The Visions of Ransom Lake Read Online Free PDF

gaze from Ransom Lake and looked to her aunt. “Did ya see any other boots that might serve Mr. Lake while you were rearrangin’ the boxes this mornin’?”
    “ Yes,” Vaden said quickly, excited somehow at the prospect of being able to help the man. “Yes. I think I did. I’ll get them at once.” She turned and looked up to the high rows of shelves nearby.
    Mrs. Clayton cleared her throat uncomfortably, gathering her purchases and laying her payment on the counter. “Here ya are, Myra. We must be off now, Jerome.” She left promptly, taking hold of Jerome’s sleeve and pulling on it so he would follow her. Both of them were obviously uncomfortable in the presence of Ransom Lake.
    Cowards , Vaden thought as she began to stretch up toward the higher shelves. It irritated her that people were such thoughtless cowards when faced with those they didn’t know or understand.
    “ Oh, for pity’s sake, Vaden! Use the stool!” Yvonne whined, having turned to see her unconventional sister scaling the tower of shelves in an effort to reach a particular box of boots placed very high up.
    “ Be careful, Vaden,” Myra gasped. “You’ll fall!”
    Vaden secured her right foot on another shelf and reached up further, knowing full well her feet were anchored on shelving at least three or four feet from the floor. “I’ve got it now. Don’t worry so, Auntie.”
    “ Vaden Valmont! There is a man present. Get down from there at once! I swear. You have no vision whatsoever of propriety,” Yvonne scolded in a loud whisper.
    Vaden, realizing she had climbed dangerously high and that Yvonne was founded in some of her scolding, was determined, however, to obtain what she had set out to obtain. Therefore, unaware both her aunt and Ransom Lake stood directly beneath her, she stretched her arm high and began tugging on a boot box with her fingers. “I’ve got it now. You worry too much, Yvonne. I’ve just about…”
    In a last, strenuous effort to clutch a firm hold on the box, Vaden gasped as her other hand, which had anchored her by holding solidly to another shelf, slipped. Instantly, she felt herself falling down and backward. Though she landed with great force, the floor did not feel as hard as she had anticipated. This was, she realized in the very next moment, due to the fact her fall to the floor had indeed been cushioned. She felt strong hands at her waist as Ransom Lake pushed her off his own body and onto the floor beside him. Vaden had fallen from the shelving, knocking Ransom to the floor and landing on him instead. She gasped once more as he sat up in time for the box of heavy boots, tumbling from the high shelf, to hit him squarely on the head.
    “ I’m…I’m so sorry, Mr. Lake,” Vaden stammered, horrified as she watched the man put a hand to the top of his head where the box had hit him. He then studied his fingers as if he expected to find blood there from a head wound. “I was only trying to help, and I…I didn’t stop to think.”
    “ You rarely do, Vaden,” Yvonne muttered. Then, sighing, she added, “You could’ve been hurt and…oh, are you all right, Mr. Lake?”
    Vaden watched as Ransom Lake stood, brushing the dust from the seat of his pants before offering a hand to her. Vaden felt a shudder as the angry, intense gray of the man’s eyes bored into her own. Feeling completely undignified, humiliated, and juvenile, Vaden took the offered hand. Instantly her senses went whirling, for his touch caused goose bumps to break over her like a rising fever. The man possessed profound physical strength. As he pulled Vaden to her feet, he either overestimated the weight of the girl or underestimated his own muscle, for his powerful yank on her arm propelled Vaden up and forward with such force that instead of standing gracefully, she stumbled forward, bumping against him. At the same time, she tromped mercilessly on one of his stockinged feet with the heel of her shoe. The man let out a short groan