Page 33 of More Than Meets the Eye

She twisted from side-to-side, her skirt swishing against the edge of his trousers. “Something like that.” She sighed, and the swishing slowed. “I wish I could say that I keep my eyes hidden to promote orderly worship and to ensure I don’t inadvertently cause a brother to stumble. But in truth, I do it because it’s easier. If I hide my eyes, I don’t have to see how others react to me.”

Logan released Shamgar’s lead line and cupped the side of Eva’s face in his hand. “If you hide your eyes, you’ll never teach them to accept you.” His thumb stroked the softness of her cheek. “Let them see you, Eva. The real you. The brave, cheerful wood sprite who spreads joy wherever she goes. Once they do, the surface differences will fade from their notice.”

He leaned forward, his gaze shifting to her mouth. The urge to kiss her was so strong, he nearly forgot they were standing in the middle of a road where anyone could happen by. Thankfully, a jangle of harness from somewhere ahead of them jerked him back to reality.

He lifted his head, searching for the wagon that must be near. But nothing was on the road.

“I heard it, too,” Eva said, her brow crinkling as she scanned the area. “Maybe off the road?” She slid her hand from his and walked to the north edge. “Oh, there. I see. A wagon down by the river.” She pointed at a small path that veered from the main road to a low spot along the river’s edge.

Logan came alongside her and squinted into the distance. “Someone having a picnic perhaps? That fellow seems to be carrying a rolled up blanket or carpet or something.” The distance was too great for him to make out any details, but something felt off. The man’s movements were lumbering, labored. Even a heavy carpet shouldn’t cause that much difficulty.

Before he could share the puzzle of it with Eva, she bolted down the road toward the river.

“Eva!” He ran after her and caught her before she could get up to full speed. He spun her around to face him, and the distraught look in her eyes immediately set his senses on alert. “What is it?”

“That’s no picnic. It’s murder!”

12

Evangeline struggled against Logan’s grip. She didn’t have time to explain. She had to get down to the river before it was too late.

It wouldn’t be the first time someone had decided to rid themselves of an unwanted animal in such a vile manner. The stream off the main river wasn’t deep, but an animal wrapped in a pillowcase or sheet wouldn’t stand a chance. It would drown in a matter of minutes. And that infernal path led right to the stream, making it all too easy to drive up to the water’s edge and dump the defenseless creature, just like that horrid man was doing right now.

“You don’t understand!” She dragged Logan a few steps toward the river. “I have to stop him.”

“Eva.” He gave her arm a sharp tug. One she couldn’t ignore.

She looked up at his face.

“We have a horse.”

Shamgar! Of course. That would be so much faster.

Evangeline immediately ceased struggling and spun back toward the horse. “Give me a leg up,” she ordered as she swept past him.

Logan, bless his heart, didn’t argue. Just did what she asked, waiting only long enough for her to grip the horn before clasping her foot and hoisting her into the saddle. Collecting the lead line, he jabbed his own foot into the stirrup and swung up behind her, his arms coming around her on either side, his warm chest pressing against her back.

Too bad she didn’t have time to enjoy the closeness, but a life hung in the balance. So she grabbed a handful of mane, leaned forward, and urged Logan to hurry.

Logan nudged Shamgar into a canter and left the road to cut cross-country, closing the gap faster than she could have hoped. Even so, the man at the wagon had already lugged his load to the water’s edge and dropped it.

“Stop!” Evangeline shouted.

The man jerked around, still too far away to recognize. All she could see was a gray hat, blue shirt, and brown trousers. Half the men in the county dressed the same.

She turned in the saddle. “Faster, Logan.”

He answered with a flick of the reins and a sharp, “Yah” to Shamgar, who gamely picked up the pace.

They closed the gap, but the farther they traveled away from the road, the rougher the terrain became. Their progress slowed. Evangeline’s heart pounded. Please, Lord. Please let us get there in time.

The man lodged a boot under the wrapped animal and rolled it deeper into the water before abandoning the helpless creature and making a run for his wagon. Evangeline’s eyes never left the long bundle of charcoal-colored wool that darkened as water soaked through the fabric. It sank deeper into the stream while the hard-hearted fiend responsible drove off in the opposite direction.

It was a large creature. Heavy enough to sink in the river silt. Maybe a dog stretched out, or a goat. Animals crippled by predators or old age and ones no longer useful to their owners were the usual targets. But no animal deserved such cruel treatment. They were God’s creation, too. They deserved kindness. Dignity.

Rising tears blurred her vision. She batted them away, letting the wind dry them on her cheeks.

By the time they reached the river’s edge, the offender’s wagon had disappeared around the bend, yet Evangeline was more concerned about the victim than the villain. The moment Logan slowed Shamgar, she tried to lift her leg over the horse’s neck to dismount, but her skirts hindered her movement.