Her Daughter's Dream Read Online Free PDF Page A

it ourselves, Hildie.”
    “You really want this, don’t you, Trip?”
    “Don’t you? You’re the one who says she misses having space around. You talk about the farm all the time.”
    “Do I?”
    Daddy took her hand and kissed it. Drawing it through his arm, they walked together. Carolyn followed far enough behind not to be noticed, close enough to hear. “Just think about it, Hildie. We could stake out the house wherever we want it, hire someone to dig a well. We’d build a shed first to hold whatever tools I’d need to get started. Having a shed would save time in hauling everything back and forth. We could come out a couple times a week after I get off work, get started on the foundations, work weekends. Nothing fancy, just a simple house; one big room to start, add the kitchen next and a bathroom. As soon as we move in, we can add on two more bedrooms.”
    “You’re talking about an awful lot of work, Trip.”
    “I know, but we’d be building something for ourselves. How else are we going to have our dream home in the country unless we do it?”
    “It’s a long way from town and schools.”
    “Only two miles, and there’s a school bus. I already checked about that. All Charlie has to do is walk to the end of the driveway. He’ll be picked up and dropped off every day.”
    Mommy looked around again, frowning this time. “I don’t know, Trip.”
    Daddy turned her to face him. “Breathe the air, Hildemara.” He slid his hands up and down her arms. “Aren’t you tired of living in a house closed in on all sides by other houses? and gossiping neighbors who avoid you like the plague? Wouldn’t you like our children to grow up the way you did? in the country with space around them? They’d be safe and free to roam out here. No more living in the shadow of a federal prison.”
    Stepping away, Mommy bent down and picked up a handful of soil. She smelled it and crumbled the dirt in her hand, letting it sift through her fingers. “Smells good.” She brushed off her hands. “We could build a tent-house to start, use a Coleman stove, keep supplies in the trunk of the car, dig a hole, and build an outhouse.”
    Daddy grinned. “Now you’re talking!”
    “We could put an orchard of walnut trees up front, plant fruit trees, a few grapevines, and a vegetable garden over there. We could have chickens . . .”
    Daddy pulled her into his arms and kissed her. When he drew back, Mommy’s face looked pink. Daddy smiled and took her hand. “Let’s figure out where to put the house.”
    Carolyn watched them walk away. She wandered back to the walnut tree and watched her brother climb from one branch to another.
    Mommy and Daddy called out. “Charlie! Carolyn! Come on, you two. Time to go home and have lunch.” Carolyn climbed into the backseat. Charlie sounded winded from his fast climb down and run to the car. Daddy started the car. “We’re going to build a house here, kids. What do you think about that?”
    “We’re going to live out here?” Charlie sounded worried.
    “Yes.”
    “But what about my friends? If we move, I’ll never see them.”
    “You’d see them in school.” Daddy turned onto the road. “And Happy Valley Road has plenty of kids. I saw one riding a bicycle and another one riding a horse.”
    “A horse?” Charlie’s eyes brightened. “Can we get a horse?”
    Daddy laughed and glanced at Mommy. “Maybe. But not right away.”
    No one asked Carolyn what she thought about moving away from the only house she had ever known. Carolyn had no friends or playmates. Only one thing worried her. “Will Oma know how to find me?”
    Mommy and Daddy exchanged a look. “Of course.” Daddy nodded. Mommy stared out the window.
* * *
    Every Friday after work, Carolyn’s father drove the family out to “the property.” They went through Paxtown with its Old West buildings, through meadows, and over a hill with a cemetery. Happy Valley Road was the first left on the other side of the