Dead Even - Mariah Stewart [54]
She’d decided she’d risk making a call, and was just rising from her seat when the door opened. Daniel had walked in, headed right for their table, and Genna’s heart sank even as she plastered a smile onto her face.
“We were just finishing up,” she’d told him.
“It’s time to get back,” he’d replied. All the way back to the compound, she’d wondered how the report to Reverend Prescott would go.
If Daniel had had negative thoughts, he must have kept them to himself, because aside from asking Genna if she’d enjoyed her outing, Prescott had had little to say. She assumed that she and Caroline would be permitted to leave with Daniel again today. Assuming, of course, that the snow stopped.
By noon, it had. At one, Genna grabbed her coat and met the excited young girl at the front door of the block building that held the small classrooms.
“You should borrow boots, Miss Ruth,” Caroline told her.
“I wish I knew someone who was willing to trade for a while,” Genna said, looking ruefully at her leather shoes.
“Miss Joan is in the infirmary. Maybe she will let you borrow her boots for a while.”
“Stay here, and wait for Daniel.” Genna took off for the wooden structure next to the classrooms. “Tell him I will be right back. . . .”
Genna found Miss Joan way too ill with the flu to care who was wearing her boots just then. Leaving her own shoes under the bed in the makeshift hospital room, Genna pulled on the boots. They were a half size too big, but even so, they were warmer and provided more traction on the snowy ground.
“I’ll bring them back later this afternoon,” Genna had promised.
“No hurry,” Joan replied without opening her eyes. “I’m not planning on going anywhere for a while. . . .”
Unlike Eileen the week before, Caroline knew exactly what she wanted. A sketchbook and some colored pencils, a pack of gum, and she was ready to go. A plate full of chicken fingers and French fries, a hot fudge sundae, and a Coke, and Caroline’s day was complete.
“This is such a nice thing you do for us,” she’d told Genna as she got out of the Jeep once they’d returned home. “You’re the nicest person here. I can’t wait to use my new sketchpad.”
“Maybe you’ll let me see some of your sketches,” Genna replied.
“Maybe.” Caroline nodded as she ran to her cabin to show off her new possessions. “Maybe . . .” she called over her shoulder.
Daniel had said little, but Genna knew he’d been watching her like a hawk. She and Caroline had barely been in the diner for ten minutes when Daniel had arrived. While he hadn’t rushed them, he’d sat at the counter, ignoring the attempts of the friendly waitress to make conversation, and had watched through the mirror as Genna and Caroline ate. As soon as they finished their meal, Daniel rose and came to the table, silently indicating that it was time for them to go. Genna was certain that the reverend had grilled Daniel last week and would grill him again today. Well, she’d expected as much from Prescott, and she’d been careful not to do anything that might cause him to suspect her motives.
Genna stopped in at the infirmary to see how Joan was doing, and she found her no better than when she’d left earlier that day.
“Keep the boots.” Joan waved her away. “I won’t be out of this bed for another few days.”
The storm had kicked in with a vengeance shortly after they’d returned from Linden, so Genna gratefully accepted the offer. The biting cold sent everyone shivering to their cabins for the rest of the afternoon. It was then that Genna noticed that Bethany,