Read Online By Summer's End (Christian Fiction) by Rosemarie Naramore - Free Book Online

She
spotted the cat curled up in a ball in the lone chair in the great room.  “Put
Dave outside, please.”
    “He seems to love our new chair,” Brianna
observed.
    They had found the chair at a nearby
Goodwill.  It was worn, but was well-built.  They had draped a throw over it
and each evening, jokingly fought over the single chair in the room.
    “We need another chair,” Brianna said,
her eyes doing a pass over the room.  “We can always use the twenties to buy a
new…”
    Holly shook her head.  “No.  That money
is yours—for a rainy day.”
    Brianna’s eyes twinkled.  “From what I
understand, I’ll have plenty of rainy days to choose from.  I guess it really
does rain a lot here.”

Chapter Eight
     
    “Hey ,
Holly, what’s that on the side of the road up ahead?” Brianna asked, squinting
her eyes for a better look.  She grinned.  “Maybe it’s a chair with a ‘free’
sign attached.”
    Holly slowed the car and pulled to a
stop.  “It’s not a chair, but it is a desk with a ‘free’ sign attached. 
Let’s take a look.” 
    Both women hurried out of the car.  Brianna
knelt down to assess the condition of the wooden desk.  “There are a few
scratches, but otherwise, it’s in pretty good shape.”
    Holly ran her hand over the desktop and
then tipped her head for a better look.  “It’s real wood,” she said,
surprised.  “I figured it would be particle board.”  She smiled at Brianna. 
“You know, we could sand this down and refinish it and you’d have a pretty nice
study desk for your bedroom.”
    Holly rose, hands on hips, and glanced
around.  She wondered how they could manage to transport the desk home.   She
spotted a small house at the end of the gravel drive.  The tidy bungalow, set
amidst tall trees, was a bit of a walk away.  “Let’s go talk to the folks and
see if they’ll hold it for us until we can figure out how to get it home.”
    They were about to start toward the
house when a large truck drew near.  The women heard the spray of gravel as it
came to a stop behind them.  They turned and watched a man drop out of the
vehicle.  Average height, well-built and handsome, he smiled as he approached. 
“Need any help?” he asked congenially.
    Holly sent a quick glance at Brianna and
then back to him.  “Uh, well, yes, we do.”  She smiled brightly.  “Apparently
this desk is free for the taking and well, we’d like to take it. 
Unfortunately…”
    “You have no way to get it home,” he
said with a broad smile.  “I’m happy to help.”  He crossed the distance to the
women and extended a hand to Holly.  “I’m Ryan McGraw,” he said.
    “I’m Holly Holton and this is my sister,
Brianna.”
    He nodded at the teenager and turned his
attention back to Holly.  “Good to meet you both.  Hey, give me a minute.  I’m
going to track down Levi—he lives in that bungalow up the way—and we’ll get the
desk loaded into my truck for you.”
    “I’m sure I could manage to lift…” Holly
began.
    He waved away the offer.  “We’ll get
it.  Hold up and I’ll be right back.”
    Ryan soon returned with an older man. 
Tall, slightly stooped and lean, he walked with a slight limp.  “Glad to see
somebody may get some use out of the old desk.  I’m Levi Burns,” he said,
offering a hand to Holly, and then Brianna.
    “We were so happy to spot the desk,”
Holly told him.  “My sister could really use a study desk in her bedroom.”
    “Well, this one’s in good shape, though
it could use some TLC.”
    “We’re the ones to give it some TLC,” Brianna
said with a grin.  “My sister can make any type of furniture look brand new.”
    Holly smiled at the praise.  “Well, I
try.”      
    “Well, good for you,” Levi said.  “Folks
these days tend to throw away perfectly useable items and replace them with new
when they see the tiniest scratch or wear.  It’s a waste, if you ask me.”  He
turned to Ryan.