Prairie Wife Read Online Free PDF

the shade
of the maple trees growing in the churchyard.
    "Sun or shade?" Jesse asked from beside her.
    "Sun."
    He spread their quilt out on the grass a distance from the crowd,
and they sat. The afternoon sun felt good, and she removed her hat to enjoy the
warmth on her hair.
    Jesse ate his fill of fried chicken, one of his favorites.
Afterward, he took an envelope from his pocket. "There was a mail stage
this morning."
    "Yes, the driver had a quick breakfast."
    "I got this letter. It's from my mother."
    She glanced from his face to the envelope. He received letters
from his mother in Indiana every few months, and Amy often saw him at the
secretary in the parlor, writing to her. Because of all his responsibilities
here, he hadn't seen her for six years.
    "What does she say?"
    "She's not well."
    "Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. What's the problem?"
    "A weakened heart, the doctors have said."
    "Would you like to go see her?"
    "She's coming here."
    Amy blinked. "Oh."
    "She's bringing Cay."
    Cay was Jesse's sister's son. His sister, Ruby, had run off and
left Cay with her mother when he was just a little boy. "How old is he
now?"
    "Twelve, best I figured. My mother has been having trouble
with the boy. He's become more than she can handle, and she asked if we could
help."
    "What can we do?"
    "She wants to bring him here. She needs the rest. And the
help. My father died when I was about his age. I know what it's like to grow up
like that and I don't want the same for my nephew."
    Caught off guard by this announcement, Amy simply nodded.
Certainly the woman deserved some rest if she was ill. "She's your mother,
Jesse. Of course she's welcome here if she wants to come. We can take care of
her."
    Jesse's face relaxed somewhat.
    The boy was another matter. If he was troublesome, they didn't
need that aggravation added to their lives. She felt guilty for resenting the
intrusion.
    "When will they arrive?"
    He glanced at the date on the letter. "Another week, I'm
thinking."
    "I'll fix the other upstairs room for her. What about Cay?
Where do you want him to sleep?"
    "He can stay in the boardinghouse. Or he can sleep on a
pallet in the parlor."
    Parlor was a fancy word for the large room they used for a variety of
purposes, among them, extra sleeping space on the floor when necessary.
    What would Jesse's mother think of the fact that Jesse didn't
sleep in the house? Would he return to their room so he didn't have to explain?
    Amy gazed out across the churchyard, took in the various groupings
of families sharing meals. Her attention was drawn to Rachel and Jack Douglas.
They were seated on a horse blanket, eating leisurely and smiling at one
another. Rachel grabbed the plate on her lap suddenly, and looked down. Jack
followed her gaze. She spoke, and he reached to place his hand on her belly.
    A knife blade of pain cut into Amy's chest, and she jerked her
gaze away. She gripped her plate and forced herself to breathe evenly.
    "Amy, what's wrong?"
    "Nothing."
    "You look like you've seen a ghost."
    She shook her head. She had seen a ghost. The ghost of a
young couple in love and anticipating the birth of their child. The ghost of
naive bliss.
    But ghosts weren't real. So with practiced effort, she exorcised
the agonizing glimpse of the past and concentrated on her food.
    "Jesse, have you met Jack Douglas?"
    "Don't believe so."
    "He's working the harvest at the Bentlys'. His wife mentioned
he needed work after the crops were in. They're... young."
    Jesse studied her curiously. She wasn't in the habit of discussing
employees with him, and her mention of the man probably seemed out of the ordinary.
    She tried to sound casual when she asked, "Can you use
another hand?"
    He set down a jar of buttermilk and wiped a white mustache from
his upper Up. "You asking me to hire this Jack Douglas?"
    "No." She busied herself picking up their plates.
"I was just wondering, is all. She asked me, and I told her Jack would
have to speak with you."
    "If he comes to