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“I should love to look at them, thank you.”
He made his way to the far corner, and Anna only removed her eyes after another full breath. Such kind people the colonists were. If she’d have known as much, she might have gained enough courage to insist she and Edwin visit here years ago. And perhaps he would have wished them to stay. If so, she could have seen Samuel before…
She shook her head and forced her vision on the stack of patterned fabrics by the front door. A hard sigh left her lungs. Better to put her energies in the present than to wish for things that could never have been.
Lifting three thick folds of solids and stripes, she reached for the soft printed cotton. Undoubtedly, these were English made as well. The delicacy of the tiny dual-colored floral seemed to float before her, begging to be snipped and styled, to feel the bite of the cool needle in its weave. Such a lovely petticoat it would make, or even a waistcoat for William.
She held the fabric to the light, examining its length and breadth as two others entered the shop. The brush of air as they passed jostled the fabric and she pulled it tighter and lifted it up, studying the fine craftsmanship.
“Sheriff Bergman, what brings you to town?” the proprietor asked, his voice muffled from his position in the back.
“Good day, Porter.”
Anna heard the conversation, but didn’t look back, still considering the many uses for something so fine.
“We’re looking for a missing woman.”
The downy hairs at her nape went rigid.
“A woman you say?” The proprietor’s tone thinned with concern. “What’s happened to her?”
One of the strangers continued. “This man says someone has kidnapped his daughter, and he’s employed me to assist him in finding her.”
“I’m more sorry than I can say.” The shop owner’s genuine concern darkened his words. “How may I help you, sir?”
“I am wondering if anyone has seen her about town. She’s six and twenty years—about this height, black hair, blue eyes. Very lovely, very sweet.”
Anna’s stomach lurched to her throat. Lord, help me! She’d only heard that voice once, but ’twas a voice she’d never forget. She rested the fabric back in its place and stepped from the store, acting as indifferent to the conversation as any carefree shopper.
One thought dominated. Run.
Darting left, she lifted her skirts and fled, her pulse thumping so hard her entire frame ignited with fear-induced heat. Finally at the house, she hurled herself through the doorway and slammed it behind her. Her throat scratched with every gasped breath and her lungs heaved, unable to intake the needed amounts of air.
Her hands shook and her knees threatened to buckle as the sound of that man’s voice roared in her memory. “…Black hair, blue eyes. Very lovely, very sweet…”
Had he seen her? Had she escaped in time?
“William!”
Silence answered.
“William!”
She raced to the back and flung open the door, staring at the vacant garden as panic shredded her remaining courage. Where had he gone?
Anna stepped back in and shut the door, failing to calm her racing breath. Rational thought escaped her, though she chased it with every inhale. What do I do?
The answer cleared the darkening clouds in her mind. Eliza and Kitty. They could keep her in good company until William was found. They expected her anyway, so arriving earlier than planned would not be harmful. She lurched for the door then paused. Not harmful nay, but perhaps suspicious. She put a hand to her heart as it raced behind her breast. She’d have to find a way to calm herself first. Revealing anything, even to them, could risk the very thing William had warned her of. But there was nowhere else to go. Remaining here, without another soul to keep her company, she might surely go mad. Taking the back way, through the trees and behind t
he neighboring farm could keep her from prying eyes.
Again she ran, stopping only when her shoes touched the step of the Watson’s kitchen door. She knocked and glanced behind, skimming her vision across the yard, her stomach in her throat. Lord, do not let them find me.
The door opened and Anna whirled.
“Anna,” Eliza said. “What a pleasant sur—my dear, what’s happened? You look positively white.” She reached for Anna’s arm and led her in, speaking over her shoulder. “Kitty, will you fetch a mug of cider?”
“Of course.” Kitty’s kind features scrunched as she hurried to a pitcher and did as requested.
