A Passion Most Pure Read Online Free PDF

Patrick held out his arms. In a squeal, Katie was wrapped inside them, giggling and laughing with the others.
    "Mother, you've outdone yourself-this cake's delicious!" Faith said after taking a bite. She licked icing from her finger. "If only I could bake like you."
    "Goodness knows you'll need something to catch a husband," Charity muttered.
    Patrick looked up from his dessert. The smile faded on his face.
    "You're just jealous 'cause I can eat whatever I want," Faith whispered back.
    "Eat as much as you like. Maybe it'll find its way into a figure-"
    Patrick slapped his napkin on the table. "What the devil is going on over there? Faith, Charity, I'll have none of your squabbling on my birthday, do you understand?"
    "Sorry, Father," Faith said.
    "Sorry, Father," Charity echoed. "But she started it."
    "I did not!"
    "Enough! I'll see you both in the parlor after your chores. Go on now, get busy."
    Charity rose and bolted for the kitchen while Faith began clearing the dessert plates from the table. She brushed past Patrick, gently touching his shoulder. "Sorry, Daddy," she mouthed, reverting to her childhood name for him.

    Patrick grabbed her in a sideways hug. "I love my girl."
    "I love you too, Daddy," she whispered back.
    Patrick pushed his chair back from the table. "Katie Rose, where's that picture you promised me?" he bellowed.
    His inquiry sent the five-year-old scurrying into the parlor in search of her present.
    "Sean, are you up for a game of chess tonight? I'm feeling a bit like an old man. I sure could use a victory."
    Sean rose to the bait with a lopsided grin. "I'll tell you what, I'll let you win as a birthday present. How's that?"
    "I said old, my boy, not dead!" Patrick said. He laughed as he made his way to the parlor with the younger children close behind.
    For the first time in her life, Charity took her time doing the dishes. There was no need to hurry through this, the most hated of household chores. She had no visits to the library planned, no clandestine meetings with a forbidden beau to rush off to. Not tonight. No, tonight-despite the fact it was her father's birthday and a most joyous occasion-would not be a good night for Charity Katherine O'Connor.
    Charity had no doubt her mother had already shared with her father the news of the kiss. Everyone in the house had heard his shouted profanity, a completely infrequent occurrence, which only further underscored the true seriousness of his anger. Over a kiss!
    Charity closed her eyes to recapture the sweetness of the memory. Oh, but what a kiss! The soft touch of Collin's lips caressing her neck had sent shivers down her back. Was there any man on the face of the earth so handsome and wonderful as Collin McGuire? Charity doubted it. She sighed and opened her eyes to a sink full of dirty dishes.
    She washed and dried them slowly, wondering what she could possibly say or do to convince her father that Collin McGuire wasn't the rogue they both knew he was.

    If I were Faith, she thought to herself coldly, I could get Father to do whatever I wanted. Charity blew a strand of hair from her eyes and tackled the dirty stew pot. She scrubbed ferociously, wondering for the thousandth time why things had turned out as they had. Why had God allowed polio to take the life of her older sister, Hope-Faith's twinand then cripple Faith too? Charity felt sorry for Faith, to be sure. Losing her best friend and twin at the age of nine was certainly awful, and then to be forced to live in a strange hospital for over a year. But it wasn't like Faith hadn't been loved through it all. Why, Father and Mother had traipsed to the hospital every chance they'd gotten, focusing only on her.
    Charity pursed her lips into a tight line. And when Faith finally came home, Father had treated her like some priceless treasure, hovering over her, laughing with her, calling her "his girl" when he thought Charity couldn't hear. But she had.
    Yes, if she were Faith, she could probably finagle her