Read Online Love Forevermore by Madeline Baker - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Madeline Baker
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brief, silent, and yet something had happened between them, something she could not put a name to. Deep in her heart, she knew she would not have objected if he had taken her in his arms. In truth, she was disappointed that he had not tried to kiss her. The thought of his mouth touching hers sent shivers down her spine and filled her heart with guilt. Here she was, sitting in church, yearning for the kiss of a man who was virtually a stranger to her.
After church, Mike took Loralee to lunch at one of the restaurants in town. He was in a jovial mood. Loralee was lovely in a dress of soft pink muslin trimmed in yards and yards of white lace. A perky bonnet matched the dress. The more he saw of her, the more he loved her. Soon, he mused, soon he would propose to her. If all went well, she would accept his offer of marriage. If she refused, he would not give up. He would woo her and court her until he won her heart, no matter how long it took.
They went for a walk after lunch. Loralee listened as Mike outlined his plans for the future. She nodded and smiled and made all the proper replies, yet a part of her saw only a swarthy face and arresting black eyes that had the power to make her heart pound and her stomach behave queerly.
That evening they went to Colonel Freeman’s house for dinner, and Loralee suffered through three hours of listening to Stella Freeman air her views about the Apaches, the West, the Army, and President Theodore Roosevelt, who had been elected to a second term of office.
Stella Freeman did not care for Mr. Roosevelt, possibly because everyone else did. Roosevelt was a man larger than life, Loralee thought, even though he was physically a rather dumpy man, heavily bespectacled. But he had enormous energy and a seemingly endless capacity for getting things done. It was rumored he drank his coffee with no less than seven lumps of sugar from a cup that was, according to one source, more in the nature of a bathtub. He was a soldier, a statesman, an adventurer, and the author of twenty-four books.
Loralee’s favorite bit of advice from Teddy was, “Do not hit at all if it can be avoided, but never hit softly.”
Stella Freeman scowled when Loralee expressed her admiration for the President. “Some president,” Stella remarked caustically. “Why, he acts more like a boy than a man. Playing baseball on the lawn of the White House! Imagine. And all those animals running around. Why, the man has everything from squirrels to bears living there. Is he running our country or a zoo? And the newspapers are forever writing about how he wrestles and has pillow fights with his children. I mean, it’s all well and good for a father to play with his children, but I do think our President should display a little more reserve and dignity.”
“I think he’s charming,” Loralee said. “He’s certainly good for the country. Why, just look at the acres of forest land he has set aside to create national parks.”
“Yes, that’s all very interesting,” Stella Freeman remarked with a wave of her hand, “but enough of Mr. Roosevelt’s antics. Tell me, my dear, have you been successful in teaching Shad Zuniga to read and write?”
“Yes,” Loralee answered. “Quite successful.”
Stella Freeman smiled. “Imagine, teaching that savage to read. It’s quite an accomplishment, my dear. Frankly, the colonel and I never thought you’d succeed with the school. Of course, we were hoping you would, but the Indians can be very stubborn, as you know.”
“Yes.” Loralee sent a pleading glance in Mike’s direction, hoping he would come and rescue her from Stella Freeman. She felt a surge of relief when he correctly interpreted her look and came quickly toward her.
“I think it’s time for us to say good night,” Mike said, extending his hand to Loralee. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, Mike.” Taking his hand, she rose gracefully to her feet. “Thank you for a lovely evening, Mrs.
After church, Mike took Loralee to lunch at one of the restaurants in town. He was in a jovial mood. Loralee was lovely in a dress of soft pink muslin trimmed in yards and yards of white lace. A perky bonnet matched the dress. The more he saw of her, the more he loved her. Soon, he mused, soon he would propose to her. If all went well, she would accept his offer of marriage. If she refused, he would not give up. He would woo her and court her until he won her heart, no matter how long it took.
They went for a walk after lunch. Loralee listened as Mike outlined his plans for the future. She nodded and smiled and made all the proper replies, yet a part of her saw only a swarthy face and arresting black eyes that had the power to make her heart pound and her stomach behave queerly.
That evening they went to Colonel Freeman’s house for dinner, and Loralee suffered through three hours of listening to Stella Freeman air her views about the Apaches, the West, the Army, and President Theodore Roosevelt, who had been elected to a second term of office.
Stella Freeman did not care for Mr. Roosevelt, possibly because everyone else did. Roosevelt was a man larger than life, Loralee thought, even though he was physically a rather dumpy man, heavily bespectacled. But he had enormous energy and a seemingly endless capacity for getting things done. It was rumored he drank his coffee with no less than seven lumps of sugar from a cup that was, according to one source, more in the nature of a bathtub. He was a soldier, a statesman, an adventurer, and the author of twenty-four books.
Loralee’s favorite bit of advice from Teddy was, “Do not hit at all if it can be avoided, but never hit softly.”
Stella Freeman scowled when Loralee expressed her admiration for the President. “Some president,” Stella remarked caustically. “Why, he acts more like a boy than a man. Playing baseball on the lawn of the White House! Imagine. And all those animals running around. Why, the man has everything from squirrels to bears living there. Is he running our country or a zoo? And the newspapers are forever writing about how he wrestles and has pillow fights with his children. I mean, it’s all well and good for a father to play with his children, but I do think our President should display a little more reserve and dignity.”
“I think he’s charming,” Loralee said. “He’s certainly good for the country. Why, just look at the acres of forest land he has set aside to create national parks.”
“Yes, that’s all very interesting,” Stella Freeman remarked with a wave of her hand, “but enough of Mr. Roosevelt’s antics. Tell me, my dear, have you been successful in teaching Shad Zuniga to read and write?”
“Yes,” Loralee answered. “Quite successful.”
Stella Freeman smiled. “Imagine, teaching that savage to read. It’s quite an accomplishment, my dear. Frankly, the colonel and I never thought you’d succeed with the school. Of course, we were hoping you would, but the Indians can be very stubborn, as you know.”
“Yes.” Loralee sent a pleading glance in Mike’s direction, hoping he would come and rescue her from Stella Freeman. She felt a surge of relief when he correctly interpreted her look and came quickly toward her.
“I think it’s time for us to say good night,” Mike said, extending his hand to Loralee. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, Mike.” Taking his hand, she rose gracefully to her feet. “Thank you for a lovely evening, Mrs.
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