House On Windridge Read Online Free PDF Page B

rather frightened of the whole thing.”
    Ryan let out a squeal that sounded more delighted than frightened, and Jessica couldn’t resist laughing.
    Buck quickly came to help her down from the carriage, and just as he had predicted, Kate appeared to whisk them both inside.
    â€œOh, my!” Kate remarked in absolute delight upon catching sight of Ryan. She reached arms out for the baby, but Jessica shook her head.
    â€œHe’s soaking,” she warned.
    â€œLike that could stop me.” Kate laughed and took the baby anyway.
    Jessica felt a moment of panic, then forced herself to relax. This is Kate, she reminded herself. Kate, who had kept up correspondences over the years. Kate wouldn’t try to steal her baby. Would she?
    â€œWhat a beautiful boy!” Kate declared. “Come on. Let’s get you in out of this wind and into a dry diaper.”
    Jessica glanced around and felt the breeze on her face. It invigorated and revived her. Somehow it seemed that city life had stifled her and drained her of all energy. Windridge had a way of awakening Jessica. It had begun with that first visit at twelve and continued with each subsequent trip home.
    She finally looked back at Kate and found the woman was already ten feet ahead of her and heading up the stone steps to the porch. Drawing a deep breath, Jessica followed after the older woman, thinking to herself how very little Kate had changed. She now had a generous sprinkling of gray in her hair, and she wore small, circular, wire-rimmed glasses that gave her an almost scholarly appearance. But she was still the same old jolly Kate.
    â€œYou can see for yourself that the place has suffered miserably,” Kate told her as they made their way into the house. “Your father wasn’t himself for the last five years.”
    â€œSince my marriage,” Jessica replied flatly, knowing full well that she had grieved him something terrible when she’d married Newman.
    Kate stopped dead in her tracks. “Oh, Jessie, I didn’t mean it that way.”
    Jessica shrugged. “But it’s true. I know it hurt him. I wish I could take it back, but I can’t.”
    â€œDon’t wish for things like that,” Kate admonished. “You’d have to wish this little fellow away as well. Everything comes with a purpose, and God turns even our disobedience into glory for Himself.”
    Jessica smiled. How good it felt to hear someone speak about God. Most of her friends in New York were into mystic readings and psychic adventures. They believed in conjuring spirits of dead loved ones and held all-night parties in order to satisfy their ghoulish natures. Jessica could have no part in such matters, even if the likes of such things were sweeping the eastern cities in a rage of acceptance.
    She’d been told by a friend that Essie had purchased a charm to make Ryan love her more than Jessica. It was all madness, or so it seemed. Playing at what most considered harmless enchantments and magic spells had left Jessica desperate to find new friends. Friends whose faith was steeped not in manipulating people to do what they wanted but in seeking God and learning what He wanted.
    â€œDid I lose you?” Kate asked, turning suddenly inside the foyer.
    â€œNot at all,” Jessica replied. “I was only thinking of how wonderful it was to hear someone speak of God again. I’m afraid all manner of strangeness is going on in the city, and I’ve been rather alienated from good fellowship.”
    â€œYou’ll have to tell me all about it,” Kate answered, and Jessica knew she truly meant it. Ryan began to fuss and pulled at Kate’s glasses in irritated fashion. “Come on, little guy; let’s get you changed.”
    Jessica felt a momentary panic as the baby continued to cry. She fought her desire to rip him from Kate’s arms. It wasn’t Kate’s fault that Essie had treated Jessica so falsely.