Bluebonnet Belle by Lori Copeland Page B

bad that he didn’t want to frighten Riley by mentioning it?
    Escorting her grandfather down the sidewalk, April realized she had to go back and talk to that infuriating man alone. Her gaze fell on the fancy buggy parked in front of the hotel.
    If he could spare the time.
    â€œWhere’s the fire?” Riley blustered, trying to keep up with her.
    â€œSorry, Grandpa,” April murmured. She slowed immediately, aware that he couldn’t be rushed. She wanted to get him out of Dr. Fuller’s hands and into more competent care. Hers.

Chapter Six
    A fter breakfast the next morning, Riley went straight to the side porch with a stack of journals and stayed there throughout the morning. Apparently he was taking the doctor’s order to rest seriously. Jimmy Peters, a neighboring teenager, agreed to help with the heavy work. Other than Sadie Finley’s service that afternoon, business was quiet.
    The nagging suspicion that Dr. Fuller hadn’t told her everything wore on April’s mind. Midmorning she gave up trying to concentrate. She simply had to know if Gray Fuller thought Riley’s weak spells were getting worse. Being as he was a doctor, his opinion wasn’t of much value to her, but if she were to treat Grandpa effectively with herbal medicine, she needed to know what she was fighting.
    Dropping what she was doing, she changed into a pretty, lavender cotton dress with matching hat and gloves. The change wasn’t intended for Dr. Fuller’s approval, she assured herself as she checked her hair once again in the downstairs hall mirror. She had made it a practice to look her best when she conducted business.
    â€œI’m going out for a while,” she called to Riley as she passed the door to the side porch. “You stay right where you are until I get back.”
    â€œWhat am I, a child?”
    â€œYes, and you’re being punished.” She laughed at his indignant growl. “Jimmy’s here if you need him.”
    â€œI’ll be fine. Stop your fussing.”
    He seemed to be himself this morning, and April was relieved. Still, she was concerned about him, and Dr. Fuller was the only person who had the answers she needed.
    A brisk wind rolled off the water as April walked toward the center of town. The weather was cooler this morning. A distinct touch of fall was in the air. Low, pewter-colored clouds building in the west promised rain by evening.
    Making her way along the cobbled street, April breathed in the smells of burning leaves and fresh bread from the bakery.
    Tall ships crowded the port. Casks of whale oil and bundles of whalebone were piled high on the bustling piers. Not many big vessels came in this time of year, just enough to create a good business for everyone in town.
    Weathered houses built seventy-five to a hundred years earlier lined the roads that intersected the main thoroughfare coming inland from the wharf. The houses were small and unassuming, with one room for cooking and dining, plus living and sleeping quarters adjacent for the husband and wife. Children and servants made do with a loft above the main room.
    Toward the center of town, near the square, shop windows were filled with jewel-colored glassware, copper pans, drapes of fabric, ready-made dresses and millinery. Wonderful aromas drifted from a spice shop, exotic goods that came to Dignity from faraway places. Larger cargo ships passed by and put in at the Houston port, but many smaller ones stopped here first.
    April paused at the shoemaker’s window to look at a pair of red leather boots. Henry didn’t like red, but Gray and his Frenchie friend obviously would. What better reason for April to pass up the boots?
    Stepping around fresh mounds left by a flock of sheep being herded down the street in front of her, she heard the schoolhouse bell ring, and quickly moved out of the way of a young boy who was in a desperate race to make it to his seat before the last