Riverbreeze: Part 3 Read Online Free Page A

of you. She could drown!” He said, shooting his brother a condemning look.
    “Pah! She’s not going to drown.” Robert scoffed. “Look, they’ve thrown down two ropes and the man has already caught her. All they have to do is pick them up.”
    “True…” Jamie relented, watching the rowboat approach the man and the woman. It was quite a show watching the girl being dragged into the boat, but finally it was accomplished.
    And then the screaming and screeching began. Alas, it was Helen Boyle and her shrill shrieks could be heard all the way to shore.
    “She hasn’t learned a damn thing.” Robert said, shaking his head in disgust. “I need to have a talk with her husband.”
    “Maybe her husband was the one to push her overboard.” Jamie suggested, strangely taking Robert’s side even after he had scolded him earlier.
    “Here she comes. We’d better give her a wide path.” Robert said, moving aside.
    Elizabeth moved with him, still close enough to elbow him in the ribs. She frowned at him. “Be nice. Have some compassion.”
    “I agree with Robert.” Evelyn suddenly said.
    All eyes jerked to her. She had been so quiet it came as a surprise when she spoke.
    Elizabeth’s mouth dropped open. “You too?” She gasped.
    Evelyn turned slightly pink under her sister’s stare. She shrugged a shoulder embarrassingly. “I mean, Helen Boyle’s behavior is deplorable. She’s utterly selfish and spoiled. Remember Papa and Louise always reminding us to think of others first? Despite all our advantages and possessions we were never to behave like spoiled brats. I’m sorry, but I have to agree with Robert in this instance.”
    “Oh!” Elizabeth gasped, her eyes wide. She couldn’t stop staring at her sister.
    Robert smiled smugly. “Thank you, Evelyn.” He said.
    “You’re welcome.” She said, dipping her head shyly. Then, in a small voice, she asked Elizabeth. “Do you still love me, Bess?”
    The question caught Elizabeth off guard. But after only a second, she melted, saying, “Of course I still love you, you silly.” And they hugged, giggling in each other’s arms.
    “So, do you still love me?” Robert asked, from behind her.
    Elizabeth went still. The rascal! He knew how to manipulate her.
    The sisters parted and Elizabeth gave in. Rolling her eyes, she faced her husband and grudgingly said, “Yes, I still love you too.”
    “Thank God!” He exclaimed, his eyes bright with delight. He grabbed her around the waist, lifting her off her feet. “I thought I’d be the next one in the river!”
    “Oh, put me down!” Elizabeth scolded him, her hands clutching his shoulders.
    He did, but only after he whispered, a wicked twinkle in his eye, “Later, my spoiled one.”
    * * *
     
    Those last words certainly had their effect on Elizabeth. For the rest of the day, she could barely keep her mind on the present. And this annoyed her completely because the day was very pleasant indeed.
    First, the shopping trip was fabulous! After Helen Boyle came ashore, crying and wailing and screaming at everyone, dripping water everywhere and looking like a drowned cat, they were rowed out to the Dutch ship.
    The seaman who ferried them to the SeaHorse introduced himself as simply Janssen. He was almost too ugly to look at; he had rotted teeth, a lazy eye, horribly pock-marked skin and he stunk to high heaven. His clothes and hands were filthy and Elizabeth almost gagged when he took her hand to assist her into the boat. She certainly didn’t want to sit in the back of the boat where he could leer at her so when Robert suggested the girls sit in the front, behind Janssen, they were more than agreeable, and grateful. It was quite clear that Robert, and Jamie, didn’t want this unsavory character ogling their wives, especially after hearing some of the obscene comments he had made about Helen Boyle.
    But despite the seaman’s poor looks and offensive personality, he did a fine job of rowing them out to the ship.