Read Online Autumn Trail by Bonnie Bryant - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Bonnie Bryant
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his most prized possession,” Carole added with a smile, rolling her eyes.
“I can see why,” Veronica said, pulling the board out carefully. “What do the pieces look like?”
Colonel Hanson needed no further urging. He pulled out the case that contained the hand-carved pieces. Setting it on the coffee table, he opened it with a flourish.
Veronica pulled out a piece and examined it. “Beautiful,” she said again.
Carole leaned over and selected a piece shaped like a horse’s head. “That castle thingy you have is nice, Veronica. But the horse-shaped pieces have always been my favorites.”
Colonel Hanson laughed. “That’s right. Those are the only pieces I’ve ever been able to get Carole to show any interest in at all.” He put his arm around her shoulders.
Veronica smiled. “Actually, Carole, that horse-shaped piece is called a knight.” She held up the piece in her own hand. “And this one that looks like a castle tower is called a rook.”
Colonel Hanson’s face lit up. “Veronica, do you play?”
Carole groaned. “If you know what’s good for you, Veronica, you’ll say no. If my dad thinks you’re a chess player, he won’t leave you alone until you play a game with him.”
Veronica laughed. “That’s all right. I’d love to play.” She winked at Carole. “I should warn you, though, ColonelHanson, you’d better prepare to lose. My father hasn’t been able to beat me in years.”
“Aha, a challenge,” Colonel Hanson replied. “You’re on.” Then he looked at Carole. “You don’t mind, do you, sweetheart?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Carole,” Veronica added. “Why don’t we pick something three can play, instead?”
“No, that’s all right,” Carole told them both. “Go ahead and play. I don’t mind.” She didn’t, either. She was just glad that her Thanksgiving project was working out so well for everyone. Veronica was obviously having a wonderful time, even though Carole was sure that she still missed her parents. And Carole had to admit that she was having a lot of fun herself. She was sure Veronica would never be one of her best friends—they just didn’t have enough in common for that—but now that Carole was getting to know her a little better, she had to admit that Veronica was a lot more interesting than she had thought. And for now, at least, a lot nicer.
As Veronica and Colonel Hanson set up the chess board and began to play, Carole wandered back into the kitchen. She decided to get started on peeling and slicing some of the vegetables for the salad. As she worked, she could hear the chess players from the other room as they kept up a steady stream of joking challenges and insults. Carole smiled proudly. Her father could bring out the best in anybody, she thought as she listened to Veronica laugh. She decided that she could take some ofthe credit for herself, too, for her generous idea. Maybe Stevie is right about this Thanksgiving stuff after all, Carole thought happily.
T HE PHONE RANG at about noon. The chess match had just ended, and just as she had predicted, Veronica had won.
When Carole picked up the phone, Stevie was on the other end. One way that Carole could tell it was Stevie was from the way she just jumped right into the conversation without pausing to identify herself. “Hi, Carole. Listen, can you be at Pine Hollow by four o’clock today? You can bring Veronica if you want. It’s very important.”
Carole glanced at her father. “Four o’clock? Sure, I guess we’ll be finished with dinner by then. What’s up?”
“You’ll see,” Stevie said mysteriously. “Don’t be late.” She hung up.
Carole shook her head with a smile. She couldn’t imagine what Stevie could possibly be up to this time, although she had the funniest feeling that it had something to do with the meaning of Thanksgiving. She and Lisa had long since learned that it was sometimes better not to ask too many questions when Stevie had something up her sleeve.
“I can see why,” Veronica said, pulling the board out carefully. “What do the pieces look like?”
Colonel Hanson needed no further urging. He pulled out the case that contained the hand-carved pieces. Setting it on the coffee table, he opened it with a flourish.
Veronica pulled out a piece and examined it. “Beautiful,” she said again.
Carole leaned over and selected a piece shaped like a horse’s head. “That castle thingy you have is nice, Veronica. But the horse-shaped pieces have always been my favorites.”
Colonel Hanson laughed. “That’s right. Those are the only pieces I’ve ever been able to get Carole to show any interest in at all.” He put his arm around her shoulders.
Veronica smiled. “Actually, Carole, that horse-shaped piece is called a knight.” She held up the piece in her own hand. “And this one that looks like a castle tower is called a rook.”
Colonel Hanson’s face lit up. “Veronica, do you play?”
Carole groaned. “If you know what’s good for you, Veronica, you’ll say no. If my dad thinks you’re a chess player, he won’t leave you alone until you play a game with him.”
Veronica laughed. “That’s all right. I’d love to play.” She winked at Carole. “I should warn you, though, ColonelHanson, you’d better prepare to lose. My father hasn’t been able to beat me in years.”
“Aha, a challenge,” Colonel Hanson replied. “You’re on.” Then he looked at Carole. “You don’t mind, do you, sweetheart?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Carole,” Veronica added. “Why don’t we pick something three can play, instead?”
“No, that’s all right,” Carole told them both. “Go ahead and play. I don’t mind.” She didn’t, either. She was just glad that her Thanksgiving project was working out so well for everyone. Veronica was obviously having a wonderful time, even though Carole was sure that she still missed her parents. And Carole had to admit that she was having a lot of fun herself. She was sure Veronica would never be one of her best friends—they just didn’t have enough in common for that—but now that Carole was getting to know her a little better, she had to admit that Veronica was a lot more interesting than she had thought. And for now, at least, a lot nicer.
As Veronica and Colonel Hanson set up the chess board and began to play, Carole wandered back into the kitchen. She decided to get started on peeling and slicing some of the vegetables for the salad. As she worked, she could hear the chess players from the other room as they kept up a steady stream of joking challenges and insults. Carole smiled proudly. Her father could bring out the best in anybody, she thought as she listened to Veronica laugh. She decided that she could take some ofthe credit for herself, too, for her generous idea. Maybe Stevie is right about this Thanksgiving stuff after all, Carole thought happily.
T HE PHONE RANG at about noon. The chess match had just ended, and just as she had predicted, Veronica had won.
When Carole picked up the phone, Stevie was on the other end. One way that Carole could tell it was Stevie was from the way she just jumped right into the conversation without pausing to identify herself. “Hi, Carole. Listen, can you be at Pine Hollow by four o’clock today? You can bring Veronica if you want. It’s very important.”
Carole glanced at her father. “Four o’clock? Sure, I guess we’ll be finished with dinner by then. What’s up?”
“You’ll see,” Stevie said mysteriously. “Don’t be late.” She hung up.
Carole shook her head with a smile. She couldn’t imagine what Stevie could possibly be up to this time, although she had the funniest feeling that it had something to do with the meaning of Thanksgiving. She and Lisa had long since learned that it was sometimes better not to ask too many questions when Stevie had something up her sleeve.
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