Read Online Mad World (Book 2): Sanctuary by Samaire Provost - Free Book Online Page B

to have the military show up at my front door to tell me he’s gone. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a youngster around these parts …” her voice trailed off.
    “We understand.” I said.
    “Yeah, we do. It’s okay to cry, Julie,” said Caitlyn.
    Julie blew her nose one more time, then smiled again. “I just wish this wretched infection hadn’t ever happened,” she turned back to the lemons. “I hate every bit of it.” She began cutting lemons again, this time with vehemence. She looked so angry that I worried she might cut herself.
    “You want me to do that?” I asked.
    “No, I’m fine. Really,” she answered.
    Caitlyn and I looked at each other and wandered back into the sitting room. We took maybe ten minutes looking at the little figurines and tatted doilies she had on display. I was leaning forward examining an antique sampler hanging on the far wall when she came into the room with a tray and holding a large pitcher of lemonade and some glasses already filled with ice cubes.
    “Here we are, fresh lemonade!” she said.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Eight
     
     
    We all wandered out of the farmhouse together. Caitlyn and I both had glasses of delicious lemonade and Julie had her tray holding more glasses and the refilled pitcher. She handed out glasses of lemonade to the men and then to Risa and Luke.
    “My goodness, this is delicious!” DeAndre said, drinking deeply. And it was. Everything about this place seemed idyllic. Jake drank deeply and then looked at me over the edge of his glass and smiled, his eyes crinkling in the sunshine.
    “Well, folks. I’m going to go whip up some fried chicken and mashed potatoes and biscuits. You all enjoy the farm with Tom,” said Julie. She went back into the house, but left the tray with its half-full pitcher of lemonade on the bale of hay by the fence.
    We all stood there for ten more minutes, drinking the wonderful homemade lemonade and enjoying air that smelled of fresh-cut hay and sunshine. Then Tom invited Risa and Luke for a ride on the horses. Those kids were in heaven. I kept taking mental snapshots of this wonderful place. A little voice in the back of my head kept telling me to not let down my guard, that things were a little too perfect, but I shhhhh’d it. I wanted to enjoy this wonderful afternoon. My family, for this one space out of time, was happy. It made my heart swell with contentment.
    After the horseback riding, and Risa proudly showing off the skills she had acquired during her previous lessons, Caitlyn, Risa and I stayed to brush out the horse, while Jacob, DeAndre, Stanley and Luke went to tour the wheat fields with Tom.
    We had tied the big black horse that Risa had ridden up to a fence next to a pepper tree. The tall, weeping branches provided shade as Risa brushed his coat to a shiny glean. Caitlyn was brushing out the horse’s tail, and I was at his head, braiding his mane. He seemed to be enjoying all the attention, his eyes were half closed in pleasure as Risa work her way from his neck down its body.
    “I’m in love with this horse,” Risa said dreamily.
    As if in answer, the horse let out a gentle whinny and nodded his head. Laughing, Risa kept brushing his back and talking sweet talk to him. This horse was falling in love with my daughter, and I didn’t blame him at all. She was a treasure. I was so proud of the woman she was growing into. I was very proud of Luke, too. In fact, I wondered when the men would be getting back. They’d been gone over an hour, and the sun was already well on its way to the horizon. It would be sunset before too long. As if on cue, the tractor they had all taken rumbled into view with all of them perched atop it. Luke was there in the front, looking like he was having the time of his life. I smiled at them and turned to Risa and Caitlyn.
    “Looks like it might be time to wash up,” I said. “I bet Julie is almost done with the feast she’s making for us.”
    After putting the