Indigo Christmas Read Online Free PDF

somehow ye do, more often than not. And if ye can pull it off this time, I’ll—I’ll name the baby after you!”
    Hilda began to laugh. The tension had to be released somehow. “Hilda! A fine name for an Irish girl, I do not think. And what if it is a boy?”
    â€œThen we’ll name him Sean. That’s Irish for John—for your last name. Your old last name, I mean. It’ll please his father, too; he’ll think I’m namin’ the boy after him. And it’ll not be Hilda for a girl. It’ll be Fiona.”
    Hilda frowned.
    â€œBecause,” said Norah, looking at Hilda’s hair, “ Fiona means fair. And you’re the fairest girl I ever knew—and fair the other way, too.”
    â€œAnd that, child, is a compliment worth having,” said Aunt Molly. “Norah has said you are fair of hair, and just of mind and heart.”
    Just for one moment Hilda wanted to hug her friend, hard, but she felt tears in her own eyes and feared they would overflow at any show of sentiment. And then she might make Norah cry, too. So she sniffed, instead. “It is true that I do not like unfairness. But I do not think my family will understand if I tell them a baby named Fiona is named after me. You are fanciful, Norah, like all the Irish. You will be telling me stories about the Little People next.”
    â€œOoh, Hilda, ye make me so mad! Can’t even take a compliment seriously! See if I ever pay you another one!”
    And they were off, bickering amicably until bedtime.
    Aunt Molly left after she had seen Norah tucked into the spare-room bed with a glass of hot milk and a plate of soda crackers in case she woke up hungry. Hilda and Patrick went up to bed, but they were too restless to go to sleep.
    â€œI hope it does not snow tomorrow,” said Hilda as she buttoned her long-sleeved nightgown. It was beautifully trimmed with lace, as befitted a bride, but was made of good warm wool flannel. Hilda the Swede knew all about cold winters.
    â€œWhy? Do you need to go out?” Shivering, Patrick pulled his nightshirt on over his head and dived into bed.
    â€œPatrick! You know I must go out.” She unpinned her coronet braids and began to brush her long blond hair. “I must find Erik and talk to him, and call on Mrs. Elbel and tell her I will work with the boys, and talk to some of Erik’s friends, and you— you must talk to the police. And to your fireman friends, too, to learn about the fire and how it started.”
    â€œI have to go to work, darlin’.”
    â€œUncle Dan will let you take some time off. Aunt Molly will tell him all about Norah’s trouble, and he will understand.” She climbed into the big brass bed and pulled the comforter up to her nose.
    â€œThat he will. He’s a good man, Uncle Dan. But Hilda—” Patrick propped himself up on one elbow and turned to Hilda. “Do you think Sean really didn’t take that money?”
    â€œOh, Patrick, I want to believe that he did not. But—”
    â€œYes. That’s the trouble, isn’t it? I’ll never believe Sean killed a man. Never mind that he’s my cousin. I’ve hundreds of cousins, thousands, maybe, and some of ’em would kill if they had to.” He was silent, both of them thinking of his cousin Clancy, son of Uncle Dan and Aunt Molly, who had abetted a major crime and been virtually exiled from the family.
    â€œBut if some of ’em would, so I know most wouldn’t, and Sean’s one of the wouldn’t crowd. Stealin’, though, that’s another thing. With not much money comin’ in and a new mouth to feed soon…and if he did take that money, he’s in big trouble, no matter what.”
    â€œI know, Patrick. I have thought of all that.” She yawned in spite of herself. “That is why, in the morning, we must…we will…if it does not snow…” She turned and nestled