Earth Angels Read Online Free PDF

roof had been torn off. They watched as the old woman climbed a rickety ladder, holding a hammer and several shingles.
    “Faith, would ya look at that now, and the woman’s seventy if she’s a day,” Shawn exclaimed, pulling the team to a halt. He asked Granny what had happened, and she explained that a windstorm the day before had wrecked her roof.
    Shawn insisted that Granny allow him to fix it for her, and when it was done he refused the payment she offered, accepting instead a hearty meal for himself and Emma.
    Even now, Emma’s stomach ached when she remembered the heaping platefuls of food Granny had set in front of them, and the warning glances Shawn sent her way.
    They’d eaten dinner not half an hour before arriving in Demersville, and Emma almost burst as she forced down Granny’s food as well.
    Papa understood pride, Emma mused. He also understood that an old timer like Granny could tell them more about the town and it’s inhabitants in an hour than he and Emma could learn on their own in a month.
    How she missed her Papa.
    Granny’s quavery voice cut into her musings.
    “You ever regretted stayin’ behind whilst he went wanderin’, child?”
    Emma hesitated a moment and then shook her head. “I get really lonely for him. There was always just the two of us, and we were very close. But he knew I’d had enough of wandering, Granny. I wanted to settle in one place, to have something permanent of my own. We’d stayed in more towns than I can remember, but we always moved on eventually.”
    It was thanks to Granny—and Shawn, of course—that she’d ended up with the store. Granny knew old Mr. Simpkins wanted to sell, the place was too much for him. And Shawn had given her the money to buy the store, with extra to fix it up and increase the stock. It cost more money than she’d ever dreamed Shawn had. Love and gratitude welled up in her heart every time she thought about it.
    “It was to be yer dowry, darlin’,” Shawn had said, handing her the thick wad of bills. “But I’m thinkin’ the lucky young devil should be payin’ me for the privilege when he finally comes along, so go buy your store and a blessin’ on ya, my Emma. You’ll make a fortune, what with yer mother’s beauty, god rest her soul, and gift of gab you’ve inherited from me.”
    She looked at Granny and shook her head. “It finally dawned on me that Papa would never settle down,” she said sadly.
    Granny nodded. “The Irish are funny that way.” She held her cup out in her gnarled fingers for a refill. “Mighta bin different, had yer mama lived.”
    “I don’t remember her at all. I was only two when she died.”
    “Hard fer a girl child, growin’ up without a ma to guide her. Hard fer her to learn womanly ways, though seems you did right fine that way, Emma.” Granny cackled and winked at Emma. “Never saw any young bucks hangin’ round here when old man Simpkins run the place. Now most days a body can hardly get near this stove, what with the crowd of duded up fellers vyin’ fer your attention.”
    She shot Emma a shrewd look from under her bushy white eyebrows. “Sumpin’ tells me you ain’t really got eyes fer any of that crowd. You got yer sights set someplace else, am I right, child?”
    Emma fidgeted uncomfortably and wondered where her customers were when she needed them.
    Granny nodded. “Joseph’s a fine man, none finer, but he’s a hard one to corral. Most of the mama’s with marriageable girls has tried everythin’ and then some to snare him, with no luck.” She leaned in close to Emma. “I’m right fond of you, gal. Seems to me you’d be good fer him, and he fer you. I’ll make ye a potion to wear round yer pretty neck. It’ll draw him like a possum to molasses.”
    Granny left at last, and Emma giggled when she imagined the foul smelling “potion” Granny would undoubtedly provide. The idea of a potion wasn’t too ridiculous, though. But she had her own notion of the type of elixir