And Then Came Spring Read Online Free PDF Page B

good of his landlady to agree to watch him, but she had a bad back and was no match for an active eight-year-old. Especially one as wild as Eddie.
    He still didn’t know what to do about his brother’s house. Would living in the home he shared with his pa make things better or worse for Eddie? Maybe it would be better to sell the house and buy another; one that wasn’t a constant reminder of all that they’d lost.
    After settling his horse in the stable for the night, he climbed the stairs of the wraparound porch and let himself in the front door. The smell of cooked cabbage, no doubt left over from supper, mingled with the kerosene odor of the still-burning lamp in the front parlor.
    He lit a candle and took the stairs two at a time, careful to make as little noise as possible so as not to disturb the other boarders.
    His room was at the end of the hall, the door ajar. Mrs. Hoffmann must have left it open so she could hear the boy. He entered quietly and stopped. The light from his candle revealed an empty bed. A quick glance around confirmed it; Eddie was gone!
    No longer concerned about waking the other boarders, he stomped down the hall and pounded on the widow Hoffmann’s door. The light at his feet told him she was still awake. It seemed to take forever but the door sprang open. Wearing a white dressing gown, the boardinghouse owner’s gray hair hung to her shoulders.
    â€œWhere’s Eddie?”
    She looked startled and said something in German before switching to English. “I thought he was in your room.”
    Drat! He whirled around and rushed down the stairs.
    â€¢â€¢â€¢
    Dan’s house was a little over a mile away from the boardinghouse. Tom didn’t bother saddling his horse. Instead, he ran most of the way, reaching Dan’s place in little more than ten minutes.
    The house was dark and looked desolate even in the full moon. He’d only been here a couple of times since his brother moved back to town. Guilt cut through him every bit as much as the icy wind. Would things have turned out differently if he’d been a better brother? A more involved uncle? Likely not.
    It wasn’t until he reached the porch that he noticed the curtains moving. Had Eddie opened the window? Or had someone else?
    He pushed the door open and the hinges creaked. Moonlight streamed through the open window. If something happened to his brother’s son, he would never forgive himself. At the sight of the mound on the sofa, relief flooded through him.
    But why was Eddie sleeping out here and not in his own bed? Garrett tiptoed across the room. The boy had kicked off his covers. He bent to pick the blanket up off the floor and caught an unexpected whiff of lavender. That was odd.
    Straightening, he leaned forward to cover the boy and froze.
    He would recognize the blond hair feathered across the pillow anywhere. Miss Parker . . .
    But what was she doing here?
    Her creamy complexion glowed softly in the moonlight. Long lashes shadowed delicate cheeks. A memory of blue eyes and proud turn of her head came to mind.
    Could she have been telling the truth about Dan? Had his brother really neglected to tell her about Eddie? It didn’t seem likely, but what reason would she have to lie?
    He covered her with the blanket, careful not to wake her. He straightened and when she didn’t stir, he tiptoed to Eddie’s room.
    The boy was sound asleep. Thank God for that. Perhaps he owed the lady an apology.
    He blew out his breath and pinched his brow. He’d fought in the war and chased down some of the meanest, most ornery criminals in the county. But he hadn’t the foggiest idea how to care for an eight-year-old boy, especially one who wanted nothing to do with him.
    Satisfied that Eddie was all right, at least for tonight, Garrett let himself quietly out of the house.
    â€¢â€¢â€¢
    A picnic basket in one hand and a blanket in the other, Mary-Jo waited for Eddie