Read Online Calico Brides by Darlene Franklin - Free Book Online

been made. Looking at the flowing script, Haydn wondered if she had kept the records up to that point. He found no mention of his youngest brother, born twelve years ago. Haydn found writing materials in the study. No one else was available to bring the family record up to date. He added Grandmother’s name but laid down the pen when he couldn’t recall the exact date of her death. Maybe he could find it on her gravestone. After adding his brother’s birth date, his eyes drifted to the page set apart to record marriages. With only two entries, the blank lines called to him. Whose name would be joined with his?
    Haydn turned to the gospel of Mark, hoping Mark’s active writing style, rather like the way he wrote for the newspaper, would hold his interest. But before he could even finish the account of John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness, the Bible dropped into his lap and he fell asleep.
    Loud knocking awakened Haydn, and a familiar voice called, “Mr. Keller? Haydn?”
    Gladys. How had she made her way to his doorstep through the snow?

    Gladys held Aunt Kate’s basket on her arm. The unrelenting freeze continued even without wind-whipped snow driving icy pellets into her face. Pastor Fairfield was with her. He had rallied the men who made it to the diner to sweep through the town, stopping at every house not yet dug out from the storm. Gladys came with him as far as the Keller mansion, wanting to deliver food.
    “Just a minute.” Haydn called to them through the door. A light wind had scattered a thin blanket of snow over the porch boards she assumed Haydn had shoveled. She shivered and hoped he had convinced Mr. Keller to keep the front room warm. The doorknob rattled, and the door swung open with a welcome whoosh of warm air. “Gladys, Pastor Fairfield. Come in. What brings you out on such a cold day?”
    “We’re checking all the houses that haven’t dug out from the snow yet,” Pastor Fairfield said. “I see you started but didn’t have a chance to finish.”
    “And I brought you some soup.” Gladys pointed to the basket on her arm. She glanced into the parlor, where she could see Mr. Keller stretched out under a quilt. “Is Mr. Keller ill?”
    “Yes.” Haydn conveyed a lot of emotion with that one word. “What about the doctor? Is he available?”
    Pastor Fairfield nodded. “He was one of the men at the diner whom we recruited to go door-to-door. I’ll hunt him down and tell him he’s needed over here.” He patted the top of his hat. “I’ll move on, then. Are you able to see yourself home, Miss Polson?” He shook Haydn’s hand. “I’ll ask my wife to come by later to see if you need any additional help.”
    Gladys nodded. “I’ll go back to the diner. That’s the first place people head when they get out of the house. Aunt Kate will need my help.”
    “Come in and sit a spell, if you care to.” Haydn acted pleased to see her, as if they had parted on the best of terms. He helped her out of her coat and took her basket. “You’re an angel sent by God Himself. We were down to my biscuits and gravy for supper, and I’ll warn you, that’s not too good.”
    Gladys smiled politely. She walked closer and stood over Mr. Keller, assessing his condition. His cheeks were flushed, and his breathing was raspy.
    A quilt molded into the shape of a man filled the chair next to the sofa. Haydn drew another chair close to the sofa and held it for her.
    “How long has Mr. Keller been sick?” Gladys settled into the roomy chair. She could barely touch the floor with her toes.
    “When I got home on Sunday, the foolish man was outside chopping wood. He got very sick not long after that.”
    “And you’ve been by his side ever since?” She shook her head. “You can’t do that night and day.”
    “It hasn’t been so bad.” The droop to Haydn’s eyes suggested otherwise. “I’ve slept in snatches.”
    “And you stayed awake long enough to start clearing that path.”
    “I was