Tracie Peterson - [Land of Shining Water 02] Read Online Free PDF

for some similar purpose. I’ll see what I can do about bringing them around.”
    “Thank you.” She trudged to the porch and settled the chairs on the rough floor before hiking her skirts to make the high step up. Her father burst out the front door, nearly knocking her aside, and without so much as a “by your leave,” made his way to the wagon for more goods.

    Back at the hotel that evening, they found their mother asleep. Emmalyne wanted nothing so much as a hot bath and something to eat. She was famished, but she knew she could never settle down to enjoy a meal in her current condition.
    “I’m going to have a bath,” she announced.
    “There’ll be a charge for that,” her father said, frowning.
    “Aye, but I cannot go to supper in this condition,” she said, looking down at herself. “Please don’t feel you have to wait on me. I can eat alone.”
    “We can bring your food to you,” Angus offered.
    Emmalyne thought on the offer momentarily. “That would be good. That way you can go and enjoy your meal without delay.”
    “And ye won’t be needin’ to spend good money on a bath,” her father declared.
    “Father, please.” Emmalyne pointed to her filthy attire. “I must have a bath.”
    “Ye’ll only get jest as dirty on the morrow.”
    “It’s but a wee expense,” Mother offered quietly from her place on the bed.
    Father glared. “And a wee expense here and a wee expense there is takin’ ma coin much more quickly than ye’d know.”
    “I’ll pay for it myself,” Emmalyne said under her breath, knowing better than to prolong the argument. She gathered clean clothing and her hairbrush without another word.
    On the way down the hall to the bathroom, she couldn’t wait to lock the bathroom door and isolate herself from the rest of the world. Especially from her father.

Chapter 4

    Emmalyne sat in the back of the wagon beside her mother. The rest of their things, including newly purchased groceries, were stacked around them. While Father squared the bill with the hotel proprietor, Mother questioned Emmalyne about the new house.
    “Is it very big?”
    “No,” Emmalyne said slowly, scrambling to find positive things to say. “But it has some lovely grounds. Of course, there’s weeding and planting to be done. There’s been no one on the property for some time.”
    “But the house is in good condition?” Mother looked so hopeful, but Emmalyne knew she couldn’t lie.
    “It was very dirty. Parts of it still are. There are repairs to make, but I think we can set it to good order in the days to come. I’m hoping perhaps to purchase some whitewash so we can at least freshen up the inside walls.”
    “And what of our things?”
    “Father and Angus brought everything by yesterday. We stored it all in the front room, and today as I get more of the house in order, I will see to helping you arrange them.”
    “Oh, I’m hardly well enough for that.” Her mother put a hand to her forehead and sighed. “I’m quite weak. I shall need to go straightway to bed.” She sighed again and slumped against the side of the wagon. “I feel so tired.”
    “Well, Angus and I will need to set up your bed before you can rest properly,” Emmalyne told her. She wasn’t at all sure where she’d get stuffing for the mattress. Seeing her father approaching from the hotel, she figured it would be best to question him now, before they left town.
    “Father, what are we to use for mattress stuffing?”
    He looked at her and narrowed his eyes. “What do ye suppose?”
    “Well, some fresh straw would work well enough for a time. I thought it might do us well to purchase some bales before heading too far from town.”
    “Always somethin’ to spend more of ma hard-earned dollars on.”
    “I was hoping, too, that we might purchase some whitewash for the walls. They’re in very poor shape, and painting would help—”
    Her father’s sputtered oath stopped her comment. He shook his head. “Mebbe ye’d