Read Online Buffalo Valley by Debbie Macomber - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Debbie Macomber
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carry a rifle and see death.
This wasnât supposed to happen. For a while, men in college were exempt, but with the warâs escalation, they were now included. Vaughn took the news well, but not Hassie. He had to do his part, he told her. It was too easy to pass the burden onto someone else. Citizenship came with a price tag.
Suddenly bombs were exploding all around her. Terrified, Hassie hid her head in her hands, certain she was about to die. Bullets whizzed past her and she gasped, her heart cramping with a terrible fear. All at once she was cold, colder than she could ever remember being, and then she was flat on her back with the sure knowledge that sheâd been hit. The sky was an intense shade of blue, and she was simultaneously lying there and hovering far above. But when she looked down, it wasnât her face she saw. It was the face of her dying son. His blood drained out of him with unstoppable speed as the frantic medic worked over him.
Her son, the child of her heart, was dying. He saw her and tried to smile, to tell her it was all right, but his eyes closed and he was gone. Her baby was forever gone.
A crushing load of grief weighed on Hassieâs heart. She cried out and, groaning, sat upright.
It was then she realized sheâd fallen asleep. This had all been a dream. Awash with memories, sheâd drifted into a dream so real she could hear the fading echoes of exploding ammunition as she dragged herself out of a past world and back to reality.
As her eyes adjusted to the dark, her gaze darted from one familiar object to another. From the bedroom door where her housecoat hung on a hook to the dresser top with the silver mirror and brush set Jerry had given her on their tenth anniversary.
âVaughn.â His name was a broken whisper, and she realized that she couldnât remember what he looked like. His face, so well loved, refused to come. Strain as she might, she couldnât see him. Panic descended, and she tossed aside the blankets and slid out of bed. It wasnât her sonâs image that filled her mind, but the face of another young man. Another Vaughn.
Vaughn Kyle.
âOf course,â she whispered, clutching the bedpost. Leaning against it, she heaved a deep, quivering sigh and climbed back into bed.
Wrapping the quilt around her, she tucked her arm beneath her pillow and closed her eyes. Yes, it made sense that sheâd dream of Vaughn that night. Her Vaughn. It also made sense that it was Vaughn Kyleâs face she now saw. After all, sheâd spent much of the day with him.
Barbara and Rick had done a good job raising him. Vaughn was a fine man, honest and genuine, sensitive yet forthright. She was grateful sheâd had the opportunity to meet him before she died.
Giving him the gold watch had been a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was the one possession of Jerryâs sheâd held back from Valerie and her two granddaughters. Valerie lived in Hawaii and although they were close, they rarely visited each other. Hassie had flown to the island once, but all those tourists and hordes of people had made her nervous. Not only that, she wasnât comfortable in planes, and the long flight made her nervous. A few years back, after a scare with Hassieâs heart, Valerie had flown out to spend time with her, but had soon grown bored and restless.
Hassie didnât think Valâs daughters, Alison and Charlotte, would have much interest in their grandfatherâs watch. But it was precious to her, so sheâd kept it.
She knew when she pressed the watch into Vaughnâs palm that this was the right thing to do. He looked as if he was about to argue with her, but he didnât and she was glad. Still, his hesitation told her more clearly than any words that he understood the significance of her gift.
Warm once more, Hassie stretched out her legs, enjoying the feel of the sheets against her bare skin. She smiled, remembering the exchange
This wasnât supposed to happen. For a while, men in college were exempt, but with the warâs escalation, they were now included. Vaughn took the news well, but not Hassie. He had to do his part, he told her. It was too easy to pass the burden onto someone else. Citizenship came with a price tag.
Suddenly bombs were exploding all around her. Terrified, Hassie hid her head in her hands, certain she was about to die. Bullets whizzed past her and she gasped, her heart cramping with a terrible fear. All at once she was cold, colder than she could ever remember being, and then she was flat on her back with the sure knowledge that sheâd been hit. The sky was an intense shade of blue, and she was simultaneously lying there and hovering far above. But when she looked down, it wasnât her face she saw. It was the face of her dying son. His blood drained out of him with unstoppable speed as the frantic medic worked over him.
Her son, the child of her heart, was dying. He saw her and tried to smile, to tell her it was all right, but his eyes closed and he was gone. Her baby was forever gone.
A crushing load of grief weighed on Hassieâs heart. She cried out and, groaning, sat upright.
It was then she realized sheâd fallen asleep. This had all been a dream. Awash with memories, sheâd drifted into a dream so real she could hear the fading echoes of exploding ammunition as she dragged herself out of a past world and back to reality.
As her eyes adjusted to the dark, her gaze darted from one familiar object to another. From the bedroom door where her housecoat hung on a hook to the dresser top with the silver mirror and brush set Jerry had given her on their tenth anniversary.
âVaughn.â His name was a broken whisper, and she realized that she couldnât remember what he looked like. His face, so well loved, refused to come. Strain as she might, she couldnât see him. Panic descended, and she tossed aside the blankets and slid out of bed. It wasnât her sonâs image that filled her mind, but the face of another young man. Another Vaughn.
Vaughn Kyle.
âOf course,â she whispered, clutching the bedpost. Leaning against it, she heaved a deep, quivering sigh and climbed back into bed.
Wrapping the quilt around her, she tucked her arm beneath her pillow and closed her eyes. Yes, it made sense that sheâd dream of Vaughn that night. Her Vaughn. It also made sense that it was Vaughn Kyleâs face she now saw. After all, sheâd spent much of the day with him.
Barbara and Rick had done a good job raising him. Vaughn was a fine man, honest and genuine, sensitive yet forthright. She was grateful sheâd had the opportunity to meet him before she died.
Giving him the gold watch had been a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was the one possession of Jerryâs sheâd held back from Valerie and her two granddaughters. Valerie lived in Hawaii and although they were close, they rarely visited each other. Hassie had flown to the island once, but all those tourists and hordes of people had made her nervous. Not only that, she wasnât comfortable in planes, and the long flight made her nervous. A few years back, after a scare with Hassieâs heart, Valerie had flown out to spend time with her, but had soon grown bored and restless.
Hassie didnât think Valâs daughters, Alison and Charlotte, would have much interest in their grandfatherâs watch. But it was precious to her, so sheâd kept it.
She knew when she pressed the watch into Vaughnâs palm that this was the right thing to do. He looked as if he was about to argue with her, but he didnât and she was glad. Still, his hesitation told her more clearly than any words that he understood the significance of her gift.
Warm once more, Hassie stretched out her legs, enjoying the feel of the sheets against her bare skin. She smiled, remembering the exchange
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