Read Online Falling Softly: Compass Girls, Book 4 by Mari Carr & Jayne Rylon - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Mari Carr & Jayne Rylon
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Viho closed his eyes in an attempt to block out the negativity threatening to blacken his soul. He had to survive this fall, maybe a few more seasons, and then he could be on his way. He realized now why Sam, Jake and Sterling had been in such a hurry, insisting on the late season planting of the flowers.
Mrs. Compton wasn’t going to be around much longer.
Every day she was delighted anew by the progress that had been made. A glorious surprise for her to wake to each morning, having forgotten its existence from the day before. Viho couldn’t help himself. As much as he despised Jake and the non-blood family that had kept the guy away from his own, he admired Sterling Compton.
The love and support she lavished on her grandmother couldn’t be construed as anything but respectable. Having cared for his own mother as she faded away, suffering from cancer, he understood how painful the long-term care of a relative could be. Every day, he had to stuff his hands in his pockets as Sterling strolled by to keep from bundling her in his arms and squeezing her tight, murmuring his encouragement.
In his mind, he held her, rocking her as they sat here, between the rows of blossoms.
Lost in his fantasy, he didn’t hear the two women approach until it was too late to duck into another section of the garden.
“Viho.” Sterling’s greeting lacked the warmth of her initial overtures. She’d slowly chilled to downright frosty toward him when she realized he didn’t intend to return her affection. He couldn’t blame her. It was for the best.
Even if he despised it.
“Hey, Sterling. Mrs. Compton.” He nodded at the women and hoped they’d pass quickly to the table under the tall oak tree where they usually sipped a glass of iced tea together as they talked.
“Jake?” Vicky squinted as if even she knew the error of her declaration.
Viho quickly corrected her, so off balance by her simple mistake that he plopped onto his ass in the dirt. “No, ma’am.”
A wince creased Sterling’s pretty face as she debated whether to explain. Most times lately the family seemed to have given up, letting their precious Vivi believe as she would. It had to get exhausting to repeat the truth, knowing she’d forget it a moment later. Though she still could recall things that had happened in the past year or two, her short-term memory had all but disintegrated.
Her disease reminded Viho of a memory-eating monster, who started its meal with the freshest information. Its appetite grew as it went, erasing more and more from Mrs. Compton’s mind. About a month ago he’d even seen her grow angry, shattering a glass by throwing it against the tree when frustration overcame her. Now she seemed resigned. Or maybe she’d simply forgotten how she used to be.
Sterling settled for simple. “This is our landscaper, Viho.”
“Funny, he has eyes like Jake.” The perceptive old woman called him out, making him duck his head so she couldn’t detect any other similarities.
“I know, Vivi. I’ve thought so too.” Sterling’s friendly tone had him peeking up again in time to see her soft smile. “They’re nice, right?”
“Almost as beautiful as all these flowers, though I’m sure a man hates to be called gorgeous. So I’ll say this, Mr. Viho—you’re doing a fine job.” Mrs. Compton leaned over to pat him on the back with her gnarled fingers. Somehow the gesture infused him with warmth. And pride in his work. “Thank you.”
Throat tight, Viho had to stare at the ground once more. This time for entirely different reasons. Sweat rolled down his forehead, more from the intensity of his emotions than the surprising burst of heat on the sunny fall day.
“A man gets awful thirsty when performing hard labor. You should join us for a drink.” Mrs. Compton, ever a lady, invited him to their gathering.
“I couldn’t. I’ve got a lot more work to do before I lose the light.” He panicked, twisting around and clipping a dead
Viho closed his eyes in an attempt to block out the negativity threatening to blacken his soul. He had to survive this fall, maybe a few more seasons, and then he could be on his way. He realized now why Sam, Jake and Sterling had been in such a hurry, insisting on the late season planting of the flowers.
Mrs. Compton wasn’t going to be around much longer.
Every day she was delighted anew by the progress that had been made. A glorious surprise for her to wake to each morning, having forgotten its existence from the day before. Viho couldn’t help himself. As much as he despised Jake and the non-blood family that had kept the guy away from his own, he admired Sterling Compton.
The love and support she lavished on her grandmother couldn’t be construed as anything but respectable. Having cared for his own mother as she faded away, suffering from cancer, he understood how painful the long-term care of a relative could be. Every day, he had to stuff his hands in his pockets as Sterling strolled by to keep from bundling her in his arms and squeezing her tight, murmuring his encouragement.
In his mind, he held her, rocking her as they sat here, between the rows of blossoms.
Lost in his fantasy, he didn’t hear the two women approach until it was too late to duck into another section of the garden.
“Viho.” Sterling’s greeting lacked the warmth of her initial overtures. She’d slowly chilled to downright frosty toward him when she realized he didn’t intend to return her affection. He couldn’t blame her. It was for the best.
Even if he despised it.
“Hey, Sterling. Mrs. Compton.” He nodded at the women and hoped they’d pass quickly to the table under the tall oak tree where they usually sipped a glass of iced tea together as they talked.
“Jake?” Vicky squinted as if even she knew the error of her declaration.
Viho quickly corrected her, so off balance by her simple mistake that he plopped onto his ass in the dirt. “No, ma’am.”
A wince creased Sterling’s pretty face as she debated whether to explain. Most times lately the family seemed to have given up, letting their precious Vivi believe as she would. It had to get exhausting to repeat the truth, knowing she’d forget it a moment later. Though she still could recall things that had happened in the past year or two, her short-term memory had all but disintegrated.
Her disease reminded Viho of a memory-eating monster, who started its meal with the freshest information. Its appetite grew as it went, erasing more and more from Mrs. Compton’s mind. About a month ago he’d even seen her grow angry, shattering a glass by throwing it against the tree when frustration overcame her. Now she seemed resigned. Or maybe she’d simply forgotten how she used to be.
Sterling settled for simple. “This is our landscaper, Viho.”
“Funny, he has eyes like Jake.” The perceptive old woman called him out, making him duck his head so she couldn’t detect any other similarities.
“I know, Vivi. I’ve thought so too.” Sterling’s friendly tone had him peeking up again in time to see her soft smile. “They’re nice, right?”
“Almost as beautiful as all these flowers, though I’m sure a man hates to be called gorgeous. So I’ll say this, Mr. Viho—you’re doing a fine job.” Mrs. Compton leaned over to pat him on the back with her gnarled fingers. Somehow the gesture infused him with warmth. And pride in his work. “Thank you.”
Throat tight, Viho had to stare at the ground once more. This time for entirely different reasons. Sweat rolled down his forehead, more from the intensity of his emotions than the surprising burst of heat on the sunny fall day.
“A man gets awful thirsty when performing hard labor. You should join us for a drink.” Mrs. Compton, ever a lady, invited him to their gathering.
“I couldn’t. I’ve got a lot more work to do before I lose the light.” He panicked, twisting around and clipping a dead
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