And Then Came Spring Read Online Free PDF Page A

dispersed, but some glared at her before taking their leave. Mary-Jo picked up her Singer, surprised to find the penny meant for the wishing well still in her palm.
    Standing in the middle of the deserted boardwalk surrounded by scattered nails, she held her sewing machine in one hand and lost dreams in the other.
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    The sun sank below the horizon and Mary-Jo’s spirits sank with it; it would soon be dark. Cold air blew from the north and she shivered. She pulled her shawl tight, but it offered little warmth against the cutting wind.
    It had been a long and tiring day, and her arm and shoulder hurt from lugging her sewing machine around town. It was too cold for the park bench and the hotel proprietor had pointed to a No Loitering sign and chased her out of the lobby. With no money for a room she headed for the train station. At least she could rest there.
    The telegraph operator had left for the day and the station was deserted. Feeling as homeless as a poker chip, she finally walked back to town, just to be around people.
    The lamplighter whistled as he made his way up Main with his long pole. The sound of a tuneless piano drifted from a nearby saloon. Laughter rolled out of another.
    She looked around for a place to spend the night. A stoop-shouldered woman walked out of the church and that gave Mary-Jo an idea.
    Much to her relief, the church door was still unlocked. The rusty hinges creaked as she slipped into the narthex.
    It was dark inside the sanctuary except for a couple of burning candles. The flickering flames cast a golden glow upon the stained glass windows. It was still cold, but at least she was out of the brisk north wind.
    She picked a middle row and set her sewing machine down on the pew before taking her seat. Her carpetbag made an adequate pillow. Though the pew was hard, she soon fell asleep.
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    Something woke her. For a moment she didn’t know where she was. It all came back in a flash. The coffin. Two coffins. The sheriff’s disapproving look. She blinked the memories away. The candles were still burning so she hadn’t been asleep for long.
    Footsteps on the slate floor made her heart thump. “Hello.” She peered over the top of the pew. “Eddie!”
    The boy looked startled and poised to run. Obviously, he hadn’t expected to find anyone inside the church.
    â€œDon’t go. Remember me? I’m Miss Parker. I won’t hurt you.” She sat up. “What are you doin’ here? Why aren’t you home in bed?” Why, for that matter, wasn’t she?
    â€œI—I was lookin’ for Pa.”
    At first she didn’t know what he meant. “But your pa—” Of course. Eddie last saw his father here. He didn’t realize his father had been taken to the cemetery.
    â€œCome and sit down,” she said. She moved her sewing machine from the pew to the floor, leaving a space by her side.
    The boy walked slowly down the aisle clutching his hat. Finally he slid onto the polished pew next to her.
    â€œYour pa’s not here,” she said gently.
    â€œIs he in the ground?” Eddie asked. “Like Ma?”
    Something in his voice tugged at her heart. “His body is, yes, but not his soul.” Someone had said those exact words to her after she lost her ma. As a child they had comforted her and she hoped they comforted him. She pointed at the stained glass window that depicted the Lord holding out His arms. “Both your pa and ma are in heaven.”
    Eddie didn’t say anything but his gaze was riveted to the altar. The memory of Daniel’s coffin was very much on her mind and she imagined it was on Eddie’s mind too.
    â€œI’m sorry ’bout your pa,” she said.
    He continued to stare dry-eyed at the spot where the coffin had been. She wondered if he held back his tears on purpose or simply had none to shed.
    â€œIt’s okay to feel sad.” She heaved a sigh.