Read Online Midnight Rescue / The Proposal / Christy's Choice by Catherine Marshall - Free Book Online Page A

you started on that English homework I assigned?” Christy asked.
    â€œNot yet,” Ruby Mae said sullenly.
    Miss Alice came bustling into the room from the kitchen where she had packed some food to take with her. She was carrying a paper sack and her medical bag in her left hand. Her sprained wrist was much better, but she still had her right arm in a sling most of the time.
    She pursed her lips. “I do hate to go, what with Neil still running a fever and this trouble with the moonshine. But Janey Cook’s had a couple of hard deliveries, and I’d like to be there. I won’t be as much use as I’d like, with this arm of mine, but her grandmother will be there, too. Together we should manage.”
    â€œBe careful, Miss Alice,” the doctor warned. “I’m concerned about retaliation over that moonshine David threw out.”
    â€œI can take care of myself,” Miss Alice said. She shook a warning finger at the group. “But I want the rest of you to keep an eye out. And David, this might be a good time to let things simmer down a little. Give folks a chance to think.”
    â€œWho is it you think is going to be retaliating, anyway?” David asked, sounding defensive.
    â€œBird’s-Eye Taylor is one of the biggest moonshiners in these parts, of course,” Miss Alice said. “And I suspect he uses Lundy to help him. But there are others.”
    â€œTom McHone, for one,” the doctor added. “And Jubal McSween and Dug—” He stopped in midsentence.
    â€œGo ahead and say it, Doc,” said Ruby Mae, her eyes flashing. “Sure, my step-pa’s made moonshine and sold it some. Everybody does it around these parts. I ain’t defendin’ him or nothin’. But there ain’t no way else to make a proper living here.” She tossed her napkin onto the table. “Not like that’ll stop you-all from tellin’ the rest of the world how to live their lives and what they can do and can’t do and if’n they can be with the one thing that means more to them than the whole rest of the wide world.” She pushed back her chair. “Can I be excused?” she demanded. “I got dishes to do, and homework.”
    â€œYes, Ruby Mae,” Christy said. “You may be excused.”
    She watched as Ruby Mae dashed from the room. “I hope she doesn’t stay mad forever,” she said sadly.
    â€œThat’s one thing people in these mountains do very, very well,” said the doctor with a weary smile. “Stay mad. And get even.”
    Ruby Mae stared down at the tear-stained diary page. The ink was blurry. The letters melted one into another, but she could still make out her words:
    I can’t stand it no more. It just ain’t fare. Prins needs me as much as I need him. Well, mebbe not as much, but almost. Itz only bin a few ours and my hart is braking. How kin I go for weeks without seein him, or mebbe even longer?
    She wiped her eyes and sniffled. It was very late. The others had gone to sleep hours ago.
    With a sigh, she went to the window and opened it wide. The chill air sent a shiver through her. Out there, past Miss Alice’s vegetable garden, past the lattice-covered well, past the school, was the little shed where Prince was waiting for her.
    Did he miss her as much as she missed him? Creed Allen said animals could feel even more than people could, and she liked to think he was right. (Although Creed also swore that his raccoon, Scalawag, could read his mind, and she had serious doubts about that. After all, Creed was known for the whoppers he liked to tell.)
    A sound, a strange rhythmic thud, met her ears. It seemed to be coming from far away, but there was an urgency to it.
    she heard a wild, desperate whinny, like nothing she’d ever heard before.
    Prince! It had to be him.
    The sound came again, a horrible cry carried on the wind.
    He sounded terribly afraid. Whatever was happening