Laura Abbot Read Online Free PDF Page A

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you?”
    “Me?” Lily blushed.
    “Oh, there’s some that might settle for me, but you’re the
beauty.”
    “Hush, Rose. Don’t you go tempting fate with that talk. ‘Pride
goeth before a fall,’ and I don’t want to be prideful.”
    “You can’t pretend you don’t notice their interest. For
example, that new captain couldn’t keep his eyes off you at the Hurlburts’
dinner.” She stopped in her tracks and studied her sister. “You could do a lot
worse,” she said gently.
    “I’m not husband hunting.” Lily grinned coquettishly. “At least
not until St. Louis, if that time ever comes.”
    “St. Louis. A den of iniquity, if you ask me.”
    “I didn’t.”
    With a shrug, Rose held up the mail. “I suppose then that
you’ll be wanting to look over the letter that came today from Aunt
Lavinia.”
    “Oh, do let’s hurry.” So eager was Lily to read the letter, she
didn’t notice how Rose lagged behind. Nor did she see the concern in her
sister’s eyes.
    At home, scanning Aunt Lavinia’s letter before sharing it with
Rose, Lily sighed in disappointment. There was no invitation for either of them.
Just a description of Lavinia’s new Easter bonnet, the menu of a sumptuous
dinner at the home of a local politician and a recipe for an elegant
presentation of tenderloin of pork, as if they often had such a cut of meat
available.
    Bent over her crocheting, Rose looked up as Lily read the final
paragraph.

    “I shudder to think of you girls subjected to the cold winds and
extreme weather of the prairie. Not to mention living in a forsaken army post,
surrounded by who knows what sort of individuals. For the life of me, I cannot
understand why Ezra took you to such a place. Would that your mother had
persuaded him to abandon his army career. Well, water over the dam. I pray for
your safety and hope conditions will permit us once again to meet. Perhaps after
the miasma that is summer here along the Mississippi.
    Your devoted aunt,
    Lavinia”

    Lily put the letter aside and sought composure by going to the
sewing cabinet to locate the pattern for Rose’s new dress. Only now in light of
Lavinia’s vague promise could she admit how much she had counted on deliverance
from this wilderness outpost. She tried to take each day as it came, but the
fierce, unpredictable spring winds tried her soul and increased her longing to
escape. At times she wanted to scream from sheer frustration.
    Rose had said something, but lost in her thoughts, Lily had to
ask her to repeat it.
    “Dear sister, patience.” Rose wasn’t trying to irritate her,
and, yes, patience was needed, but right now the advice rankled.
    “What’s the matter with me, Rose?”
    Her sister set aside her crocheting. “You really do want to
leave. It’s more than a dream, isn’t it?”
    Lily sank back into her chair. “I’m so restless. Every day is
like every other day. Rose, there’s a whole world out there, and I want to be
part of it. If only I were a man, I could choose my lot and go wherever my fancy
took me.”
    “I would miss you.”
    Chastened, Lily hung her head. “And I you.” She had
thoughtlessly hurt her sister. The tug to home and to Rose and Papa was strong,
but so was the pull of the exciting world beyond the prairie. Why couldn’t she
lay aside these dreams that only grew more compelling with each passing day?
    “Are you very disappointed? Had you thought Aunt Lavinia’s
invitation would come this soon?”
    Lily looked helplessly at her sister, unable to confess the
degree to which she had counted on Aunt Lavinia to save her. “Mama wouldn’t like
me to act like this. She would say everything happens in God’s time, not
mine.”
    Rose nodded as if her suspicions were confirmed. “Then leave it
to God.” She began crocheting again. “Meanwhile, I so love having you here for
company. And take heart. Aunt Lavinia didn’t rule out a visit later in the
year.”
    Lily unfolded the pattern, but, disappointed by the