Maggie's Journey (McKenna's Daughters) Read Online Free PDF Page A

warmth she had luxuriated in as a small child.
    Finally, the drawing met her approval. Just in time to eat lunch. Maybe this afternoon she could finish the other sketch with the changes to make the dress more appropriate for her mother than herself.
    Once again the kitchen welcomed her, and she enjoyed eating there with Mrs. Jorgensen. If Mother had been home, they would have had the meal in the formal dining room, complete with china, crystal, and silver. Such a fuss for an ordinary day.
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    "Margaret." Her mother's voice rose from the foyer below. "I'm home."
    Looking at the names of people she'd placed on the invitation list, Maggie finished writing Charles Stanton's name and put the pen down. "Coming, Mother."
    She rushed out of her room and stood at the top of the staircase. "Did you want me?"
    "Yes, dear. I thought we could get some shopping done this afternoon." Her mother still wore her gloves and cape.
    "Is it cold?"
    Mother nodded. "It's a bit nippy, so wear something warm."
    "I'll get my things." Maggie hurried back to her room and gathered a light jacket, a handbag, and her gloves.
    When she arrived in the foyer, Mother stood tapping her foot impatiently. "I had hoped we could buy most of the things we'll need today."
    Maggie bit her tongue to keep from reminding her that she wasn't the one who had frittered away so much of the day. If Mother wanted to go shopping, why didn't they do it earlier? She could have gone along for the lunch with Daddy. But evidently Mother preferred spending time with Daddy instead of her. She took a deep breath and followed her mother to the coach sitting in front of the house.
    Mrs. Jorgensen's son, who was their driver, stood beside the open door, ready to assist them into the conveyance.
    "Erik, please take us by the Emporium." Mother took hold of his hand as she stepped up into the vehicle.
    Maggie followed suit. "Why are we going to the store? Are we going to shop there?"
    The door snapped shut, and Erik climbed into the driver's seat.
    "I forgot to get money from your father when we were at lunch." Mother settled her skirts as the coach lurched forward. "I believe your father is signing papers with young Charles Stanton this afternoon. It will be nice to see him again. Did you add him to your guest list?"
    Maggie nodded, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. She hadn't seen Charles since she was about sixteen, but she still remembered the girlish secret infatuation she'd had when she was younger. He'd been so handsome, and kind too. Would he be changed since he'd graduated from university? She would soon find out.
    She settled back into the carriage seat, suddenly looking forward to the afternoon's events.

Chapter 2

    Charles Stanton stood in the office above the furniture store he’d recently inherited from his grandfather. With his hands shoved into the pockets of his trousers, he studied the whitecaps on the water of Puget Sound, barely visible from his position. The movement of the waves soothed him even though he wasn’t close enough to hear them lapping against the shore. It was a sound that always calmed him, and that’s what he needed right now.
    Am I doing the right thing ? He’d asked himself that question more than once during the recent negotiations.
    When he turned fourteen, Grandpa started teaching him about the business, grooming him to eventually take it over. Charles never considered such a thing would happen when he was only twenty-two years old. Maybe his grandfather had somehow sensed he wasn’t long for this world. Two years ago, when Charles graduated from Territorial University, Grandpa increased the depth of Charles’s training. Even on his deathbed, Grandpa assured Charles he didn’t have anything to worry about. Grandpa trusted him with the business he had built. Charles only wished he felt as certain.
    I can do it . He repeated the phrase in his mind more than once. He stood taller and lifted his chin. After all, he was smart and