Read Online Leave it for the Rain: A Love She Couldn't Remember—A Woman He Couldn't Forget (Grayson Brothers Book 6) by Wendy Lindstrom - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Wendy Lindstrom
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certain.” The doctor left the stone resting between Rebecca’s palm and lax fingers as he turned his attention back to her head dressing. “There is some good news, Radford. The bleeding has stopped.”
Layers of white muslin dressing wrapped Rebecca’s head. Her long hair flowed from beneath the bandage and down over her pillow and shoulders where it formed a shiny black pool. Adam ached to stroke her face, hold her hand and comfort her, but it was Radford’s time now, so Adam stepped aside.
o0o
Adam’s grandmother took the three youngest children home with her to spend the night. Will and Josh tended to chores in the livery while Adam talked with Radford.
They waited in the parlor while Evelyn freshened Rebecca’s bedding and gave her a sponge bath, neither of them having much to say.
Throughout the last decade, Adam had spent many hours in this parlor talking with Radford about the sawmill business. They had discussed Adam attending university and how he planned to build a house for Rebecca. They talked about helping neighbors and just about every subject one could think of. Their conversations had always come so easily. Now, they seemed to have nothing to say to one another, each of them lost in thought and emotionally exhausted.
Will came inside and joined them in the parlor. He told his father about a loose shoe on one of their horses and that he had gotten the last stall repaired. After getting a nod of thanks and little response from his father, and even less conversation from Adam, the boy gave up and headed outside to the porch.
The hours deepened into dawn. By turns, Radford and Adam drifted off until their chins hit their chests or their loud snoring jerked them awake. The silent house smelled of over-brewed coffee, but Adam got up and poured himself a cup. He took it to the porch where Will was asleep on the porch swing.
Adam sat in a wide chair at the opposite end of the porch and watched the sun rise. The pale light lit the apple orchard between Radford’s home and his mother’s house on the other side. Evelyn Tucker and her parents had been neighbors with the Graysons for several decades and had raised their children together. They must have faced hard times like this, times when they were scared and the future was uncertain. Maybe that’s why Grandma Grayson was able to keep everyone from falling apart. Maybe those other times had taught her how to handle the fear and uncertainty.
Maybe it was simply age that helped a person learn that skill. Doc Milton had that ability to take charge and tend to the necessary without the jangled nerves and emotional upheaval that Adam and the others were experiencing.
Or was it simply because they weren’t eaten up with guilt?
The dark coffee settled like acid in Adam’s empty stomach. He should have never let Rebecca come to the mill.
Chapter Six
She came awake slowly, to the fragrant smell of coffee and an unbearable ache lodged deep in her head. Something cold touched her lips, and she searched with her mouth, welcoming the coldness that wet her tongue.
“I’m here, Rebecca...”
His calm voice and cool hand flowed over her like a deep, soothing river. She concentrated on the gentle stroke of his fingers, willing the claw around her head to unlock its painful talons.
“I know it hurts. I’m so sorry.”
She fought to open her eyes, to resist the shadows that flickered at the edge of awareness. Coolness washed over her face, and she licked the dew from her lips.
“Please... wake up while I’m with you,” he requested, a gentle urgency in his voice.
She basked in the comfort his hands offered, instinctively seeking his tender touch.
His voice drew her, compelled her to see the man stroking her cheek. She peered at him through slits, as though peeking between the cracks of an old horse stall.
His image burned into her mind like an etching on a daguerreotype plate. Sculpted cheekbones. Proud nose. A solid chin in need of a shave. Brown
Layers of white muslin dressing wrapped Rebecca’s head. Her long hair flowed from beneath the bandage and down over her pillow and shoulders where it formed a shiny black pool. Adam ached to stroke her face, hold her hand and comfort her, but it was Radford’s time now, so Adam stepped aside.
o0o
Adam’s grandmother took the three youngest children home with her to spend the night. Will and Josh tended to chores in the livery while Adam talked with Radford.
They waited in the parlor while Evelyn freshened Rebecca’s bedding and gave her a sponge bath, neither of them having much to say.
Throughout the last decade, Adam had spent many hours in this parlor talking with Radford about the sawmill business. They had discussed Adam attending university and how he planned to build a house for Rebecca. They talked about helping neighbors and just about every subject one could think of. Their conversations had always come so easily. Now, they seemed to have nothing to say to one another, each of them lost in thought and emotionally exhausted.
Will came inside and joined them in the parlor. He told his father about a loose shoe on one of their horses and that he had gotten the last stall repaired. After getting a nod of thanks and little response from his father, and even less conversation from Adam, the boy gave up and headed outside to the porch.
The hours deepened into dawn. By turns, Radford and Adam drifted off until their chins hit their chests or their loud snoring jerked them awake. The silent house smelled of over-brewed coffee, but Adam got up and poured himself a cup. He took it to the porch where Will was asleep on the porch swing.
Adam sat in a wide chair at the opposite end of the porch and watched the sun rise. The pale light lit the apple orchard between Radford’s home and his mother’s house on the other side. Evelyn Tucker and her parents had been neighbors with the Graysons for several decades and had raised their children together. They must have faced hard times like this, times when they were scared and the future was uncertain. Maybe that’s why Grandma Grayson was able to keep everyone from falling apart. Maybe those other times had taught her how to handle the fear and uncertainty.
Maybe it was simply age that helped a person learn that skill. Doc Milton had that ability to take charge and tend to the necessary without the jangled nerves and emotional upheaval that Adam and the others were experiencing.
Or was it simply because they weren’t eaten up with guilt?
The dark coffee settled like acid in Adam’s empty stomach. He should have never let Rebecca come to the mill.
Chapter Six
She came awake slowly, to the fragrant smell of coffee and an unbearable ache lodged deep in her head. Something cold touched her lips, and she searched with her mouth, welcoming the coldness that wet her tongue.
“I’m here, Rebecca...”
His calm voice and cool hand flowed over her like a deep, soothing river. She concentrated on the gentle stroke of his fingers, willing the claw around her head to unlock its painful talons.
“I know it hurts. I’m so sorry.”
She fought to open her eyes, to resist the shadows that flickered at the edge of awareness. Coolness washed over her face, and she licked the dew from her lips.
“Please... wake up while I’m with you,” he requested, a gentle urgency in his voice.
She basked in the comfort his hands offered, instinctively seeking his tender touch.
His voice drew her, compelled her to see the man stroking her cheek. She peered at him through slits, as though peeking between the cracks of an old horse stall.
His image burned into her mind like an etching on a daguerreotype plate. Sculpted cheekbones. Proud nose. A solid chin in need of a shave. Brown
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