Sweet Annie Read Online Free PDF Page A

wedding and the reception," her
mother admonished her.
    Annie
sighed heavily at her reflection. "I always do."
    Her
mother buttoned her dress and kissed her cheek. "You're my good
girl."
    Annie
handed her the ribbon she'd selected and seated herself in her chair.
    Her
mother wound the length of satin through the curls Annie had artfully arranged.
She found a lap robe that matched Annie's periwinkle blue dress and draped it
over her knees.
    Annie looked at the Persian
blanket with disappointment. "It hides half of my dress."
    "It
keeps you warm as well as covers the outline of your limbs. Don't be obtuse,
Annie."
    "It's May, Mama."
    "May evenings are
cool."
    "Then
let's take it along and save it for evening." Annie folded the robe and
handed it to her mother, then readjusted her skirts.
    With
a sound of exasperation, her mother tucked the blanket under her arm and pushed
Annie's chair from the room.
    "You
look lovely, my dear," Eldon Sweetwater said to his wife as she pushed
Annie's chair down the ramp beside the front steps. Dressed in a dark-brown
serge suit and a starched white shirt, he came forward to assist. “And Annie,
you're the prettiest little girl a father could ever have."
    "Thank
you, Daddy."
    He
lifted her from her chair to the rear seat of their carriage, where she caught
her weight with her hands and arms and swung herself onto the upholstery. It
was a well-rehearsed routine, one with which they were all accustomed. Her
chair took up space beside her, and her mother sat on the front seat with her
father.
    Side
curtains enclosed the vehicle and blocked much of the view, but if she
complained, she would be told that they prevented the wind and weather from
making her ill, so she peered out the flaps at the scenery and appreciated the
much-awaited outing.
    The
church had been decorated with pink azaleas and delicate baby's breath. Wide
bows of gauzy white tulle draped the altar and the end of each wooden pew, and
Annie smiled with satisfaction over the hours of preparation in which she'd
taken part.
    Charmaine
located her and bent to give her a hug. "Isn't everything beautiful?"
Her pretty face flushed with excitement and yearning. “Come this way, Uncle
Eldon, Mama and Papa are already seated and we saved room for you. Annie, your
chair can go on the end by the wall."
    Which
would place her out of view of the proceedings, but she could hardly sit in
the middle aisle as the bride came past, so Annie nodded and accepted her
cousin's placement.
    Sometime later, after the
wedding march, after the prayers, while the couple was exchanging vows, Annie's
curiosity got the best of her and she glanced across the room. Luke Carpenter,
dressed in a smart black suit, his ebony hair combed and glistening, nodded
her way.
    She
smiled a shy greeting and turned back to the ceremony. But her gaze was drawn
to him again. He was watching the proceedings, but glanced her way and their
eyes met. He smiled this time, a slow, heart-touching expression of recognition
and favor that made her stomach flutter.
    Seated
between Annie and Luke, amidst a sea of onlookers and a row or two back,
Burdell caught the direction of Luke's focus and speared Annie with a glare.
Annie took her attention from Luke and offered her brother a benign smile. His
gaze shot back to Luke, who had looked away and was seemingly engaged with the
service. Burdy frowned at Annie.
    Beside Burdell, his
dark-haired wife, Diana, touched her husband's hand and drew his concentration
back to the proceedings. Annie believed that Diana was the best thing that
could have happened to Burdy. She was a kind and loving young woman, but she
held a will and a mind of her own. She possessed more energy than any three
women Annie knew, and was always involved in either a benevolence project or a
political campaign. If she believed in a local candidate, she hopped on his
bandwagon, distributing flyers and hosting fund-raising teas.
    Burdy
quite obviously adored Diana, along with