MUSIC IN THE NIGHT -- Excerpt
Whenher father fell from grace and his colleagues and superiors chose to believethe vicious rumors that shredded his reputation, peace of mind, and his health,Carmen had thought at first Boniface had been behind those false stories; especiallywhen some of the ugly, unbelievable stories and accusations focused on her.Then he had showed up like an avenging angel, fighting to defend her father,mocking those who chose to believe the lies. Even with the taint of disgraceclinging to Carmen and Reverend Mackenzie, he had still wanted to marry her andtake both of them away to a quiet life in a small congregation waiting for him.His anger had been tempered with sorrow when Carmen refused him again.
Now...
Carmenfound she could breathe again when Boniface's blue-gray gaze slid off of hersand he turned to study the other side of the street.
"Nothing,"he said, his voice colder than the rain.
"Areyou sure you heard it?" the driver asked. In a moment, the steam-cartcarried them both out of sight.
"Youdon't hear it, idiot. You feel it. In your bones."
"Mybones are frozen."
WhateverBoniface said in response was hidden in the drumming rain, the splashing of thecart's wheels and the rumble-hiss of its engine as they continued down thestreet.
Carmenbrought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs, hidingher face in her knees as she shuddered. For just a moment, even as memories andhurt tumbled through her mind, she had been about to open her mouth and shoutfor him. What made her think that he could possibly be willing to rescue her?
"Youare a fool, Carmen Mackenzie," she whispered. "Just as much a fool ascoming here to this great, cruel city in the first place. What ever made youthink your answers would be here?"
Sheknew the answer to that readily enough. When her mother was alive, Chicago hadbeen an adventure. A place of wonders to explore, grand edifices to gawk at,and stores and concert halls and libraries. There was always time for somethingfascinating after the missionary society business had been attended to. Carmenhad felt so sure that when she arrived in Chicago, her memories would guide herto friends of her mother, to people who could help her.
Carmen remembered her mother going on errands in thecity, always by herself, and once had asked her father who her mother hadvisited, what she had done. Reverend Mackenzie had responded that he didn'tknow. Anna had painful secrets in her past, and he trusted her when she askedhim to never ask, because knowing could be dangerous.
