Promise of Tomorrow Read Online Free PDF

late. He would stay later than the rest to work on his research and test his latest idea. Alaina raised her head and pounded the pillow. She shuddered and pulled the blanket tighter to her chin. Tears burned behind her eyelids.
    Confusion and doubt returned to further torment her exhausted mind. And, beneath it all, the conviction that Robert would never treat their relationship so lightly. He had pursued her to the extreme, but she often wondered if he did so more to anger Jack than out of affection for her.
    Robert’s face floated through her memory, the way he had watched her as she’d begun to swing open the Hensleys’ front door in an effort to hasten his exit. A knot tightened in her stomach. She pressed her hand there and swallowed against the ill feeling.
    Something else, too. Something he’d said. . .
    Alaina swept back her covers and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Her mind churned to bring to full light what hid in the shadows.
    There’s something about Jack you don’t know. . . .
    That was it! But what had Robert meant?
    Alaina walked to the window. Next door, a fine home made of brick stood bathed in the light of the full moon. Jack often flung his hand in the direction of that house and repeated his promise that he would buy her one someday. “When I’ve made my pile.”
    She shivered when a draft of cold air rushed through the room and forced her to take refuge under her blankets. Finally, sleep came.
    When she next opened her eyes, her mother’s frown greeted her.
    â§
    â€œHe’s got it out for you, Jack,” Big Frank Mills huffed as he shoveled manganese into the ladle full of iron ore. “Watch yourself.”
    Jack sucked air into his tortured lungs and kept shoveling. Lathered in sweat, he gritted his teeth against the oppressive ache in muscles that begged him to stop. His reply never formed on his dry tongue, as the two men strained together to finish the job. Big Frank finally broke the pace. Jack didn’t notice. His arms pumped hard.
    â€œEasy. That’s enough,” Frank huffed. When Jack stopped, Big Frank passed him a cup of water. “Drink. Then drink again. You’ll collapse in this heat.”
    â€œLook at you. You’re not even sweating.”
    Frank guffawed and pulled off his thin-soled shoe. Water dripped out in a thin stream. “I reckon I’m all sweated out.”
    Jack leaned on his shovel and tipped the cup. He drained the contents and held it out for a refill. Frank tilted the bucket until Jack’s cup overflowed onto the floor. “What did you mean earlier?”
    Frank swiped his hand across his mouth and then ran his saturated handkerchief across his brow. “Our shift is almost over. You going to stay and experiment?”
    â€œNot tonight.” Jack let the shovel fall to the floor, relieved to see the greaser moving down the line. “Buddy’s on his way to oil the machinery.”
    â€œWe might as well head home then.” Big Frank tilted the bucket and let the water run down his oversized head and shoulders. His teeth gleamed in the flashes of light from the open-hearth furnaces in front of them. “Next shift will have to fill their own bucket.”
    Jack drained his cup. “You’re avoiding my question.”
    Big Frank lumbered away and gestured for Jack to follow. They emerged into the night air and allowed the breeze to cool their bodies.
    â€œWho’s got it out for me, Big Frank?”
    Frank swerved his large head in Jack’s direction. “You sure have a nose for trouble.”
    Jack hesitated. He chose his next words carefully. “You’ve probably heard that Alaina and I are engaged.”
    The Scot shook his head and delivered a gut-shaking slap on Jack’s back. “Hadn’t heard. Congratulations.”
    â€œRobert was the first to know.”
    â€œHe’s after you, boy,” Frank said. “He sure had a hornet