Read Online Bridge to Cutter Gap / Silent Superstitions / The Angry Intruder by Catherine Marshall - Free Book Online Page A

asked about the school. No, this will be the first term.”
    â€œDoes Mr. Grantland live here, in the mission house?”
    Miss Ida shook her head. “He has a bunkhouse, down by the creek. That’s why it’s lucky you fell in there. He and Miss Alice take their meals here in the house, though.” She smiled proudly. “David begged me to come and keep house for him. He says maybe we can find a mountain woman to train as a housekeeper. But I have doubts myself that anybody else can cook to suit him.”
    Just then the side door banged and suddenly Mr. Grantland stood in the kitchen doorway. A young girl with snarled red hair peered curiously from behind him. “Miss Huddleston,” he said with a smile, “I must say you’re looking much better—not to mention drier—this morning.”
    â€œI’m not sure I thanked you properly yesterday,” Christy said.
    â€œFor—”
    â€œFor everything. For carrying me here, for . . .” she hesitated as the words sunk in, “for saving my life.”
    Mr. Grantland laughed. His big, booming voice filled the room. “All in a day’s work. Oh—” he turned and beckoned to the red-haired girl, “allow me to introduce Ruby Mae Morrison. She’s staying here at the mission house with us for a while.”
    The girl stepped forward. “Howdy,” she said eagerly. Her eyes took in every inch of Christy. She was a teenager, maybe thirteen or so, Christy guessed, with abundant red hair that looked as if it had not been combed in a long while. Her plain, thin cotton dress was torn at the hem. She was barefoot, just as the Spencer children had been.
    â€œNice to meet you, Ruby Mae,” Christy said. She pointed to some leftover buckwheat cakes. “Would you two like to join me?”
    â€œThey both had breakfast,” Miss Ida reminded Christy primly. “ Hours ago.”
    â€œReckon I’m hungry again, though,” Ruby Mae said, pulling up a chair.
    Miss Ida groaned. “I suppose, if Miss Huddleston is done, you may as well finish up what’s left. But, please, Ruby Mae, go wash up in the basin in the kitchen.”
    â€œWash up, wash up, wash up,” Ruby Mae muttered, rolling her eyes heavenward as she reluctantly headed for the kitchen. “If’n I wash up much more, I’ll wash my skin clean off!”
    Mr. Grantland laughed as she disappeared into the kitchen. “She’s a character, that one,” he said.
    â€œShe’s trouble, is what he means,” Miss Ida said, scraping crumbs on the table into her palm. “She’ll talk your ear off if you let her. And gossip! Where that girl gets her information, I’ll never know.”
    â€œRuby Mae is a one-woman newspaper,” Mr. Grantland said.
    â€œWhy—” Christy lowered her voice, “Why is she staying here?”
    His face went serious. “She and her stepfather don’t get along. After a particularly bad argument, he ordered her out of the cabin. She had nowhere else to go, so we took her in.”
    Ruby Mae returned, thrusting her hands in front of Miss Ida for inspection. “Ain’t no more of those germy things a-growin’ on these hands,” she declared. She winked at Christy. “Not that I’ve ever seen one, mind you. But Doc MacNeill and Miss Ida and Miss Alice, they keep a-swearin’ they’re there.” She pointed to Christy’s plate. “You done with those?”
    â€œOh—yes. Here, please. I couldn’t eat another bite.” Christy passed her plate to Ruby Mae, who began to eat like she hadn’t seen food in weeks.
    â€œShe’s got the appetite of a grown man, that girl,” Miss Ida said with evident distaste.
    â€œThat’s all right,” Christy said, smiling at Ruby Mae. “So do I.”
    Ruby Mae grinned back gratefully, her mouth stuffed with buckwheat cakes. “Maybuf latef I