South of Stavewood (Stavewood Saga Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

coffee.
          “It was nice of you to put it up for a prize, Tim,” Rebecca commented as she sent Louisa to the kitchen to wash up after her breakfast.
          “It wasn’t too nice for me!” Mark interjected. “Sure, it was a fine idea if I won, but now Samuel Evens has her,” the boy scowled.
          “There’ll be other horses,” Timothy chuckled. “I’m not sitting here with my wonderful family listening to you being a bad sport now, am I?”
          “No, Pa,” Mark smiled in spite of his disappointment. “It sure was a great party. You two should get married more often.” The young man smiled at Rebecca affectionately.
          “That’s it for me!” Timothy threw up his hands. “The next wedding at Stavewood will be all yours!”
          Rebecca gasped. “Well, I suspect it will be a good long time before we need to worry about that. Heavens, Tim. He’s just turned sixteen. Don’t be marrying him off just yet.”
          “There’s no way I’m getting married.” Mark sat back in his chair and held his head up conceitedly. “Besides, there’s no one around here worth marrying anyway.”
          “I thought I saw you talking to Abigail Densmore at the hardware store last week. It looked rather serious to me,” the boy’s father joked.
          “Abigail? Pa, have you ever looked at that girl? She spends all her time fussing with her bonnet and pinching her cheeks. The last girl I want is one that spends all of her time fretting over her hair or something.”
          “So you would prefer a girl like, say, Bernadette Shofield? I don’t believe I’ve ever seen her fuss over her hair.”
          Rebecca could not contain a giggle.
          “Pa!” The boy dropped his napkin on the table. “I’ve got chores to do.”
          “Finish your breakfast first,” Timothy laughed.
     
          “Good morning!” Rebecca jumped from the table and took Emma by the hand. “Here, please sit down!” She directed her to a chair.
          “My deepest apologies,” Emma blushed. “I am so sorry to have overslept. Good morning, everyone.”
          “Did you sleep well?” Timothy asked, thinking the girl looked a bit less haggard than the previous day.
          “Wonderfully, thank you.” Emma took a seat beside Mark. “Did you win the race?” she asked the boy.
          Mark scowled and Timothy chuckled. “No,” the younger man replied moodily.
          “Oh, that is a shame. Perhaps the next race?” Emma spread a napkin across her lap as Birget presented the young woman with a generously laden plate of food.
          “I suppose,” Mark muttered morosely. “May I please be excused?”
          “Go ahead, boy.” Timothy smiled.
          “Oh, my! Did I upset the boy?” Emma asked apologetically, admiring the plate set before her.
          “Mark is being a bit of a poor loser this morning. Don’t worry about it.” Timothy rose from the table. “If you ladies would please excuse me, I have some paperwork to complete before tonight’s meeting. I’m sure you both have plenty of catching up to do and would prefer me out of the way anyway.”
          “Oh, please don’t let me chase you from your dining table, Tim.” Emma rose.
          “No, no. Sit down. Enjoy your breakfast.” Timothy kissed Rebecca softly on the cheek and strode out of the room.
          Rebecca watched Emma sit back into her chair and examined her closely. She appeared to have regained a bit of color from a good night’s sleep. Rebecca had found her sleeping soundly in the chair, early the previous evening, and decided she looked so pale and thin it would be best to leave her to get any rest she could.
          “I’m so glad you came, Emmy. I have missed you so terribly. So, tell me dear, what do you think?”
          “Think? Becky did you fall into a dream? My heavens, this house is amazing! I