Ripples Along the Shore Read Online Free PDF

all putting our divisions behind us. Starting fresh.”
    Even if that were true—
    “She was looking for you.”
    The message tickled Garrett’s ears. Felt good to hear it. Too good. He needed to put distance between the subject of marriage and his curiosity about Caroline Milburn. “Should I get back to work?” Garrett leaned forward, threatening to stand. “Or were we gonna talk about your wedding?”
    Rutherford raised his hand as if to stop him, and nodded. “I’d be honored if you’d stand with me. In my wedding.”
    His breath faltered. “I’m not the best man.”
    “I didn’t say you were.” Rutherford’s wide smile returned. “But tried-and-true friends are hard to come by.”
    Garrett’s throat tightened with emotion while his secret gained weight, and he looked away.
    “Quaid’s brother is standing with him. I want you up there with me.”
    Garrett swallowed hard. “It’d be an honor.”
    An honor he didn’t deserve.

    Caroline stepped outside, onto the porch with Mary. The little girl’s hand felt so small in hers. Her youngest niece had come into Mrs. Brantenberg’s sitting room crying, asking forher mother’s help. Her siblings were apparently busy chasing the hibernating mice out of the milk cellar, but her brother hadn’t been too occupied to tell Mary that five-armed monsters lived in that dark underground place. On the ride back into town, she’d have a talk with Gilbert about his storytelling.
    Stepping onto the snowy path, Caroline looked toward the barn. Jewell had asked Mary to wait, as she was nearly finished stitching the last appliqué onto her squares, but Caroline told her she’d be happy to go with Mary in her stead to rid the farm of underground monsters so Mary could use the outhouse without fear. The two women both knew the truth—Caroline hoped to see Mr. Cowlishaw. Actually, the desire to see him made as much sense to her as chasing beasts with multiple appendages, but if Garrett Cowlishaw was on the farm today, she did want to thank him again for his help on Tuesday.
    An innocuous and respectable reason to see the man.
    “Auntie Carol-i?”
    Caroline glanced at Mary. “Yes, sweet pea?”
    “I’m sad you miss Unca Phillip so much.”
    Her lips pressed, Caroline nodded. She swung Mary into her arms and kissed the little girl’s soft forehead. She needed to focus on something new. Everyone around her surely had to be weary of her grief. She certainly was.
    “There’s the wheel man.”
    The wheel man was Garrett Cowlishaw, and Mary was pointing at him. Smiling, Caroline pressed Mary’s arm to the child’s side.
    “You didn’t want to see him?”
    “No.” Caroline sighed. “Yes. But it’s not polite to point.” She watched as he and Rutherford walked out of the granary. Rutherford turned toward the barn while Mr. Cowlishaw walked directly toward them. He wore a shirt the color of an evergreen forest.
    Mary tugged at the shoulder on Caroline’s cape. “I need to—”
    “Mrs. Milburn.” Smiling, he reached up and tapped the brim on his white slouch hat. “Hello, Miss Mary. My, but you look handsome in pink.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Cow …” Mary looked at Caroline, her brow bunched.
    “Cow-li-shaw. His name is Mr. Cowlishaw.”
    He held Caroline’s gaze, his eyes more green than hazel today. “I’m fine with Mr. Cow, but I’d much prefer you call me Garrett.”
    “Very well, Garrett. Feel free to call me Caroline, if you wish.”
    “I’d like that.” His chin dimpled in a knee-weakening smile.
    Embarrassed by her puzzling reaction to the man, Caroline tugged her cape straight with her free hand, while holding Mary on her hip with the other. “Thank you, again, for your help Tuesday.”
    “You’re welcome. Your brother-in-law—” He glanced at Mary, then back to Caroline. “Is he always like that?”
    “Only when he’s awake.” Neither of them laughed.
    “Auntie Carol-i!”
    Immediately following Mary’s exclamation, a rush of