What Once Was Lost Read Online Free PDF Page B

“That may be, but Tommy isn’t like most eleven-year-old boys. He has a handicap. That makes him special.”
    “But it doesn’t make him helpless.”
    Irritation tightened her chest and sharpened her tongue. “Tommy has been in my care for nearly two years now. After only a few hours with him, you think you know what’s best?”
    “I can safely say mollycoddling isn’t best.”
    Her jaw dropped. “M-mollycoddling? That’s what you call giving him protection and care?”
    “When it cripples him, yes.”
    Christina gasped.
    “Listen …” He tipped his head, his blond brows pulling inward. “Don’t you think it might embarrass him to have to ask for help with everything? Sure, it makes you feel good to help him, but thanks to you, that boy can’t even walk to the outhouse on his own.”
    “Well, of course he can’t! He can’t see where to go!”
    “But he can feel. And you said yourself, he can hear. Why not let him use the senses he’s got to guide him?”
    Christina shook her head, frustrated. “How on earth is he supposed to hear his way to the outhouse?”
    Mr. Jonnson chuckled. “Well, his nose works just fine, so …”
    Was she really discussing outhouse usage with a man? And a stranger at that! She started to rise, but he reached out a hand to stop her. His palm and the pads of his fingers all wore calluses. For a moment Christina stared at his hand, amazed by what she perceived of Mr. Jonnson based on that wide, rough, work-marked hand.
    “Miss Willems?”
    She lifted her gaze to his face. Determination squared his jaw, but the flames from the fireplace made his green-blue irises sparkle, softening his appearance. Why hadn’t she noticed before how handsome he was? She gulped.
    “I have a business to run here. I can’t spend my day taking Tommy back and forth to the outhouse, buttoning his shirt, or combing his hair. He’ll have to do those things for himself.” He pressed his palms to his thighs and rose to peer down at her. “So if you think that’s too much for the boy, then you might want to hasten finding someplace else for him to go. I won’t baby him.”
    An uneasy thought wriggled through Christina’s mind. Was he contraryenough to manipulate her? Perhaps he was being rough on Tommy so she would take him with her now. The idea rankled. “Mr. Jonnson—”
    At that moment hinges squeaked, and shuffling steps sounded behind her. Christina turned in her seat and spotted Tommy inching toward the sofa, hands outstretched, chin bobbing in his awkward way of gaining a sense of placement. His shirt was buttoned unevenly, and one side of his collar was under his ear at an odd angle. He’d managed to jam the tails of his shirt into his pants, but wads of fabric clumped in front. His boot strings resembled snarls of yarn left over from a kitten’s wild play. Oh, such a sight! She jumped up and met him halfway across the floor, determined to put everything to rights.
    Tommy clutched at her. The first smile she’d ever seen from him lit his thin face. “I did it, Miss Willems. Do you see? I did it.”
    Christina blinked twice, amazed by the pride in the boy’s voice. “Y-yes. I … I see.”
    A low-throated chuckle sounded from the other side of the room. Christina turned slowly and fixed her gaze on Mr. Jonnson. He stood, feet spread wide, arms folded over his chest, and a grin that communicated I told you so twitching at his cheeks. Heat flooded her face. She whirled back to Tommy.
    “You did very well, Tommy.” She spoke briskly, trembling with embarrassment. “And since you’re all … all dressed,”—another rumble of amusement reached her ears and propelled her toward the door—“I should return to town.” She scurried to her waiting wagon before Levi Jonnson had another chance to laugh at her.

Chapter 5
    Levi crossed the floor and fastened the door latch. Miss Willems had skedaddled in such a hurry she’d left the door yawning wide open behind her. Not too kind