[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
the whole livery some day. The man didn t have any family, no sons to leave it to. Jim
believed he d be open to the idea.
If Rasmussen refused the offer, he d leave, travel to another town, and open a livery
of his own. He knew everything he needed to about the care of horses and the operation
of a business. He d done most of the bookkeeping for Rasmussen for several years now.
Despite his inability to read, numbers in columns were as easy as breathing to him. He
appreciated their order and trustworthiness.
As he plucked another ear of corn and stripped it, a hard object hit Jim in the side of
the head, knocking him out of his daydream. Another bit of stalk fell at his feet. He
glanced at Dean in the next row, grinning and waving, evidently considering him a friend
now.
He raised a hand in response and tossed the ear of corn into the wagon. Then he
returned to his fantasy, imagining himself running the livery instead of working there,
making the decisions, placing orders, selecting new horses, agreeing to board others, and
hiring a boy to muck out the stalls and pitch hay.
In his daydream, he no longer lived in the back room. He came home at night to a
small house he d bought with his earnings. Inside, a woman waited for him. A wife. In
his fantasy her hair was as golden as the ear of corn he tossed into the wagon and her
eyes as blue as the cloudless sky overhead. Catherine smiled at him and he could hear as
well as see her say his name. Jim! Welcome home.
Chapter Seven
Catherine set down her satchel and looked around her bedroom at the Albrights
house. The wallpaper was decorated with sprigs of roses and a pale rose-colored
patchwork quilt lay over the bed. A carpet covered the floor almost from wall to wall.
The window overlooked Main Street so she could watch people pass by.
As kind as the McPhersons had been to her, Catherine was glad to be out of the
cramped room with the narrow cot and cold wood floor. While Mrs. Albright might be
overbearing, she was a wonderful hostess. If only she wouldn t bring up the issue of
tutoring Jim again.
Jim. Why couldn t she keep her mind away from him for two minutes at a time?
Ever since Tuesday when Mr. Rasmussen had stopped by the schoolhouse to explain his
absence, she had never completely stopped thinking about him. When she did manage to
forget him, something happened to bring him insidiously back to mind: a telegram
arrived from Aunt Lydia saying the requested books were on their way, a horse Catherine
recognized as Zephyr from the livery passed by in the street, she found the page of
sentences Jim had written in her desk drawer.
From the pocket of her dress, Catherine drew out the tiny cat he d carved and placed
it on the lace doily decorating the top of the dresser. She touched the figurine with her
fingertip. Would Jim come back to her for another lesson when he was finished helping
with the Gundersons harvest or was he using the work as an excuse to end what they d
started?
It was only a few days since she d seen him, but it seemed much longer. Although
she d known him for such a short time, she missed him with an anxious impatience that
itched beneath her skin.
There was a knock on the open door and she dropped her hand guiltily from stroking
the wooden cat and swung around. Jennie Albright stood in the doorway, her round, hazel
eyes looking startled as always.
Hello, Miss Johnson. I didn t mean to disturb you. I just wanted to welcome you
again. She offered a tentative smile. I ve been so looking forward to having you stay.
Catherine smiled. I m glad to be here. Please come in and sit down.
Jennie entered and perched on the foot of the bed. May I help you with your
unpacking?
No. Just talk to me. Catherine opened her satchel and pulled out several
nightgowns, placing them in a dresser drawer. How are you? You ve seemed a bit quiet
at school recently.
Jennie was silent.
Catherine turned to look at her, and the girl was blushing bright red and picking at a
loose thread on the quilt. It didn t take much to guess that a boy was at the center of her
distraction. Besides, she d seen Jennie stealing yearning looks at Ned Hildebrandt.
Is there something you want to talk about? Whatever you tell me I promise to keep
in the strictest confidence.
Miss Johnson, I heard my mother say you were engaged, but your fiancé passed
away.
Yes. Catherine kept her gaze on the dress she took from the satchel. It would be
easier for Jennie to say what she wanted to without meeting her eyes.
I m sorry. The girl s voice was soft and sympathetic. It must have been horrible.
Catherine acknowledged her sympathy with a nod. Thank you. It s been almost
three years now. I ve become & accustomed to the loss. She was surprised to find it was
true. When she d arrived in Broughton a few months ago, it wouldn t have been the case.
