Covered Bridge Charm Read Online Free PDF Page B

snuggled tight, put his ears back, and grunted with displeasure.
    Aunt Fannie’s house could use a coat of white paint, but the porch smelled sweet from the autumn clematis that trailed along its railing. The latch clicked, and Auntie swung the screen door open with a smile.
    “I was expecting you.” She pet the rabbit. “And I’ll put up with it.”
    Inside, Carly released Cocoa and waited while Auntie prepared a litter box. Cocoa raised up on his hind legs and scoped the room, then nose twitching, hopped away to investigate the small dining room where patterns were strewn across a slightly dusty table.
    “A new design?”
    “Jah. I’m calling it ‘autumn paisley.’”
    Carly rustled the thin tissue paper as she examined a drawing done in colored pencils. “What a fascinating design. It’s different.”
    “Ach, it’s simple.” She pointed. “Just pears and leaves.”
    “Jah. I see it now.”
    The older woman with gray-streaked, dull brown hair took joy in creating colorful new quilt patterns. Some were tested on the Old Holley Fellowship sewing circle, but many were never revealed, awaiting her dream of publishing a pattern book.
    A quick glance sent Carly scurrying from the room with her aunt soon at her heels. The women ran down the hall, and Aunt Fannie brushed past Carly, entering the tiny bedroom on the right. “Cocoa! You naughty rabbit!”
    Auntie bent and tried to pry a pattern from the rabbit’s mouth. Cocoa spit it out and nipped her hand. Pulling back, Auntie screeched, “Ach! Why did I forget to close the door?”
    While the older woman made repairs, Carly moved past the multicolored quilt that covered the bed and stood on tiptoe to peer onto a closet shelf. She lifted a shoe box lid labeled
Rabbit’s Toys
and withdrew an empty toilet paper roll. “Try that instead, Sweetie.”
    Cocoa snatched the offering and hopped under the bed.
    “Sweetie,” Auntie mimicked sarcastically.
    Carly used the rabbit’s bell to lure Cocoa back into the main part of the house. Auntie closed the bedroom door and got Cocoa a raisin treat for obeying the bell. “Not that it deserves it.” She glanced at Carly. “How do you get yourself into such trouble? Keeping a spoiled rabbit for a pet. Riding a pink bike. Tearing your—”
    She interrupted with a nod. “That reminds me. Make my new dress a couple inches longer than normal, will you?”
    Aunt Fannie lifted a brow but remained silent.
    Let her figure that out,
Carly thought. “Speaking of trouble. That’s why I’m here. I need your help with my volunteer plan.”
    Auntie sighed.
    “Will you?”
    “Jah. Just bring your yellow pad to the kitchen. I’ll make tea. You always drive me to drinking.”
    Carly grinned, having heard that line many times. “I’ve made a list of places we can advertise for recruits. The library, farmer’s market, restaurants, newspaper, radio, places of business around town and church.”
    “What about Salem’s Quiltopia?”
    “The quilt festival’s too soon. At least this year.”
    “Jah, probably. It’s only two weeks away.” The tiny woman cranked open the antique window near her sink. “That feels better. Cocoa got me heated up.”
    Carly scribbled,
Need script for radio, article for the newspaper, fliers, posters, brochures.
    Auntie poured tea. “What do these volunteers do?”
    Carly whipped to the next page. “Why they can do anything: crafts, singing, games, Bible groups, sharing talents like painting or teaching computers.”
    “Computers! Ach. Scratch that off.”
    Ignoring her, Carly continued, “Hand massage, needlework, bring pets, exercise classes, visitor companion, reading, phone companion, taking residents to get their hair done, swimming.”
    “Swimming?”
    Carly shrugged. “I’m just brainstorming.”
    “How about scenic drives? Something to get them out of the center?”
    “Good idea. But I wonder if legalities are involved. I’ll have to find out. The volunteer would have to be