Loving Linsey by Rachelle Morgan Page B

retrieved his bowler from a hook on the wall. “Take the stanhope. I’ll stop in on Mrs. Yearling, then borrow one of Oren’s nags and meet you later.”
    Daniel bit his tongue to keep from reminding his dad that the whole reason the old miser had forked over money for the plush-seated buggy was because riding horseback aggravated his sacroiliac. But a man didn’t argue with his father in the presence of a lady. Not that arguing with Daniel, Sr., ever did any good anyway.
    â€œWhat are you waiting for, Junior? A brass band?”
    Hell , Daniel thought, heading for his room to change his clothes, what else is going to go wrong today?
    â€œWhen you said you wanted to go out with a splash, I didn’t think you meant it literally.” Addie planted her fists on her narrow hips. “For Heaven’s sake, Linsey, what were you thinking, dashing in front of those horses?”
    â€œI couldn’t just stand by and do nothing when Daniel was standing directly on death’s doorstep.”
    â€œSo you tried to drown him?”
    â€œWill you stop shouting at me?”
    â€œI’m not shouting; I never shout!”
    â€œThen stop yelling. People are staring.”
    Made aware of their audience, the bluster went out of Addie. As her body began to sink, Linsey hastened to guide her sister to the bench beneath the apothecary’s overhang before she landed in the mud. Then she joined Addie on the seat. All color had left her sister’s face, and Linsey worried that she was on the verge of swooning. “Breathe,” she ordered, rubbing her hand against Addie’s back.
    Gradually the trembling abated, and her back rose and fell in an normal pattern.
    â€œBetter now?”
    Addie released a deep breath and straightened. “Yes. Though I think I’ve had ten years scared off my life.”
    â€œI’m sorry I frightened you, Addie. And honestly, I didn’t mean to push Daniel in thewater, either. I’m trying to catch him for you, not kill him,” she added with a wry grin.
    â€œI know that, but from the look on Daniel’s face a moment ago, you won’t convince him so easily.”
    No greater truth had ever been spoken. The man seemed convinced that every misfortune that befell him did so because Linsey commanded it. Even if she had such power, she couldn’t imagine using it against anyone. Even Daniel.
    Still, why was it that every time she tried to do something good, it went so terribly bad?
    â€œI must get back to the children,” Addie said, leaving the bench.
    â€œDo you want me to walk with you?”
    â€œNo, no. I’ll be fine now, truly. Just try and stay out of trouble, please?”
    Once Addie turned away, Linsey did the same, heading toward the livery to rent a buggy. Mr. Graves had led his horses away some time ago, much to Linsey’s relief, and though most of the townspeople had also dispersed, returning to their shops and daily business, several lingered behind. She hated looking foolish, which probably accounted for why she had such a difficult time dealing with Daniel. No matter how hard she tried to be civil to him, he seemed to bring out the defiance in her.
    Well, it really didn’t matter, since Addie would be the one dealing with him—not her, thank God.
    Which brought her back to the original problem. How did one go about matchmaking?That was one thing Aunt Louisa had never forced on them: finding a husband, settling down. Linsey suspected it was because Aunt Louisa had been blissfully happy as a spinster for many years before she met Wayne Gordon, and according to Aunt Louisa, he had been well worth the wait. She always said that when they found their destiny, they would know it. He’d make their toes curl, their breath quicken, and their heart sigh just by walking into a room.
    Addie experienced all those symptoms around Dr. Daniel Sharpe, Jr., no question.
    The problem was, how to get him to feel