Charlene Sands Read Online Free PDF

dirt covered her overalls andseemed to be an extension of her small body. Where did dirt end and little girl begin? Two long braids hanging past her shoulders looked more like seasoned pepper than the ginger color she knew her hair to be. “How’d you get so dirty?”
    Bethann shrugged. “I fell.”
    “Where on earth did you fall?”
    “Near the creek.”
    “The creek? Tell me you weren’t out there all by yourself.”
    “It ain’t so far from here. ’Sides, Randy was being an old feather-head.”
    Lily hid a grin. “It isn’t so far from here,” she corrected. “Did you sneak out?”
    “Randy ain’t my papa. I don’t have to listen to him. He said to stay put, but I wanted to see the tadpoles.”
    “Bethann,” Lily said sternly, “Randy may not be your papa, but your father gave him the responsibility to watch out for you today. You should’ve listened to him. You might’ve been hurt. And nobody would know where you were.”
    “I almost fell right smack in the water.”
    Lily hugged the child to her chest. “Bethann, what you did was dangerous. Your papa would be really sad if you were hurt. You don’t want to make your papa sad now, do you?”
    The little girl’s eyes broadened in understanding then she slowly shook her head. Lily hoped she made her point clear enough for Bethann to take heed.
    “Bethann, you’ve got to do something for me. You’ve got to promise never to run off like that. Your papa needs you around, sweetie, safe and sound.”
    “I promise. I got to take care of my papa.”
    Lily watched Bethann’s solemn expression. She believedher, for now. “All right then, first I think a bath is in order, then we’ll get you dressed for the party.”
    The words seemed strange coming from Lily’s lips. Since when had she been appointed guardian over Bethann? The way she was taking over, a body might think she belonged in this house.
    “I hafta take a bath?”
    “Of course, you’re filthy. Lead the way.”
    It was almost three when Wes let Joellen and Letty Sue Withers into the house. A clean-scrubbed Bethann was propped on Lily’s lap in her new birthday attire. Lily was reading a book of nursery rhymes to her.
    The women greeted Lily and wished Bethann a happy birthday before sitting down in the parlor. Shortly after, Rhonda Mae McDowell came prancing in, running over to Bethann. The two girls took to scampering through the house.
    Letty Sue did her best to ignore Lily by turning away and engaging her mother in conversation. That suited Lily just fine. But Joellen was a gracious woman and steered the conversation to Lily.
    “Lillian, I hear you’ve sold your goods to Wilbourne’s Emporium. Will you be staying in Sweet Springs?”
    Lily straightened in her seat. “I hope to be moving on soon. I’ve an uncle in Chicago. I expect to hear from him any day now.”
    Joellen nodded, a look of compassion crossed over her features. “I see, dear. Well, I hope it works out for you.”
    “Yes. Thank you.” Lily felt Letty Sue’s eyes on her. She wouldn’t return her gaze. Instead Lily stared down at her hands.
    “Everyone knows why he did it, Lillian,” Letty Sue said smugly.
    Lily’s head shot up to view the young woman sitting forward in the chair. The material of her flowery dress tightened, jutting out her full bosom and cinching in her small waistline.
    Lily stiffened. Letty Sue Withers was everything Lily was not. Petite, exceptionally pretty and feminine. Not to mention, five years younger. “Did what?”
    Steely blue eyes rounded on her. “Propose. He only wants you for Bethann. The whole town knows it, too. He’d never want you for anything—”
    “Now, Letty Sue,” Joellen said, her eyes softening on Lily, “a man like Tyler doesn’t propose lightly. If he asked her, he meant it.”
    “But, Mama, he said just the other day, if things were different, he’d be asking me.”
    Joellen shot her daughter a cautionary glance. “He did no such thing, darling. He