Lorie O'Clare The Prodigal Daughter

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

leave.
Kathryn, I can t give you gifts like that. Andy grabbed her arms and gave her a little
shake. Maybe you should think this over very carefully. You come from a world I will never
know. You tossed aside a bracelet that probably cost close to what I make in a year.
Andy, I never dreamed I would have a shot at a man as real as you. I would rather
have a paper airplane from a man who loved me, then a ruby bracelet from a man that will
shun me when his wife comes home. The only reason men like Phillip Ackley want women
like& um& the way I was, is so they can show their friends they can afford a toy like me. I m
using emotions right now that I never knew I had. Give us a chance, please. I want many
more nights like tonight.
Andy studied her for a minute and then pulled her into his arms. He rested his chin on
the top of her head and simply relished in the fact that he was holding her. She d just been
Lorie O Clare 112
offered a trip to London, and a piece of jewelry that was worth a small fortune. For the
moment, she had pushed the gifts aside for him. A part of the iron wall that protected his
heart, resecured itself into place. He would enjoy this, but his doubts grew by the moment
that it would last.
113
The Prodigal Daughter
Chapter Eighteen
School started the following week and Kari was up and out the door each morning by
seven. By mid-week, Kathryn managed to get up to sit with her sister over coffee. She didn t
have a way into town unless she took her sister to the school in the morning. There was plenty
to do to prepare for the harvest party that weekend. So Kathryn learned to enjoy the early
morning hours so she could dropped her sister off each day, and then run the errands
necessary to prepare for the gathering they would have that Friday.
Kathryn found herself wearing a pair of her mother s old overalls, and loading cafeteria
tables into the back of the truck, driving them out to the house, and then unloading them. She
met with a handful of the women from town, and helped individually wrap apple turnovers.
When Friday finally arrived, she spent the first half of the day scrubbing the house, sweeping
off the front porch, and dragging the tables out into the yard. She wondered half way through
the day if she would even have the energy to attend the party. It took all her energy to shower
and slip into the dress Sara Dean worked so hard to make for her.
I can t believe it. Look at the two of you. Mary Rivers sat on the front porch steps,
watching her children run around the tables with other children from town.
Your mother is beaming with pride right now. I m sure of it. Hazel Upton sat
rocking in the chair next to the porch swing. She turned to gaze at the twins, when they
walked out the front door.
Kathryn looked at Kari quickly, hoping the older lady didn t stir up emotions in her
sister. Kari simply met her gaze and squeezed her hand.
Oh, yeah! Sara Dean walked up to the porch with June Elizabeth in her arms. The
dresses look great.
I ll definitely have to second that one. Paul Reece smiled at Kari and she blushed
beautifully.
We do look marvelous, don t we? Kathryn spun around in the middle of the porch,
and then poised for the group.
Sara Dean beamed as she looked at her handiwork. She d successfully taken one
pattern and molded it to fit the personalities of each sister. Kathryn wore a dress that fit
snugly to her trim figure and ended half way to her knees. The collar was high, and the
sleeves short. The style was simple, but the material changed colors as she moved, accenting
the sway of her hips. She wore a wide black belt, which hung loosely, and at an angle around
her waist. She also wore ribbed, wool stockings that disappeared into flat-heeled black boots.
The stockings accentuated her long, slender legs, but also served in keeping her legs warm in
the chilly, late afternoon breeze.
Kari s dress was made from the same material, and fit snugly against her equally slim
body. However, the length of her dress fell past her knees. Otherwise, Kathryn managed to
find a belt in her wardrobe that was similar to the one she wore, and boots that matched her
own. Both women wore black headbands pulling back their hair, and Kari reluctantly agreed
to allow her sister to apply a small amount of make up. In spite of their different hair color,
and length, they looked very much like identical twins.
Lorie O Clare 114
The community, especially the men, seemed quite taken with the two women. Kari told
her sister so many stories of the harvests they held year after year, that Kathryn was
comfortable with the agenda for the evening. There was more than one comment on how
similar she was to her mother, when Kathryn yelled at everyone that the picking contests for
the children were ready to begin.
She had no problem, as twilight set in, with gathering everyone s attention once again,
and introducing the fiddlers who would start the dance.
Everyone was enjoying themselves. And although Kathryn allowed herself to be pulled
out into the front yard more than once, so one of the young men could spin her around to the
twanging music, she couldn t help but feel her enthusiasm slip further as the evening
progressed.
Where was Andy?
He said he had to work today. Kari tried to reassure her, when Kathryn begged off a
dance, and plopped next to her sister on the porch steps. And he comes every year. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Archiwum