Read Online Enchantment by Pati Nagle - Free Book Online Page B

her watch. “Nah, I’ve got to drain the spaghetti. Dinner’s almost ready.”
    â€œHurrah!” Sheila followed her to the kitchen and got out plates and silverware. “I think we’ve got a bottle of red wine. Oops! Sorry.”
    â€œIt’s OK. If you guys want to have wine it’s fine with me.”
    Sheila grinned. “You are awesome.”
    Pleased, Holly got to work draining the pasta and setting out all the food on the kitchen counter, buffet style, since the dinette table was just big enough for four people to sit around. By the time she had everything ready, Sheila had finished setting the table. She’d put out four wine glasses, and commandeered Holly’s shot glass of pansies for a centerpiece.
    Holly went to the doorway. “Dinner’s served.”
    Pam shut off the TV and came to the kitchen, followed by Madison. Sheila was already dishing up.
    â€œThis is great!” she said, adding garlic bread to her plate. “You’re hired!”
    Mad shot a sharp glance at her, but Sheila didn’t see it. Holly got into line behind her sister.
    â€œEverything looks wonderful, Holly!” said Pam over her shoulder. “Thank you for doing this!”
    â€œThanks for letting me crash here,” Holly said. “It’s really nice of you guys. I know it was kind of short notice.”
    â€œHey, better now than next week,” Sheila said, opening the wine. “This is a good time.”
    They all settled at the table while Sheila poured. She hesitated over Holly’s glass, looking at Madison. “Just a taste?”
    â€œYes, please,” Holly said. “Our folks let us have wine at home.”
    She looked at Mad, ready for a challenge, but Mad just shrugged. Sheila poured a third of a glass for Holly, then set the bottle by the pansies and raised her own glass.
    â€œTo the chef!”
    You weren’t supposed to drink a toast to yourself, Holly remembered, so she smiled her thanks, then picked up her fork and spun up a bite of pasta. Everyone dug in, chatting about the day. Holly mostly listened while she sipped at her wine, curious to learn more about Mad’s roommates. She already liked Pam, and Sheila was funny and interesting. Sheila also loved to talk; she dominated the dinner conversation with stories about the CU theater department.
    When they were finished, they piled plates in the kitchen sink and retired to the living room to watch TV, again a crime show. At the first commercial break Holly brought out bowls of chocolate pudding for everyone, then at the next break she collected the empty bowls and took them to the kitchen.
    Pam was there ahead of her, rinsing dishes and loading them into the dishwasher. She took the bowls from Holly.
    â€œThanks. Now, shoo! You cooked, so you don’t have to clean.”
    â€œI don’t mind—“
    â€œNope. House rules.” Pam shot her a smile. “Thanks again for the dinner. It was fantastic. A real treat.”
    Holly blushed. “You’re welcome.”
    She wasn’t that interested in the TV show, so she fetched her book and a sweater and went out to the patio to read. She was a lot more comfortable tonight; sharing a meal had made her feel more at home. Lounging with her feet on a plastic footstool, she opened Amanda’s memoir.
    And was suddenly homesick. She’d only been gone a day, but Amanda’s description of the mountains, hiking in the forest, and picking raspberries made her long to be back in Las Palomas. She read hungrily, seeing in her mind the places Amanda wrote about. When Amanda described hiking up to Enchantment Spring, the skin on her arms started to tingle.

    The trail is faint, no more than a game track leading up into the woods. I learned of it from one of the teachers at the school, who used to take the boys up there on trail rides, but I never went there myself until after the government came. Needing escape one