Read Online Bran (Prairie Grooms, Book Six) by Kit Morgan - Free Book Online

the afternoon passed quickly, and Apple was relieved that not one of the ladies in the sewing circle mentioned what had quickly become known as the Apple/O'Hare ordeal . She sobered when she heard Mrs. Mulligan say it, and at first only heard the names put together as, “Apple O'Hare”. For a scant second, she imagined it to be her married name. Fate was indeed cruel, for she then remembered his handsome face and the tiny prick of attraction she felt as she looked into his eyes. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all, and was going to forgive her soon. Maybe he was even the kind of man she could make friends with. Maybe… he was the kind of man she could marry.
    But she didn't dare. To let him get too close to her would be his undoing, and his death. She would do well to remember that.
    Apple set the quilt squares she’d cut alongside similar piles on the mercantile’s front counter, then turned into the smiling face of Constance, and jumped. “Oh, my goodness!”
    Constance ignored her action. “I'll find out from Ryder what happened, you don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to.”
    Apple took a deep breath to calm herself. “I think you've heard it all. Thank goodness Deputy O'Hare is all right.”
    “But are you all right? I was going to go after you when you ran out earlier, but Penelope told me to leave you alone.”
    “I'm glad she did, it gave me a chance to speak with the deputy. I saw him in the street.”
    “And?”
    Apple absently fingered the quilt squares on the counter. “I think he’s still a little upset with me, but not like he was before. He was quite cordial actually.”
    Constance smiled. “I'm glad, and I'm sure he'll forgive you. I think he's just stubborn.”
    “He told me he was scared,” stated Apple as she looked at her cousin. “That he was afraid he was going to die.”
    “I think anyone would be, don’t you think? I know I would. I remember what it felt like when I thought Ryder was going to die, it was terrible. I can't even imagine how he felt.”
    “Your circumstances were different. You didn't bite Ryder, a snake did.”
    Constance laughed. “Quite true, but still, death was in the equation, and no matter how you look at it, it was scary.”
    “I understand what you're trying to say, Constance, thank you.”
    Constance pulled Apple into her arms and gave her a hug. “I'm just glad both of you are all right.” She gently pushed them apart. “And don't worry, the talk will die down and people will forget all about it.”
    “I don't know about that,” Apple whispered. “If Fanny Fig had her way, it would be in the papers in Oregon City tomorrow.”
    “She's not as bad as all that, though she can be trying at times,” Constance whispered back as her eyes flicked to Fannie who was in an animated conversation with Mrs. Dunnigan.
    “I suppose you're right,” agreed Apple. “If she was really that bad, it would've been in the Oregon City paper the day it happened!”
    Constance hugged her again. “You need to stop thinking and talking about it, and leave it be. All right?”
    Apple nodded against her cousin’s shoulder then stepped out of her embrace. “I'm trying, but it's hard when everybody keeps bringing it up.”
    “I understand. Maybe what you need is something to keep your mind off of it?”
    “Like what?”
    “Why don’t you go talk to Annie, the preacher's wife, and ask if there's anything you can do to help her with the upcoming holiday season?”
    “That's more of Lena's area, not mine,” said Apple as she looked at her older sister across the room with Grandma. “But don't worry, I’ll find something.”
    Constance took her hand, gave it a squeeze, and then went to speak with Penelope and Eloise. Apple leaned against the counter then slowly scooted to the end of it to stand in the corner. She watched the ladies of Clear Creek as they continued to visit with each other. The days were getting colder and soon autumn would turn into winter. She