Read Online Mary Brock Jones by A Heart Divided - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: A Heart Divided
Ads: Link
climbed the far bank. The sergeant then grabbed her last bag and she was off to Mrs Johnston’s. He stayed, her sole anchor in her confusing new world, as she settled in at Mrs Johnston’s and met the men who were building her office.
By lunchtime, her new business was ready. There was a price list tacked to the outside of a small, canvas-sided hut, and a queue was already forming outside. She launched gratefully into her customers’ demands.
When the queue finally broke up as the day ended, she was so tired she forgot to wonder how Philip was faring until just as her head finally hit the hard pillow in her new bed. Mrs Johnston had put up a curtain to give her a small, private alcove to herself, but she could have fallen asleep even in the middle of the busy main room.
Mina’s husband, Tom, had arrived as the sun was going down. He said little, ate his meal then headed soon after to his bed. But the four Johnston children made up for him, chattering, squabbling, laughing until their mother ordered them outside for what was left of the twilight hours. Nessa lay, eyes closed, listening to them play as she drifted off.
Just before sleep overtook her, a picture came to her. A big, strong, calm man standing watching with her as children played in front of a solid, cob cottage. He put his arm around her shoulder and she leaned into the comfort of his presence. A smile drifted across her face and she knew no more till morning.
Chapter 6
“Is that the last of them, Georgie?”
The freckle-faced boy of ten standing guard at her shop door popped his head round the canvas flap, surveyed the street outside, then turned back with a grin. “Yep. Not a single body waiting, Miss Nessa. Lunchtime?”
“Yes, Georgie, it is. I take it you are hungry again?”
The boy nodded his head vigorously, licking his lips as Nessa leaned down to pull out the billy from beneath her desk. Fortunately Mina Johnston knew her son well. It was packed to the top with thick slices of damper, cold mutton and pickles.
“Your mother is a treasure, Georgie.” She set the billy aside in the shade and stood, easing the ache in her back from sitting too long. “Come on, let’s go rescue that ginger beer from the riverside before someone else finds it.”
She laughed as Georgie raced ahead of her. The lad possessed one speed only—full ahead as fast as he could possibly go.
The boy had appointed himself her personal watchdog and protector two days after she had moved in with the Johnstons. The second child in a large family, he usually spent his days helping his father at the river or his mother around the house.
She refused his help at first. It didn’t take long to see how hard the Johnstons must work, both in hunting the gold and in feeding, clothing and making a home for their brood in this place. How could she take Georgie away when he was needed by his family? But it was no problem, they all assured her. And Sergeant Garret couldn’t get on with his work until she had someone to escort her about the place, they added. She had, it seemed, no choice but to agree to the plan, but she could and did insist on paying for Georgie’s time.
Now, hurrying to catch up with the sprite, she wondered if she had not been tricked horribly. Young Georgie was trouble on two legs, with a truly awesome talent for getting into mischief.
Mind you, Georgie was well enough known in the camp that no sane man wanted to get on his bad side. The young scamp was very inventive in extracting revenge—which allowed her to come and go to work safely as long as Georgie was close by. After a week here, she had seen enough to know that was a minor miracle. She had learnt how to sleep through the nightly raucous goings-on in the camp, but she was not stupid enough to leave the Johnston home after sunset and was grateful for the loaded rifle Mina Johnston kept by her bed. The lure of gold drew all types.
She had been in tight spots in her time, but none matched this
By lunchtime, her new business was ready. There was a price list tacked to the outside of a small, canvas-sided hut, and a queue was already forming outside. She launched gratefully into her customers’ demands.
When the queue finally broke up as the day ended, she was so tired she forgot to wonder how Philip was faring until just as her head finally hit the hard pillow in her new bed. Mrs Johnston had put up a curtain to give her a small, private alcove to herself, but she could have fallen asleep even in the middle of the busy main room.
Mina’s husband, Tom, had arrived as the sun was going down. He said little, ate his meal then headed soon after to his bed. But the four Johnston children made up for him, chattering, squabbling, laughing until their mother ordered them outside for what was left of the twilight hours. Nessa lay, eyes closed, listening to them play as she drifted off.
Just before sleep overtook her, a picture came to her. A big, strong, calm man standing watching with her as children played in front of a solid, cob cottage. He put his arm around her shoulder and she leaned into the comfort of his presence. A smile drifted across her face and she knew no more till morning.
Chapter 6
“Is that the last of them, Georgie?”
The freckle-faced boy of ten standing guard at her shop door popped his head round the canvas flap, surveyed the street outside, then turned back with a grin. “Yep. Not a single body waiting, Miss Nessa. Lunchtime?”
“Yes, Georgie, it is. I take it you are hungry again?”
The boy nodded his head vigorously, licking his lips as Nessa leaned down to pull out the billy from beneath her desk. Fortunately Mina Johnston knew her son well. It was packed to the top with thick slices of damper, cold mutton and pickles.
“Your mother is a treasure, Georgie.” She set the billy aside in the shade and stood, easing the ache in her back from sitting too long. “Come on, let’s go rescue that ginger beer from the riverside before someone else finds it.”
She laughed as Georgie raced ahead of her. The lad possessed one speed only—full ahead as fast as he could possibly go.
The boy had appointed himself her personal watchdog and protector two days after she had moved in with the Johnstons. The second child in a large family, he usually spent his days helping his father at the river or his mother around the house.
She refused his help at first. It didn’t take long to see how hard the Johnstons must work, both in hunting the gold and in feeding, clothing and making a home for their brood in this place. How could she take Georgie away when he was needed by his family? But it was no problem, they all assured her. And Sergeant Garret couldn’t get on with his work until she had someone to escort her about the place, they added. She had, it seemed, no choice but to agree to the plan, but she could and did insist on paying for Georgie’s time.
Now, hurrying to catch up with the sprite, she wondered if she had not been tricked horribly. Young Georgie was trouble on two legs, with a truly awesome talent for getting into mischief.
Mind you, Georgie was well enough known in the camp that no sane man wanted to get on his bad side. The young scamp was very inventive in extracting revenge—which allowed her to come and go to work safely as long as Georgie was close by. After a week here, she had seen enough to know that was a minor miracle. She had learnt how to sleep through the nightly raucous goings-on in the camp, but she was not stupid enough to leave the Johnston home after sunset and was grateful for the loaded rifle Mina Johnston kept by her bed. The lure of gold drew all types.
She had been in tight spots in her time, but none matched this
Similar Books
