Harnessed Passions Read Online Free PDF Page B

diamond framed panes,
shined like rare gems in the setting sun. A warm breeze blew across
the fields and stables, bringing with it the familiar odors of a
horse ranch. The coachman continued on his journey with a snort of
disapproval. It was a scent Julia had once thought she'd never be
able to wash off her skin; the scent was pure home and she found
herself inhaling deeply. Strange how someone could come to miss
something so repugnant as the smell of horse dung and drying
hay.
    The door to the large ranch house swung open
and the aging butler - long overdue for retirement - stepped out on
the large wooden veranda as the team of horses pulled to a halt.
His tight curly hair was sparse and silver and showed of a recent
trim; his face seemed a little darker and held several wrinkles
Julia hadn't remembered him having a few years back; yet he was
just as welcoming and friendly as always.
    Thompson had been with the Turner family
since before she was born. He had been a bought and paid for slave,
now free and working for a weekly salary. He had the chance to
leave years ago and start a life as a free man, but chose instead
to stay on at the ranch. He was a loyal employee and a good friend.
Never in all the time Julia had known him, did he miss a day’s
work; much to her father's constant complaints. It was odd how two
people, who never appeared to get along, became as dependent on
each other as Thompson and Victor Turner were.
    Julia watched the old man accept her luggage
from the driver, who quickly unloaded her belongings from the top
of the coach. He was anxious to leave the smells of the farm behind
as the haste in his actions revealed. Julia paid him promptly,
included a generous tip and then turned towards the woman walking
down the steps behind her.
    Her dark hair, though streaked with strands
of silver, matched Julia's in length and texture. The midnight blue
of her eyes shined her pleasure, yet her features were pale and
drawn making her appear much older than her fifty-two years. It was
obvious there was more behind Julia's urgent homecoming than she
had been led to believe.
    The return home to Turner Stables was
prompted by a telegram from Louise who had pleaded with her
daughter to return to Kentucky, telling her only that her father
was very ill and she was needed. The facts were hard to accept,
since her father had been sick only twice in his life as she
recalled. That with the fact that her mother was prone to
exaggerate, led Julia to believe all was fine. Now, as she stood
watching the older woman, seeing the fatigue and exhaustion etched
on her delicate features, she realized there was much more here
than what had been revealed in the brief explanation.
    "Julia, darling, welcome home. How was your
trip?" Louise hugged her daughter's slender frame against her,
wrapping her arms around her so tightly Julia was certain she'd
choke the breath from her.
    "It was fine, long but good. How's father?"
she asked, pulling away.
    "He's resting right now, but you can see him
in a little while. Let's get you settled in, and get some dinner
into you. You look as though you haven't had a square meal in well
over a year. Hasn't your Aunt Lena been feeding you?"
    Julia and her mother followed close behind
Thompson who walked up the steps and into the spacious, well cared
for mansion. She looked around the entry as she removed her dark
red and black hat and gloves.
    The front hall was just as impeccable as
always, etched in varnished oak with a matching light brown carpet.
The stairs that faced the door wound around to the top floor,
encircled in an oak banister that brought back many memories of
little children sliding and racing down them. It had been five
years since Julia was last here, yet everything remained exactly as
when she left, making her homecoming feel stale; it was as if she
had never left.
    "I want to know about father's condition,"
she insisted, receiving an urgent look from her mother, as she
glanced towards the