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

echoing in the air.
    The last three words brought a determined
lift to Amanda's chin. 'Of course I could.' She paused a moment.
Don't let him provoke you, she cautioned herself. More calmly, she
continued, 'I have done a performance or two before. I play with a
few others, actually. Cousins, you see. We have a small band and
... and play for people.' She finished lamely. It was true. She
played with her back-up band sometimes, usually just for fun now,
rarely any more at a performance. But when they’d started, she had
played lead guitar.
    'A band?' Elizabeth's face lit up.
'Wonderful! Could they come and play too? Oh, Mac, that would be
grand entertainment, don't you think?'
    'I think that's your concern, Elizabeth. I
don't hold much with the festival,' he replied
    'It wasn't the festival's fault Liza ran
off,' she snapped back. 'Doug Rosefeld was in and out all the time
to see Cora. Liza was taken with his charm and carefree attitude
towards life. You were always so serious. It was just unlucky they
went off together at the festival.'
    Mac's lips tightened, but he made no
reply.
    'How's John-Michael?' Amanda tactfully
changed the subject.
    'Wasting his time fooling with that guitar,'
he said, turning his displeasure back on her.
    'He might become good at it,' Amanda offered,
not intimidated by his attitude.
    'So what? So he can drop out of life and play
all day like some damned hippie?'
    'Doug was not a hippie,' Elizabeth said. 'He
was an actor. He lives a rather Bohemian existence, granted. But,
please, Mac, not a hippie.'
    Amanda widened her eyes. Was that the basis
of Mac's animosity towards her? Her lifestyle, or what he knew of
it, reminded him of the man his wife had run off with? Interesting
insight.
    'John-Michael might become a musician. That's
a respectable field,” she said. Just because a person lived a
different lifestyle did not make them a hippie.
    'Maybe, but it's not much of a moneymaking
field, or one that offers stability or job growth. I don't know
anyone that makes a decent living at it, do you?'
    'Yes, I do,' Mandy replied instantly. 'I know
several people who make a very good living from it.' Me for one,
she wanted to say.
    Mac looked skeptical. 'I just hope it is a
passing fad and John-Michael will lose interest before long.'
    'It probably won't hurt him,' Elizabeth said,
rising gracefully from the old chair. 'I must be going. It's been a
pleasure meeting you, Mandy. I do hope you’ll sing in our festival
and persuade your friends in the band to join us. Let me know.'
    'I will let you know soon, Mrs. Burke.'
Amanda rose to escort her guest to the door. Mac remained standing
solidly where he was.
    'Bye, Aunt Elizabeth,' he said as she
passed.
    'Goodbye, dear boy. Give my regards to
John-Michael.'
    Amanda waved her off from the deck, before
reluctantly returning to the cabin. Mac had remained where she’d
left him.
    'Did you want something?' she asked rather
ungraciously, as he made no move to depart.
    He looked rather pointedly at her shorts,
displaying her long shapely legs, just beginning to show a tan. He
started to say something, then paused, meeting the defiant stare in
Amanda's eyes.
    'I just wanted to make my views clear as
regards John-Michael and his guitar. I don't mind if he learns.
It’ll give him something to do. I will object, however, if it
starts interfering with his work.'
    'Work? I thought he was in school.'
    'For the summer he's helping me. He'll be
back in school in the fall.'
    'What do you do, Mac? I know you own half the
mountain and want it all, but what is your occupation? What is
John-Michael doing to help?'
    'I'm a rancher. I raise horses. He's helping
out.'
    'Horses? What for?' It was a long way from
Kentucky and race horses.
    'Rodeo horses, stock ponies, mounted police
units.' He shrugged it off.
    'Mackenzie Horse Ranch, MHR! I've seen your
brands on rodeo horses.' A smile of recognition lit her face. 'You
have quite a reputation in the rodeo circuit; good stock,