Paradise Falls Read Online Free PDF Page B

entirely accidental.
    “Rain’s coming.” Gray wiped his father’s mouth. “I’m going to move up the haying.” He glanced at his brother. “I could use a hand.”
    Rose’s head came up. “I need Flem to help with the canning.”
    “You’ve never needed his help before.”
    “The tomatoes are rotting on the vines. I can’t keep ahead of them.”
    Her husband dropped his spoon with a clatter, causing everyone to look over. He strained to pick it up, but his fingers refused to open. “I could pick the tomatoes.”
    Rose fixed him with a look. “By the time you got them up to the house, canning season would be over.”
    Fiona couldn’t even imagine her own mother speaking in such a manner to her father, especially in front of a stranger. But they seemed unaware that she was even there until she spoke. “I could pick tomatoes and help with the canning, Mrs. Haydn.”
    Rose set down her fork with a snap. “You are paid to teach. I am paid to feed and shelter you.”
    Fiona stared hard at her plate, knowing her face was flaming. Silence settled over the table as the others finished their meal without a word.
    “I see you made strudel.” Flem turned to Fiona with a wide smile. “Ma knows it’s my favorite.”
    Rose carried a platter to the table and began passing around the dessert, still warm from the oven.
    After one bite Fiona’s smile returned. “I thought you said the food was plain. I’ve never tasted anything quite like this before.”
    Rose looked aghast. “Never tasted strudel? What kind of place is this Massachusetts?”
    “They’re mostly Irish.” Fleming grinned at the others. “I think that would explain the accent.”
    Fiona seemed startled. “I have an accent?”
    “So thick you could cut it with a knife. You didn’t know?”
    She could feel her cheeks burning. It had never occurred to her that others would hear the lilt of Ireland in her voice. “Is it offensive?”
    Flem gave a low chuckle. “That depends. If you’re Irish, I suppose it’s pleasant enough.”
    In the awkward silence that followed, Grayson shoved back his chair. “If you’ve had enough, Papa, I’ll help you out to the back porch now. You’ll want to smoke your pipe before bedtime.”
    The old man nodded his agreement, and the two men moved slowly away from the table.
    Fiona got to her feet. “I’ll help you with the dishes, Mrs. Haydn.”
    “The kitchen is mine.” Rose’s words left no room for argument. “I’ll have a lunch prepared each morning, which you can take to school. If you’re awake early enough tomorrow, Grayson can drop you at the schoolhouse on his way to the fields. The building’s been empty for several years now, and will require some work. If you’re not up in time, you’ll have to walk.”
    “Is the school far from here?”
    “Not far.” Rose cut a second slice of strudel for Fleming, who’d lingered at the table. “No more than a couple of miles.”
    Flem made a great show of kissing his mother’s hand as she set down the strudel.
    “Stop that foolishness.” Though she spoke the words sternly enough, there was the faintest flicker of humor in her eyes.
    “Only if you promise me a third piece when I finish this.”
    “We’ll see.” She turned away and met Fiona’s eyes. The spark of humor vanished as quickly as it had come. “We use the parlor in winter time. In summer we sit on the back porch until bedtime. You can sit with Grayson and Broderick, or go to your room.” She turned away and began stacking the dishes.
    Rose’s sharp dismissal brought a grin to Flem’s face, as though he found his mother’s temper amusing.
    It took Fiona only a moment to decide that, as pleasant as the night air might be, what she needed was escape.
    Once in her room she thought about dealing with all the things from her trunk. But the sight of the bed was too great a temptation. Not even the unfinished letter to her mother could dissuade her.
    Piling all her clothes on the desk, she