Katie's Dream Read Online Free PDF Page A

of, Sammy!” Edward exclaimed as his eyes followed Robert to the barn. “And animals to boot. How much you figure it’s all worth?”
    â€œNot much in today’s market.”
    â€œYou know what I mean!” he answered impatiently. “If you were to hold on here, you’d be worth a pretty penny, wouldn’t you? Pretty slick, getting into an old lady’s graces. Wish I could find me a deal like that.”
    Juli was more than halfway to the house, but she stopped. Nobody breathed a word for a moment. Feelings that were years old jumbled inside of me next to this new affront. How dare he speak of Emma that way? Of the way things were? There and then, I wanted to hit him.
    â€œWe’ve been blessed,” Juli said gently. “It’s not been easy, but God always makes a way.”
    â€œWhen did you get out?” I asked abruptly.
    â€œMarch.”
    Mother hadn’t told me. But unless I could reach her building in Albany by telephone, I never heard anything from her. She didn’t answer my letters. It made me wonder sometimes why I bothered writing them at all.
    â€œLooks like you found some kind of a deal yourself,” I said. “How’d you get a car? And the money for the trip?” Jobs were so scarce, and he had come all the way to Illinois. Few men I knew could afford the gas.
    â€œThat’s not especially your business, is it? What do you think, that I’m stealing again already?”
    â€œI just asked.”
    He didn’t say anything, and it was Julia who broke the moment’s uncomfortable silence. “You might as well come on inside. Pleasant evening, but it’s almost bedtime for the children.”
    Edward ignored her. “I never imagined you a farmer,” he said with a touch of amusement in his voice. “How many cows you got?”
    â€œJust two, and a calf. One’s giving good milk. But LulaBell’s getting old. We stand to lose her before winter, I have a feeling.”
    â€œOught to shoot her and be done with it,” he remarked. “Or is that too hard for you?”
    I didn’t answer. He hadn’t said why he’d come, but if it was only to give me a hard time, I didn’t need it and he could just go back where he’d come from. I started for the house.
    Edward went to his car for a minute; I expected him to lift a big suitcase or something, but he just turned around again with nothing and followed me inside. Juli had the lamp lit and was lighting the stove.
    â€œYou need fresh water?” I asked her.
    â€œIf you don’t mind.”
    Sarah sat at the table with her doll in hand and her wide eyes looking droopy. Edward stood in the doorway, looking the place over. Suddenly I hated to leave my family alone with him. “Come on with me,” I told him. “We can talk while I draw the water.”
    â€œNah.” He shook his head. “I believe I’ll sit. We can talk when you get back in.”
    I looked at Juli. She gave me a nod. Maybe I was just being foolish. It was only two minutes out to the well and back. And Edward wasn’t violent. I picked up the bucket and went. But I could feel the deep uncomfortable churning inside me, so I took the time to pray.
    Father in heaven, what’s the matter with me? I don’t want him here. I don’t like that he’s come. For so long, I’ve claimed I wanted my family to be closer, but here is my brother, and I don’t want him. Not till he’s changed.
    I hurried to the well, praying for God’s mercy. And for Edward, that if he had some ungodly scheme, it would fail and there would be some way to soften his heart. He’d been a burglar. An armed robber. Lord, help him find you!
    I drew the water quickly and was about to march back to the house when I heard a sound I didn’t recognize.Robert was in the barn, but the sound wasn’t coming from there. Or from the dog, who was prancing