The Sapphire Brooch by Katherine Logan (best novels to read to improve english .txt) π

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- Author: Katherine Logan
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βIf I read this correctly, Michael Mallory from Ulster married Lorna MacKlenna, who was James Thomas MacKlennaβs two-times great-aunt.β
Meredith pulled back the sheets on her side of the bed and climbed under the covers. βYes, and Charlotte and Jack are direct descendants of Michael Mallory, who immigrated to America in 1613 and founded Mallory Plantation.β
βHow am I related to Michael Mallory?β
Meredith rolled over on her side and propped up on her elbow. βI havenβt counted the generations, but Lorna is probably your twelve- or fifteen-times great-aunt.β
Elliott gave a small grunt of amusement. βThatβs pretty far removed.β
βAlmost to Adam and Eve.β
Elliott put his glasses back on and thumped through the pages again. βDidnβt I see a letter from a law firm in Edinburgh?β
βKeep looking. Itβs in there.β
He tossed the pages on the floor next to the bed. βIβll look later. Give me a synopsis.β
βTheir client hired them to deliver the brooch, a family heirloom, to Charlotte. They wonβt reveal the clientβs identity. Sorry.β She rolled over, turned off her bedside light, and then fluffed her pillow. βIt makes me wonder, though, if the person knew of the stoneβs magic and wanted to get rid of it just as much as Charlotte did.β
βThat would make sense.β
Meredith yawned. βThe research budget is in the stack, too. The team in Scotland is plugging into a database the names of all MacKlenna family members and the families MacKlennas married into all the way back to the fourteen-hundreds. Itβs going to cost you.β
βIβll sell more Apple stock.β
βI know for a fact youβve never sold one share of your Apple stock.β
Elliott rolled over and sat on the edge of the bed. βThis time I might have to.β He patted Meredithβs hip affectionately. βIβm going to check on the boys.β
βTheyβre fine. They were so tired when they went to bed they shouldnβt wake up until late tomorrow morning. It was a big day for everybody.β
Elliott made a small sound of pleasure. βEspecially Stormyβs Sun. The pressure will be on him now to win the Preakness and Belmont.β
βIf heβs half the horse his sire is, thereβs no doubt in my mind heβll win it all.β
Elliott climbed out of bed and slipped on a pair of gym shorts. βDonβt fall asleep. Iβll be right back. I havenβt finished celebrating.β
Meredith yawned again. βIβll be waiting. Oh, I forgot to ask. Did you talk to David? Is he okay with Brahamβs sudden appearance?β
βDavidβs not the type to live with unrequited love. After Lincoln was born, he gave up hope.β
βI know he said it, butββ
βThereβre few things in this world ye can believe without a doubt. One of them is the word of David McBain. Heβs fine, Mer. Ye donβt have to worry.β
Elliott walked down the hall, smiling when he passed Charlotteβs bedroom and heard soft moans and the rhythmic squeak of the bed. She and Braham might not come up for air before the Preakness in two weeks. Braham had done well at the track earlier in the day. He knew horses. He had won a two-dollar Superfecta and the one-dollar Super High Five, but Jack had to collect the winnings of more than $165,000, since Braham had no identification. First thing Monday Elliott intended to create an identity for the lad, complete with college diplomas and a passport. Before they went to Baltimore for the Preakness, Braham would have all the documentation he needed to collect his winnings. And then there was a small matter of millions of dollars in buried gold needing to be converted into cash.
Elliott opened the door to the boysβ room and tiptoed in, sidestepping a Lego racetrack, but his bare foot landed squarely on one of a hundred Hot Wheels forming a long line around the track. Elliott cursed under his breath as he hobbled across the room.
Seven-year-old James Cullen and three-year-old Lincoln were sprawled on the bed crosswise, smelling of soap and freshly washed hair. Their pajama shirts were rucked up over their tummies. Elliott laughed silently. Careful not to wake them, he straightened the boys in the bed and pulled up the covers.
James Cullen shifted slightly and mumbled something, but then quickly lapsed into the deep breathing of sleep again. Elliott stood still for a moment, listening to the sounds of the night. Satisfied the boys were safe, he kissed their heads.
Stopping at the door on the way out, he glanced back into the room, remembering all the nights he had come up to check on Kit when she was small. He wouldnβt be kissing either of the boys if she hadnβt gone back in time. But her absence would always leave a hole in his heart.
βWherever ye are, Kit,β Elliott whispered, βmay God hold ye and these precious boys in the palm of His hand.β
The End
βThe better part of oneβs life consists of his friendships.β
βAbraham Lincoln
* * *
Authorβs Notes
This book could not have been written without the input, support, and encouragement from Carol Parrot and Ken Muse. Thank you very much!
Notes about events in the story:
β’ A Confederate surgeon did tend to General Ramseurβs wounds at Belle Grove Plantation, and General Custer sat at his bedside off and on during the night. No one told the general, though, that he had a daughter named Mary. Most of the wounded were buried at Belle Grove temporarily until they were removed and interred in their final resting places.
β’ The sequence and times of events in Richmond were altered slightly to accommodate the story, as were the conditions at Castle Thunder. It was a brutal place but my muse took it a step further in creating the dungeon scenes.
β’ General Benjamin F. Butler, commander of the Union Army of the James, referred to Elizabeth Van Lew as his βcorrespondent in Richmond,β
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