Can I ask what you & how you got him to& [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl fopke.keep.pl
the whole livery some day. The man didn t have any family, no sons to leave it to. Jim
believed he d be open to the idea.
If Rasmussen refused the offer, he d leave, travel to another town, and open a livery
of his own. He knew everything he needed to about the care of horses and the operation
of a business. He d done most of the bookkeeping for Rasmussen for several years now.
Despite his inability to read, numbers in columns were as easy as breathing to him. He
appreciated their order and trustworthiness.
As he plucked another ear of corn and stripped it, a hard object hit Jim in the side of
the head, knocking him out of his daydream. Another bit of stalk fell at his feet. He
glanced at Dean in the next row, grinning and waving, evidently considering him a friend
now.
He raised a hand in response and tossed the ear of corn into the wagon. Then he
returned to his fantasy, imagining himself running the livery instead of working there,
making the decisions, placing orders, selecting new horses, agreeing to board others, and
hiring a boy to muck out the stalls and pitch hay.
In his daydream, he no longer lived in the back room. He came home at night to a
small house he d bought with his earnings. Inside, a woman waited for him. A wife. In
his fantasy her hair was as golden as the ear of corn he tossed into the wagon and her
eyes as blue as the cloudless sky overhead. Catherine smiled at him and he could hear as
well as see her say his name. Jim! Welcome home.
Chapter Seven
Catherine set down her satchel and looked around her bedroom at the Albrights
house. The wallpaper was decorated with sprigs of roses and a pale rose-colored
patchwork quilt lay over the bed. A carpet covered the floor almost from wall to wall.
The window overlooked Main Street so she could watch people pass by.
As kind as the McPhersons had been to her, Catherine was glad to be out of the
cramped room with the narrow cot and cold wood floor. While Mrs. Albright might be
overbearing, she was a wonderful hostess. If only she wouldn t bring up the issue of
tutoring Jim again.
Jim. Why couldn t she keep her mind away from him for two minutes at a time?
Ever since Tuesday when Mr. Rasmussen had stopped by the schoolhouse to explain his
absence, she had never completely stopped thinking about him. When she did manage to
forget him, something happened to bring him insidiously back to mind: a telegram
arrived from Aunt Lydia saying the requested books were on their way, a horse Catherine
recognized as Zephyr from the livery passed by in the street, she found the page of
sentences Jim had written in her desk drawer.
From the pocket of her dress, Catherine drew out the tiny cat he d carved and placed
it on the lace doily decorating the top of the dresser. She touched the figurine with her
fingertip. Would Jim come back to her for another lesson when he was finished helping
with the Gundersons harvest or was he using the work as an excuse to end what they d
started?
It was only a few days since she d seen him, but it seemed much longer. Although
she d known him for such a short time, she missed him with an anxious impatience that
itched beneath her skin.
There was a knock on the open door and she dropped her hand guiltily from stroking
the wooden cat and swung around. Jennie Albright stood in the doorway, her round, hazel
eyes looking startled as always.
Hello, Miss Johnson. I didn t mean to disturb you. I just wanted to welcome you
again. She offered a tentative smile. I ve been so looking forward to having you stay.
Catherine smiled. I m glad to be here. Please come in and sit down.
Jennie entered and perched on the foot of the bed. May I help you with your
unpacking?
No. Just talk to me. Catherine opened her satchel and pulled out several
nightgowns, placing them in a dresser drawer. How are you? You ve seemed a bit quiet
at school recently.
Jennie was silent.
Catherine turned to look at her, and the girl was blushing bright red and picking at a
loose thread on the quilt. It didn t take much to guess that a boy was at the center of her
distraction. Besides, she d seen Jennie stealing yearning looks at Ned Hildebrandt.
Is there something you want to talk about? Whatever you tell me I promise to keep
in the strictest confidence.
Miss Johnson, I heard my mother say you were engaged, but your fiancé passed
away.
Yes. Catherine kept her gaze on the dress she took from the satchel. It would be
easier for Jennie to say what she wanted to without meeting her eyes.
I m sorry. The girl s voice was soft and sympathetic. It must have been horrible.
Catherine acknowledged her sympathy with a nod. Thank you. It s been almost
three years now. I ve become & accustomed to the loss. She was surprised to find it was
true. When she d arrived in Broughton a few months ago, it wouldn t have been the case.
Can I ask what you & how you got him to& [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]