Read Online Dare to Love Again (The Heart of San Francisco Book #2): A Novel by Julie Lessman - Free Book Online Page B

you say that?”
    Lottie’s wavering sigh lingered in the air. “ ’Cause Miss Penny said she’d take a stick to him if he didn’t treat you nice.”
    Allison couldn’t help it—she smiled—glad to have reinforcements in her war against Nicholas Barone. “Well, maybe it would do him good,” she said with a hike of her chin, grading the last paper with a satisfied sweep of her pen.
    “I don’t think so,” Lottie said. “Mr. Nick’s too big and strong for the stick.”
    Don ’t you bet on it, sweetie . . .
    The little girl suddenly giggled, pudgy fingers to her mouth. “But that Mr. Nick sure is funny. Told me your name was just like mine, but then he said he was only teasing.”
    Allison looked up. “Like yours?” A crease popped above her nose. “What do you mean?”
    Blowing off the last sharpened pencil, Lottie chuckled again, the sound as sweet as a baby’s giggle. “He called you Miss Lottie Da, and Miss Penny got a little mad, but I think Lottie’s a pretty name, don’t you?” She finished her task and carried the cup of pencils to Alli.
    Allison’s mouth dropped open. She snapped it shut. Better than Mr . Pain-in-the-Nick, I suppose . “Thank you, sweetheart.” With a gentle stroke of Lottie’s curls, she took the cup of pencils from her hand, choosing to ignore Lottie’s last remark in the name of Christian decency. Like I wish I could do with the man . “Ready for me to walk you next door?”
    “Sure.” She tipped her head up, her eyes meeting Alli’s with a sweetness that made Alli smile. “What’s a ‘dizzy dame,’ Miss Alli?”
    Uh-oh. Allison blinked, cheeks suddenly hot. “W-why do you ask, Lottie?”
    Sadness shadowed the little girl’s face. “Because Mr. Nick called you that, and if I get dizzy, it means I’m sick.” Her eyes were glossy with concern. “You’re not sick, are you?”
    Only of Mr. Nick. “Of course not, darling.” Allison took the little girl’s hand in hers, anxious to steer both the child and the conversation in another direction. “We best get you home before Miss Penny comes a hunting, shall we?”
    “Goodness, what a wonderful day!” Alli’s cousin Cassie hurried into the classroom and halted, gaze landing on Lottie. “Well, hello, Lottie—how was your first day of school?”
    Allison could almost feel the tingle of excitement in the little girl’s hand. “Just swell, Miss Cassie! ’Course Miss Penny always taught us afore and I liked that, truly, but holy moly, this was fun! I like learnin’ with lotsa kids instead of just those at the orphanage, ya know?”
    Cassie laughed. “Yes, as a matter of fact I do. Back in Texas, Mama taught me at home for a while, which was fine. But then she took me with her to the reservation school where there were all kinds of kids my age, and goodness—it was like a whole new world opened up for me.”
    “Exactly,” the little girl said with a sound thrust of her pert, little chin, sounding so much older than six that Alli grinned. “And guess what? I made two new friends!”
    Cassie bent to give Lottie a hug. “I’m so glad, because we love having you here, Lottie. And I can already tell that you’re going to be one of my best students, young lady.”
    “Gee, really, Miss Cassie?”
    Cassie tapped her nose and chuckled before she winked at Allison. “You bet, sweetheart—you’ve got a keen mind.”
    “Gee, thanks!” She looked up at Allison. “Did you hear that, Miss Alli—I have a ‘keen mind.’ I cain’t wait to tell Mr. Nick.”
    “Mister Nick?” Cassie mouthed to Allison, fighting the squirm of a smile. She leaned to gently tug on one of Lottie’s curls. “Do you like Mr. Nick?” she asked sweetly.
    “You bet!” the little girl said with way too much enthusiasm for the man with less charm than a rock. “Everybody likes Mr. Nick.”
    “Uh-huh, I’m sure they do.” Cassie winked . . . either that or she had a twitch in her eye.
    “Miss Alli?” Lottie glanced up,