiculous notions!

Callista lurched to her feet, collected her bag, and held out her hand one more time. "Return my book, Mr. Batton, or I will summon the marshal."

"Is everything all right out here?" A woman's voice drifted from behind Callista.

Mr. Batton rose and made a show of handing her book to her over the fold of his arm as if it were some knightly favor. "Everything's fine."

Callista snatched her book and tucked it into her bag, not taking any chances.

"Miss Rosenfeld and I were just having a friendly chat. Weren't we, darlin'?"

Unable to abide standing next to the man a moment longer, Callista stormed toward the counter and the woman now standing behind it. "We shared a stage, Mr. Batton. We are not friends. And I would appreciate it if you would keep your endearments to yourself."

His smug smile finally dented. "Then I guess it's time I bid you ladies good day." His voice was tight, and his eyes shot daggers her way, but it was the challenge shining behind the daggers that made her uneasy.

He tipped his hat and exited the inn.

The moment the door closed, the proprietress giggled. "I don't think that man is used to women putting him in his place like that."

Callista released a breath. "I shouldn't have let him rile me. I apologize for causing a scene."

The woman waved her hand in dismissal. "No need to apologize to me. That was the best entertainment I've had in days." She held out her hand. "I'm Barbara Poindexter. You met my boy, Wade, a few minutes ago. He's out back hitching up the team as we speak."

"Callista Rosenfeld." She shook Mrs. Poindexter's hand, grateful for an ally. "Thank you for being so understanding. Are you sure you don't mind Wade driving me out to Manticore Manor? I'm not able to pay, and I don't want to take advantage of your family's hospitality."

"Don't give it a second thought. Though, I would take it as a personal favor if you don't ask my boy to go past the front gate.

I'm not one of those who believes the tales about that place being haunted, but Wade had a run-in with the giant Mastiff that guards the grounds, and I ain't of a mind to put him in that dog's path again. "

Giant Mastiff? Good heavens.

Callista swallowed rather forcibly. "You have my word."

"Thank you." Mrs. Poindexter's shoulders visibly relaxed.

"I don't mean to try to scare you off when I know you're set on going, but there's something menacing about that place.

No one has ever seen the owner, though his staff comes to town now and again.

They never speak a word about their employer, though. It's like they're afraid of him."

"Or maybe they are just protective of his privacy." Please let that be the reason.

"I suppose that's possible. It just seems unnatural, is all." Mrs. Poindexter shrugged. "But I'm sure everything will be fine for you. None of his staff have ever gone missing or turned up dead."

Callista chuckled at the morbid teasing, even as her knees weakened in trepidation.

She'd prepared herself to battle a hardheaded man who might think a woman unworthy of his business.

What she hadn't prepared herself for was a mysterious recluse with a giant, man-eating dog, and a reputation that left the town believing the manor was haunted by some kind of ferocious beast. Perhaps she'd been too quick to dismiss Wade's account as more imagination than fact.

The door swung open behind her, and Callista spun, a small gasp escaping her. Her seizing heart relaxed when she saw Wade standing on the threshold.

"Horses are hitched and your trunks are loaded, ma'am. You ready to go?"

No, but she didn't really have a choice, did she?

With a prayer on her heart and a tight grip on the hope she'd promised her mama not to surrender, she pasted on a smile and offered her escort a nod. "Lead the way."