Read Online In a Stranger's Arms by Deborah Hale - Free Book Online Page B

marriage.
    What if he had a criminal record in one or more of the Northern states? The thought clouted Caddie like a physical blow. Scrambling up from her knees, she skidded across the still-wet floor to one of the windows. She meant to holler at Tem and Varina to come inside. After all, what mother wanted her children consorting with a man she knew so little about?
    Even if she had been reckless enough to marry him.
    The words died on her lips as the sound of children’s laughter wafted in on the fresh spring air. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d heard Tem or Varina laugh. Her son was so timid and sensitive, her daughter so willful. And there hadn’t been much to laugh about in the wake of Richmond’s fall.
    Caddie stood at the open window, soaking in the sound and the sun’s golden rays. Almost against her will, both warmed her.
    She couldn’t help resenting the carpetbagger for hitting it off so well with her son and daughter. He’d had no business allowing Tem to keep that dog in the nursery at nights, not to mention meddling in her management of Varina. Some rebel spark of fairness compelled Caddie to admit that she wouldn’t have minded the Yankee’s interference so much if he hadn’t possessed such a rare knack for handling her children.
    For the moment, though, the tight fist of suspicion and bitterness unclenched from around her heart. It gave a queer flutter, like an uncaged bird suddenly spreading its wings. The sensation felt strangely akin to a quiver of fear.

    Manning sat at the supper table mopping up the last morsel of baked beans with a slab of corn bread and basking in the unfamiliar warmth of family. He had to reach far back into his past to retrieve the memory of a day as pleasant as the one he’d just spent. Hearing Tem and Varina tell Caddie of their adventures, Manning felt his heart resonate with a faint, precious echo of their glee.
    “The rooster tried to peck Varina.” Merriment danced in Templeton’s soft brown eyes. “But she waved her arms and hollered, ‘Boo!’ You should have seen him run off squawking.”
    “Catch that old buzzard try to peck me again.” Varina looked well pleased with her victory as she held out her plate. “More beans.”
    “May I have more beans, please,” Caddie reminded her daughter, ladling second helpings from the crock.
    Noticing Manning’s empty plate, she refilled it, too.
    “I hope you behaved yourself and didn’t get in Mr.—er, in the way.”
    For some reason her fumble over his name relaxed Manning further. Apparently he was not the only one ill at ease with their new domestic arrangements. “They were both a big help to me. We managed to gather enough deadwood to keep the stove fueled for a while.”
    “May I be excused, Mama?” Templeton pushed away from the table. “I’d like to feed Sergeant and have a play with him before bed.”
    “Go on, Son. Don’t stray too far from the house, though.”
    “Me, too!” Varina bolted her second helping of beans, then scrambled down from her chair, swiping the back of her sleeve across her mouth.
    Before her mother could deliver a sermon on manners, the child had darted away after her brother.
    Caddie shook her head. “How am I ever going to make a proper young lady out of that child? If only Templeton could be more like her and she more like him.’’
    “You’ve done a fine job raising them all by yourself,” said Manning. “Especially with the war and all. They’re both smart, willing and good-natured. The rest will sort itself out.”
    Caddie made no reply, but two bright spots flamed in her cheeks.
    With the distraction of the children gone, they finished their supper in awkward silence. Once they were done, Caddie stacked the plates and cutlery then carried them out to the washtub in the kitchen. Manning followed with the bean crock. He watched Caddie pour scalding water over the dishes from a heavy kettle simmering on the fire, followed by cool well water from a