Emmy's Equal Read Online Free PDF Page A

with it.”
    “Forgiving myself is hard to do in this town, with Eunice Clark waiting around every corner to pounce.”
    “Daniel’s mama took it hard when he up and left Humble for good. I don’t suppose she’ll draw in her claws any time soon.” Mama’s bosom heaved in a sigh. “Don’t let her pin the blame on you, sugar. I suspect Daniel had leaving on his mind all along.”
    Emmy sat up in bed and swung her legs over the side. “Tell that to Eunice, if you don’t mind.”
    Mama swatted Emmy’s bare leg so hard it stung. “I just might do that the next time I see her. Which may be today. You and me need to take a run into town.”
    The forced brightness in Mama’s voice set off a warning in Emmy’s head. Rubbing the pink-tinged mark on her leg, she peered up past one lowered brow. “What for?”
    “We got us a mess of shopping to do. Won’t that be grand?” Her tone was far too cheerful, and her gaze waltzed around Emmy’s, never once making contact with her eyes. “Your papa wants to buy us a brand new wardrobe.”
    “New clothes? Our closets are full.”
    Mama cleared her throat. “He insists we’ll need things cut from lightweight fabric ... since the summer months are so hot in South Texas.”
    “No!” Emmy shrieked and leaped to her feet. “You said he was thinking of letting me go to St. Louis.”
    Mama held up both hands. “Calm down, child. He did think about it and decided to say no. It’s too far for you to travel without an escort, and we don’t have time to arrange a proper chaperone.”
    “Then let me stay here,” Emmy begged.
    “Absolutely not. Papa forbids you staying here alone. After the incident in the well, I quite agree. You’ve been so moody lately. Some time away from Humble will do you good.”
    “St. Louis is away from Humble.”
    “Let it go, Emmy. St. Louis is out of the question.”
    Emmy’s hands balled into fists. “Did you tell him about the well?”
    “I said I wouldn’t, didn’t I?”
    “Then why!”
    “For your own sake. Those dreams you’ve been having are part of the reason. Besides, your papa would like to spend a few days with you this summer.” Mama’s eyes turned sorrowful. “Is that so much to ask?”
    Emmy groaned inside. Far too much, coming from him. She dropped her gaze. “Can Nash come along?”
    “Of course not.”
    “Oh, please? I need him there. Who will I talk to when I’m bored out of my mind?”
    “Someone besides Nash. You know he has to stay here and run things while we’re gone. You’re not his only concern, Emmy. Nash has a family of his own.”
    She closed her eyes and let her head fall back. “Oh, bother! When do we leave?”
    “Next Monday.”
    “So soon? That’s only a week from today.”
    “Exactly the reason we’d best get a move on. Chances are we won’t find enough suitable clothes for the heat. If we need to hire some things made to fit, a week’s not very long.” She leaned to kiss the top of Emmy’s head. “Hurry down for breakfast, sugar. Bertha made her special biscuits.”
    “Why does Aunt Bert still make breakfast for us? She has enough money to hire ten cooks.”
    Mama smiled. “I reckon long-standing habits are hard to break. For both of us. Get a move on, sugar. It’s getting late.” She started to go then turned. “Don’t fret over the trip. You’re going to have fun.”
    Fun?
    Emmy frowned as her mama closed the door. Living a week under the same roof as Papa would be less than fun. The word for surviving him while serving a prison sentence in a smoldering wasteland wasn’t even in Emmy’s dictionary.
    ***
    Diego rode up even with the porch of the
casa mayor,
the big main house where Cuddy Rawson reclined in a bentwood rocker, his boots crossed high on the whitewashed rail. A tall, sweaty glass garnished with lemon slivers dangled in his hand. His vacant stare and the slight upturn of his mouth meant his thoughts had drifted elsewhere.
    Diego cleared his throat.
    Cuddy’s