Read Online Bluebonnet Belle by Lori Copeland - Free Book Online Page B

graduated from Lynn Academy, then served as secretary of the Freeman’s Institute. She was a schoolteacher when she married Isaac Pinkham, who had a daughter by a previous marriage. Their union produced five more children—Charles, Dan, Will, Aroline, and a baby who died.
    Lydia confided that Isaac was a dreamer. Though he’d tried various real estate promotions and other business ventures, nothing had worked out. That’s when the money problems began.
    Unable to stand idly by and watch everything they had be taken from them, Lydia had decided to market her elixir. She chose botanical bases for the compound because she had so little faith in orthodox practitioners. She considered their medical treatment to be far too harsh.
    And over and over again her skepticism proved to be sound.
    Rolling onto her back once more, April stared at the ceiling, blinking back hot tears.
    Grandpa had forbidden her to sell the compound. All because of Dr. Fuller.
    Â 
    April beat the sun up the next morning, anxious to tell Beulah about the doctor’s betrayal.
    Adjusting her hat as she entered the kitchen, she smiled at Datha, who was turning hotcakes at the stove.
    â€œApril girl! What are you doing up so early?”
    After helping herself to a piece of sausage, April licked her fingers. “I wanted to get an early start.”
    â€œWell, breakfast is ready.” Datha dished up three steaming hotcakes on a plate. “Sit down. I’ll pour the milk.”
    It was just past seven when April left the house. On her way to Ludwig’s Pharmacy she smiled at Fred Loyal, who was busily sweeping the sidewalk in front of his store, and called a greeting to Miss Thompson, the dressmaker and milliner.
    Neldene Anderson was just unlocking the schoolhouse as Reverend Brown meandered slowly down the sidewalk, obviously rehearsing his Sunday sermon.
    Crossing the street, April spotted Gray Fuller’s office, and started a slow burn.
    Dr. Grayson Fuller, General Practitioner, the script on the window read.
    It should have read Dr. Busybody.
    A pulled shade prevented curious passersby from looking in to see who might be seeking the doctor’s advice.
    April hurried past, determined to avoid a confrontation with him. It was early, and chances were he wasn’t up yet.
    Righteous indignation caused her cheeks to heat when she thought of what he’d done. The nerve of the man going straight to Grandpa, as if what she did was any of his concern!
    Walking faster, she told herself to settle down. If his actions at the women’s meeting were any indication, he’d want her to confront him, so he could tell her how foolish and misguided she was for working with the Pinkhams.
    Well, just let him try to tell her anything. She walked faster. She’d give him a well-deserved piece of her mind!
    Prompted by a sudden urge to throttle him, she stopped dead in her tracks, whirled around and started back. She could not let him get away with this. Other women might overlook his antagonistic attitude, but not April.
    To her surprise, the door of his office opened easily, and she stepped inside.
    The interior was freshly painted, but the furnishings were deplorable. A wooden coat rack stood in a corner. Hanging on it was the strangest hat she’d ever seen.
    A medicinal scent and some other substance she couldn’t identify were strong in the air.
    The door to the examining room was closed, so she sat down on one of the half-dozen straight-back wooden chairs scattered throughout the room.
    Tapping her fingers together, she waited.
    She wasn’t at all certain what she was going to say to him, but she would give him a piece of her mind. Someone needed to put him in his place, so it might as well be her. If he thought his good looks and arrogant manner could intimidate her, he was wrong.
    The moments stretched. There were no sounds coming from behind the closed door.
    He’s probably in there asleep , she thought,