Read Online Bluebells on the Hill by Barbara McMahon - Free Book Online

planning only to sit out on the deck with
one of her new books, to enjoy the quiet before dinner, soak up the
atmosphere of this little area of the country.
    Preparing lemonade to take with her, she
heard a car door slam. Leaving the glass on the counter in the
kitchen, she walked through to the front, picking up her glasses as
she passed the table. Through the window she could see a large red
car, late model. Who could it be?
    There came a rap at the door.
    Amanda opened it to a slender, elderly,
white- haired lady. She was dressed in a cool, lemon yellow dress,
and sensible, yet stylish white shoes.
    'Hello,' Amanda said.
    'Are you Mandy Smith?' The visitor's voice
was rich and pleasant.
    'Yes.'
    'Well, how do you do? I'm Elizabeth Burke.
I've come to welcome you to Timber.'
    'How nice. Do come in. Unless you'd rather
sit on the porch?' There were chairs on the porch. Where would her
visitor sit if she came inside?
    'No, never held with baking in the sun. Dries
your skin. Hm. Haven't changed the old place much yet, have you?
Nice colors you added, though. Still, a lot could be done.'
Elizabeth Burke entered and made her way regally to a dining chair.
She sat gracefully, fixing her attention on Amanda.
    'I confess I was very curious to meet you. I
have heard a great deal about you and wanted to see first hand,'
she said, studying Amanda for a long moment. Then she smiled.
    Amanda did not know how to answer that. She
moved to sit on another chair, facing her visitor, and waited.
    'Tell me about yourself,' Elizabeth invited.
'You don't look like a hippie to me, except for those glasses,
maybe.'
    Amanda made a face. 'You've been talking to
Mac Mackenzie, I bet. He thinks I'm a hippie.'
    Elizabeth smiled and nodded. 'Yes to both.
He's convinced Cora gave you this place just to plague him. He's
wanted it for years, you see.'
    'Well, Cora most certainly did not give it to
me. I'm sorry he wanted it, but I have it and it is not available
for sale.'
    Elizabeth's smile grew wider. 'If you talk to
him that way, it's no wonder he gets so fired up discussing
you.'
    Amanda made no reply but her curiosity
seethed. Who was this woman and why was Mac discussing anything
with her?
    'He's very upset with your presence, you
know. Not only because of wanting the property. You’re the first
woman he’s really had to deal with in ages who apparently doesn’t
fall over yourself to please him. Plus, he thinks you’re corrupting
his son.'
    Amanda started to answer when she realized
exactly what Elizabeth had said.
    'Corrupting his son? How ridiculous. What
next? I only offered to teach John-Michael how to play the guitar.
Is that corruption?'
    'Only if you are a hippie, which Mac thinks
you are.' She surveyed the younger woman. 'How did you start
teaching John-Michael anyway?'
    'I was playing one day when he came by. One
thing led to another and I agreed to show him the basics.'
    Nodding her head, Elizabeth asked, 'And you
do play well, don't you?'
    'Well enough,' Amanda replied cautiously.
    'Yes, and sing, I understand.'
    Amanda looked at her warily. 'Does it really
matter?'
    'Yes. I'm chairman of our Labor Day Festival.
We have it each year on Labor Day at the fairgrounds. It's like a
big end of the summer party and hospital fund raiser. Each year we
have entertainment as part of the program. The couple we had lined
up for this year cannot make it. We just learned of it. It's too
late in the summer to get anyone, um big, you know. I thought
perhaps you could sing some songs we all know. We're all friends
and neighbors, nothing to get stage fright over.' Elizabeth sat
back and waited expectantly.
    'I don't know,' Amanda said, reluctant to
even entertain the notion. This was to be her vacation, not a
busman's holiday.
    'Tickets are sold and proceeds go to our
little hospital. It's a good cause, as well as being a part of the
town's end of summer tradition.' Elizabeth said.
    'Maybe John-Michael will progress enough to
do something,' Amanda