Song of the Meadowlark (Intertwined Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

chair at the table with the O’Reillys.
    “Why aren’t you?” Pearl asked.
    “My car isn’t going to be ready until Sunday. It’s going to cost a bit more than I’d hoped. So I’ll be staying a little longer than planned.” The words crawled out of her mouth. Here she was, confiding in people she hardly knew. Strangely, this was easier than talking to Mom and Dad.
    “What are you going to do for money? Do you need to borrow some? Or are you planning on staying here and working with Ms. Lottie?” R.L. inquired.
    “That all depends on you two.” Cora smiled.
    “Us? Why us?”
    “Well, Mrs. O’Reilly, were you serious when you said you’d like to have me out at the ranch?”
    “Oh yes!” Pearl exclaimed.
    “Then I’ll come. I don’t know how long I can stay, but I’d love to help you out with your granddaughter, and I could use the money.”
    “It’s settled then. You eat dinner with us, and we’ll get your things and take you home tonight.” R.L. clapped his hands.
    “Don’t you need to clear it with your son first?”
    R.L. shook his head. “No. He’s so busy with the ranch, he’ll hardly notice you’re there.”
    Pearl clarified, “He’s swamped with trying to keep the ranch going. It’s hard to make a living these days like we did in the old days. And it’s a passion of his. He doesn’t like change. Please know R.L. didn’t mean to imply you wouldn’t catch our son’s eye.”
    “Of course, I understood what you meant.” Catch his eye? What exactly do they have in mind?
    As Cora ate with her new friends, her heart felt lighter.

* * *
    A thirty-minute drive out of town led to a quiet region with nothing but flat farmland sprinkled with green hills and valleys. Cora’s mouth flew open when they pulled under the archway and drove down the long, curving drive toward the Southern Hope cattle ranch. Bradford pear trees lined the gravel drive leading the way to the place she’d call home for a few days. The plantation-style home and roving pasture was like something out of a movie where the rich landowner dominated the community around him.
    Cora climbed out of the car, drinking in the turnaround drive, brick-paved parking area, and grandiose porch with the swing at the end near the pasture. Flowers bloomed in the numerous flower beds surrounding the walkway to the front door.
    “I hope you’ll find the house to your liking. Please know that whatever we have is yours. And feel free to ask for anything you can’t find.” Pearl opened the front door, and they walked inside.
    “Thank you.” Cora forced her mouth shut and tried to pretend that she wasn’t enamored with this place.
    “It looks like our oldest son has retired to his office and our other two young adults are out for the evening. Our granddaughter is in bed already too. Let me show you to your room.” Pearl led the way up the winding staircase.
    Once settled in her room, Cora called Ben and Judy and told them what had happened with Mom and Dad. Her cell had no signal for some reason, so she’d called from the phone beside the bed and gave them the number, then hung up before giving herself a chance to get emotional. She snuggled against her plush pillow, her body underneath cool cotton sheets that smelled like summer flowers, and soon fell fast asleep.

* * *
    Cora awoke to birds chirping, dogs barking, horses neighing, and cows mooing. She yawned and moved her legs, but the covers barely budged. She opened her eyes to a young child sitting at the foot of her bed. With eyes like those of a fawn and hair much like golden silk, this tiny princess said not a word. She only stared at Cora.
    Cora sat up in her bed, fluffing her pillows so she could lean back against the antique headboard. She pushed her hair out of her face and smiled at the angel. “Hello.”
    “Hi.” The girl looked down at her hands.
    “What’s your name?”
    “Susie.” She rubbed her hands together. She was obviously nervous meeting Cora for the