Read Online A Child's Heart (Trent & Cassie's Story) A River City Novel by E. Ayers - Free Book Online Page B

people put garden herbs and
flowers on the floors, so when you walked on them, it made the room
smell good.”
    Shawn looked at her as if she were telling him the
biggest lie.
    “Really. And it was a very long time ago. They called
it strewing.”
    “Uck! Grandmom gets upset if we track in leaves or
dirt. People really put those things on the floors?”
    She nodded. “Today we copy those scents by using
potpourri. It smells good, but it’s not scattered on the
floor.”
    “Daddy, can we get some of that for our
bathroom?”
    Trent glared at her, and she laughed.
     
    ***
    Trent drove across the downtown bridge to the area of
River City known as Riverton. It took a little longer than expected
to obtain the licenses. A single day’s license was cheap, but if
Cassie and he got the one for the year, they could go fishing more
often. Trent conceded and then chose the bait. He was about to pull
out his credit card, when Cassie reminded him that she was buying
the licenses and the bait, because he brought the sandwiches. She
handed the cashier the money, and when she got her change, she
handed a quarter to Shawn. “It’s for the machines on the way out.
Just one quarter, but you may use it however you want.”
    “Really? Wow!” Then he looked at his father. “May
I?”
    “Just don’t expect that you’ll always get a
quarter.”
    “What your dad said is true. But sometimes it’s fun
to just be able to spend money like that.”
    Shawn gazed at the bank of dispensers and finally
settled on the plastic balls that contained temporary tattoos.
Cassie could see the look of displeasure on Trent’s face.
    Opening her change purse, she found another quarter.
“I think I need one of those, too. Does spoilsport want to give it
a try?”
    “No thanks,” Trent replied.
    She laughed as she handed the quarter to Shawn.
    “Do you want one of these or the girl kind?”
    “Whatever you think I should have.”
    “You need a pretty one.”
    She fingered the edge of her neckline and smiled at
Trent. “Maybe I should consider getting a real one.”
    Trent’s eyes narrowed.
     
    ***
    Twenty minutes later, Trent pulled into the parking
space at the park and unloaded the things from his car. A long pier
extended over the lake and it took two trips to get everything out
there.
    Cassie and Trent were busy baiting the poles when a
park ranger walked up to them and asked to see their fishing
licenses. He looked at their permits and then at Cassie. “You’re
Dr. Jones from the University.”
    “Yes.”
    “I took one of your classes because I needed it for
my degree. I figured it would be boring, but you made it
interesting.”
    She looked closely at his face,
but she didn’t recognize him. “Thanks. I’ve always enjoyed
teaching. History is exciting. I'm glad you enjoyed it.”
    The young ranger took another moment to explain what
they could expect to catch with worms and the size.
    Trent thanked the man and then went back to baiting
rods. He cast the line and then handed it to Shawn. “Slowly reel
the line back in. You need to pay attention to any tugging that you
might feel. Hang onto the rod and let me know.”
    She chomped on her lower lip for a second. “I haven’t
done this since I was a little girl fishing with my
grandfather.”
     
    ***
    Trent knelt down behind Cassie and took her hand in
his as he helped her cast the line. If Shawn hadn’t been there, he
would have kissed her neck, instead he breathed in her wonderful
scent before returning his concentration to fishing.
    Cassie had the first hit, but then the line went
dead. When she reeled it back in, it was missing its hook.
    “That most likely was a turtle,” Trent said.
    She raised her eyebrows. “And now it has a hook in
its tummy?”
    “Guess so.”
    “Oh, no. Will it kill it?” she asked in a
whisper.
    Trent shrugged.
    It was obvious that the joy of fishing suddenly left
her, but the excitement of Shawn’s bobber being pulled under water
instilled