Echoes From The Past (Women of Character) Read Online Free PDF Page B

green meadows and white
painted barns. How very lucky he must feel to live in such a beautiful place
and to have a healthy child with whom to share it. Poor Judith, to have lost
all this.
    In the middle of the table was a
slender, paper-thin crystal vase with yellow roses. The outer lips of the
petals were tinged with red. Christie leaned forward to breathe in their
delicate scent. "Breathtaking, I’ve never seen roses quite that
color."
    "They’re Ruth’s secret
weapon," Garrett said, passing her a bowl of fluffy mashed potatoes.
"They’ve never taken less than a blue ribbon at the state fair."
    "I can understand why."
    Throughout dinner Hannah’s earlier
frowns were gradually replaced by small bursts of chatter. Christie was amused
and touched by the way Garrett patiently answered each of his daughter’s
questions. Christie envied Hannah the opportunity to grow up in a household
with such a devoted parent. Her own childhood had been different. . .it would
be a stretch to call it a "family life." More often there had been
discord than harmony and she rarely recalled her entire family sitting down to
an entire meal uninterrupted. Fighting. . .why couldn’t she remember the good
times?
    "Christie, how is your
head?" Garrett asked.
    She looked up at him with a smile.
"Fine."
    "Sure you’re still interested
in the job?"
    "I still want the job."
She wouldn’t get far with the money in her pocket. "Other plans can
wait." Did he expect her to back out? "And besides, I feel I owe you
for such a wonderful meal." Pointedly, she let her glance rest on Hannah,
then returned it to Garrett.
    "After the doctor's visit, if
he says it's okay, you can start tomorrow." He resumed eating.
    "I don't need to go to the
doctor," she said firmly. "I'm fine." Christie put her head down
and concentrated on the last of her mashed potatoes. She had a feeling it was
only a matter of time before Garrett wanted to know more about her plans.
Information should flow both ways, but she wasn’t used to anyone prying into
her business. God knows it had become second nature to guard the truth about
herself and her past. A past she wasn’t particularly proud to claim.

Chapter Three
    Garrett was frankly amazed at the
amount of food Christie managed to consume, considering her slim build. His
suspicion that she hadn’t had a decent meal in a while might have been on the
mark and that troubled him. Plus, she seemed skittish, given the way she’d
barely stood for Ruth’s examination of the bump on her head.
    He was curious about her arrival,
traveling over the road. It just didn’t fit in with his idea of conventional
travel. But then, she didn’t fit his idea of someone traveling alone with
nothing more than a duffel bag. Every instinct told him nothing added up where
she was concerned, and yet her unexpected arrival was similar to something
Judith would have done. Inwardly, Garrett sighed. Again, he was back to
comparing her with Judith.
    During dinner he’d considered all
the alternatives as to where she could stay. With two men in the bunkhouse,
staying there was out of the question. There was a room over the main barn, but
right now that was in a major state of overhaul. He should have thought longer
on this when he’d decided to hire her, but given the circumstances, he hadn’t
felt like he’d had a lot of options. There was also the possibility that her
story wouldn’t check out. . ..
    In all fairness, if she was
Judith’s sister she had a right to know Hannah. But at what cost?
    Garrett studied her, the slim
nose, full lips, blue-veined lids fanned by thick, sooty lashes. Her skin was
light, almost translucent against her dark, dark hair. Judith had been blond
and darker skinned and almost on eye level with him.
    "The days are pretty hot
now," Garrett remarked casually to Christie. "I’ll have one of the
girls set you up with a hat."
    "Thank you, but I don’t wear
hats."
    "I don’t need anyone being
hit by heat stroke. Not only would