Where the Wild Rose Blooms Read Online Free PDF Page B

pick Milly up from school. Every once in a while her dress will smell like chalk and all the other classroom smells combined. I can just see myself there, at the front of the class, chalk in hand."
    Elaine had poured them all cups of coffee in heavy, dark mugs and had taken a place at the table. She looked across and smiled at her son.
    "God will show you the way, Clay. You believe that, don't you?"
    "I do, Mom, but I must admit that at times I chafe at God's timing. I want this now, while I'm still young.
    "You are getting old," his father said, and it was clear where Clayton gained his sense of humor. "We'll find a way, Clayton." He turned serious just that fast. "Trust and keep on here. We'll find a way. "
    Clayton nodded, and Kevin's gaze swung to his wife. His eyes caressed her face and dark blonde hair before he reached for her hand. Clayton slipped away from the kitchen with a very soft good-night to his parents, but they barely noticed.
    "Welcome home," Elaine said lovingly.
    "Thank you." He continued to study her. "Tired?"
    "Not a bit," she told him.
    Kevin's gray eyes warmed perceptibly, and as their fingers locked they leaned simultaneously, their lips meeting, warm and familiar. It was lovely to be home.

    The week moved on with a strong pattern. Kevin took Milly to school, but Clayton picked her up. Each day the Fontaine sisters rode with him. Jackie never thanked him or even spoke to him, but he could get a rise out of her with just one look. And that was the confusing part. If she hated him, why did she look at him? If she had simply ignored him and gone her way, she'd have never seen the amused glance that set her blood to boiling. Clayton mentally shook his head in wonder because she did it every time. He had started to say "You're welcome" even though she hadn't uttered a word, and instead of snubbing him, she looked into his eyes every time. One time Clayton even winked at her and then watched her turn red with fury, her eyes flashing ominous fire before she flounced away to the house.
    In the midst of this was Milly. Milly loved her brother, and she loved her new friend Danny, but Jackie was more than she could handle. Jackie didn't speak to the kids at school or show a drop of the kindness offered to her by various classmates, and in Milly's opinion she just wasn't worth bothering with. Milly was not comfortable with her own attitude, but she didn't know what to do. One day she even discussed it with Danny, who simply said, "I'm sorry its so strained between the two of you, Milly, but anything I would say would only sound like I'm making excuses for Jackie."
    "Does she get along with anyone?"
    "Oh, yes, but she doesn't like school and doesn't make friends easily."
    "I couldn't stand not to have friends."
    "But she does have friends," Danny told her
gently. "She has her sisters, especially Eddie. They're very close, and Jackie loves Eddie more than anyone."
    Milly looked at the younger girl with new respect. If she had a sister that Clayton loved more, Milly knew she would be absolutely crushed, but Danny was accepting and even seemed glad for Jackie. Danny had gone on to say that her father and Lexa could be just as prickly, and that sometimes a person could be aware of a problem but not be able to do anything about it except pray.
    Had Danny only known what was taking place at the store, she would have been amazed at how closely her words echoed those of her mother. Addy was talking with Mitch while Morgan was busy with the books.
    "I can talk to Eddie and Danny—even Sammy—but not Jackie or Lexa. They're just as prickly as Morgan."
    "Has he shown any signs of interest, Addy?"
    Addy smiled gently at her brother-in-law. "That's just it, Mitch. He thinks he is a believer. He thinks he's very interested. He goes to church, he believes in God, he cares for his family, so of course he's going to heaven."
    "But, Addy, what does he do with verses that say without God's plan we are lost?"
    "He would say he