Abigail's Secret (A Whimsical Select Romance Novella) Read Online Free Page A

turned cold. His eyes shadowed beneath his top hat and his face reddened with anger.
    “As you do not know Abigail, I’m not rightly sure how this pertains to you, ma’am,” he heatedly countered.
    “Actually, Mister Winslow, I know Abigail a great much better than you.”
    Brice eyed her with suspicion.  “As you are new to this town, ma’am, I’m rightly curious to know how that could be.”
    “Because I am Ab —”
    “ —Abilene.  Because she is my cousin, Abilene Large,” Thomas quickly interrupted.
    Abigail looked at her brother inquisitively but then an ornery smile reached her lips.  “Yes, I’m Abilene, and being familiar with my cousin rightly well, I know she’d be almighty upset over what is taking place in this town.”
    “And have you spoken to her?” Brice asked eagerly.  “Is she on her way back to Charlotte?”
    Abigail looked at Thomas but he wasn’t any help.  He only shrugged and added an encouraged nod forward for her to continue her unprepared cock-and-bull story.  “Yes,” she finally replied.  “She’ll be returning within the week or shortly thereafter.”
    “ Then we shall wait until then.  You will hear for yourself that she’ll eagerly accept me as her husband,” he boasted.  By his cavalier tone, he clearly believed that she’d not refuse him.  He broadened his arrogant smile. “I think you’ll be quite surprised to learn how rightly wrong you are in the matters of the heart where Abigail Large is concerned.”
    The temptation to reveal she was Abigail nearly toppled her into a confession.  Abigail walked to the door and leaned against it, and strongly demonstrated that it was time for him to take his leave when she pitched and positioned her arm forward toward the hall.  “Well, Mister Brice Winslow, we shall see in the week to come.  As I have an exceptional insight in the matters of the heart, as well as that of my dear cousin Abigail, I shall have the cook prepare humble pie, as I’m sure you’ll be in need of a very large slice.”
    Brice scowled at her.  “Until then,” he said tersely and tipped his hat and strode out the door. 
    Abigail slammed it shut behind him.
    “Truly,” she nearly growled.  “Whatever did I see in that man?”
    “Abigail,” Thomas said excitedly.  “Do you see what a great opportunity you have here?”
    “No, Thomas, I can’t say I do,” she replied.
    “Did you not notice how Mister Winslow looked at you?”
    “ As if I killed his favorite mutt?”
    “No,” h e said.  “He was clearly attracted to you, and whether you’ll declare it aloud or not, you are equally interested him.”
    “Surely, he was not; and most certainly I am not,” she said, appalled.
    “Surely, he was,” he countered, “And most definitely you are,’ he smiled. “Abigail, if you can persuade Brice to fall in love with you as Abilene, it’d prove his utter true love for you as he would believe that he is forfeiting Abigail’s dowry.”
    Abigail ’s smile quickly advanced into a chuckle.  “Oh, Thomas, you are wicked.  Surely that would be very unfair to do, even to Brice Winslow.  Although, he would most definitely deserve it,” she added.
    “ It’s my fault and I am truly sorry, Abigail, but the fact remains that from here out you’ll never know who justly loves you unless we make sport of this situation.  You’ll never be able to discern if a man loves you or that of your dowry.”
    “That is a rightly smart opinion to consider, Thomas.”
    “Do you recall , sister, when that circus came to town about ten years ago?”
    Abigail rolled her eyes heavenward and sighed.  “How could I ever forget?  The fat lady and I looked so similar that I didn’t think I’d ever hear the end of the bantering.”  Sadness overwhelmed her until the anger within her sufficiently rose.  “Indeed, the townspeople were at their cruelest for many, many months thereafter.  What horrible creature they all are.”
    “Then