Read Online High Lonesome by Stacey Coverstone - Free Book Online

a second, but the image shook her to the core. A strong sense of familiarity rushed through her veins.
    “You are the lady, right?” The girl tapped the countertop with her finger to get her attention.
    Realizing she’d blanked out for a moment, she regained her composure and climbed onto a bar stool to study the girl. Her hair was the color of a stalk of wheat, and she wore a pink cowgirl hat with rhinestones dotting the band. “Yes. I’m the lady. You must be Willow. Your dad told me about you.”
    “Carmen told me about you .” Willow glanced at the cook with her eyebrow raised.
    “Sorry, ma’am,” Carmen apologized. “But I thought I should give Willow a heads up about you and the...”
    “That’s okay, Carmen.”
    “Is it true you don’t know your own name?” Willow asked.
    “I’m afraid so.”
    “Can I see the bump on your head?” Willow tucked her feet under her bottom and leaned forward, propping herself on her elbows.
    “Okay. But are you sure it won’t make you queasy? It’s starting to turn a weird shade of green.”
    “Oh, no. I’m tough as nails. I saw a baby colt born before. There was a lot of blood and guts all over. A little knot on your head ain’t gonna bother me none.”
    “Willow!” Carmen slapped a spatula down on the counter. “The way you talk, child. I warned you. Speak correctly, por favor .”
    “ Sorry , Carmen.” Willow emphasized the sorry and winked. The little girl then pulled a small magnifying glass out of her back jeans pocket and proceeded to inspect the bump as if she were a detective.
    “Where did you get a magnifying glass?”
    “Out of a spy catalog,” Willow replied. “Mmmm. That’s a right nasty looking bump, all right. May I see your arm, por favor ? You’ll notice I speak Spanish, too.”
    Carmen’s expansive bosom vibrated as she chuckled, unable to hide her amusement.
    Stretching out her arm, she showed the girl the large purple and blue bruise.
    “Did somebody try to twist it off?” Willow asked.
    “I’m not sure. I don’t remember anything about my accident.”
    There was a bag labeled Beth’s Banana Bread sitting in front of the girl. She pulled out a thick slice and took a bite. “That’s a shame for you, but lucky for me. I’ve never met anybody who had amnesia before.”
    “Scott’s daughter is seven going on seventeen, ma’am,” the cook replied, shaking her head.
    Willow offered her new friend a slice of bread. “Would you like some? Carmen orders it special because it’s my favorite. It has loads of pecans in it. It’s delish!”
    “Thanks. To tell you the truth, I’m so hungry I could eat an elephant.”
    “Me, too. Have you ever eaten an elephant before, lady?”
    She giggled. “No. Can’t say that I have. I don’t believe anyone in the world eats elephant. At least I hope not. I think it’s just a funny expression.”
    “Maybe the people in India do.”
    “If I’m remembering my world history correctly, Indian people revere elephants. I don’t think they want to have them for dinner.”
    “What does revere mean?”
    “It means to honor.”
    “I see.” Willow took another big bite of bread. “I revere my horse.”
    “Excuse me.” Carmen interrupted the conversation. “Ma’am, would you like to have your breakfast here in the kitchen this morning, or in the dining room with the other guests?”
    “Oh, this is fine. If I’m not in your way,” she added. “I’m not sure I’m up to explaining my situation to strangers over casual chit-chat.”
    “I understand.” Carmen retrieved a butter dish and two jars of jam from the fridge. “I’ll get you a plate.”
    “Take your time. I can wait until the other guests are served.”
    “I’ve been contemplating something,” Willow said in complete seriousness.
    “Is that so? Contemplating is a very big word for a seven year old.” She grinned.
    “I’m good at vocabulary, and I’m a voracious reader.”
    “Voracious? That’s another word I