Read Online Paradise Falls by Ruth Ryan Langan - Free Book Online

eyes against the pain.
    Would it ever go away? Would she ever stop the wanting? The missing?
    The old man’s tone grew thoughtful. “Losing family is a hard thing. I had a sister. Gerda. Ten years older she was, and more like my mother than my sister. She never married.”
    When he fell silent, Fiona lifted her head. “What happened to Gerda?”
    He took the pipe from between his teeth and stared at the crows that were flying in to roost on the highest peak of the barn. “She stayed on our parents’ farm some miles from here and nursed them through their old age. Afterward I asked her to come live with us, so she wouldn’t be alone.”
    Gray’s head came up. “I didn’t know that. Why didn’t Aunt Gerda come?”
    “She said my kitchen wasn’t big enough for two women.” One side of Broderick’s mouth curved in a smile. “She was a wise woman, my sister.”
    Fiona brushed at a stray wisp of hair. “Is she still living on the family farm?”
    When Broderick fell silent Gray answered for his father. “Aunt Gerda died last winter. Pa and I took a wagonload of supplies to her, and found her out in the barn. It appeared she’d fallen after killing a goose for her holiday supper. The temperature had fallen so low, some said it was the coldest they could ever recall.”
    Despite the heat of a late summer evening, Fiona felt a shiver pass through her at the horrible image of what that poor woman must have suffered, knowing she was alone, and that she would surely freeze to death unless help came quickly.
    How much worse it must be for her brother, to know he could have eased her suffering, if only he’d found her in time.
    “I’m so sorry, Mr. Haydn.”
    The old man barely acknowledged her sympathy, and she realized he’d gone somewhere in his mind.
    She turned her attention to the wood in Gray’s hand. Under his knife it was beginning to take shape. “Is that a dog?”
    “Not yet. But soon enough it will be Chester here.” At the sound of his name the hound padded over to rest his head on his master’s knees.
    “Where did you learn such a wonderful thing?”
    Gray shrugged. “I’ve always seen shapes in wood. Papa says my grandfather did the same. It passes the time when my chores are finished.”
    Overcome with weariness, Fiona stood and shook down her skirts. “I’d best get to bed now. I like to write a few pages each night to my mum before I go to sleep.”
    Gray lumbered to his feet. “I’ll string that line in your room first.” Setting aside the wood and knife, he picked up a length of rope and a hammer and nails that were lying beside his father’s rocker.
    As he followed Fiona inside, Flem and Rose were seated at the kitchen table, laughing together. At the sight of Fiona and Gray, their laughter faded.
    “What’s this? Are you walking the teacher to her door?” Flem saw the color rise to Fiona’s cheeks at the same moment that his brother’s eyes frosted over. Seeing that Gray had risen to the bait, he couldn’t resist adding, “I think she can manage to find her way without your help. Don’t you, Gray?”
    When Gray didn’t bother to answer, Rose shoved back her chair and closed a hand over her older son’s sleeve. “Where are you going?”
    He paused to stare at the offending hand, then up at her mouth, pursed into a tight frown. “I’m stringing a rope so our houseguest has a place to hang her clothes.”
    To his retreating back Rose called, “Just so you know—it’s my responsibility to say who can set foot in her room and who can’t.”
    With her arms folded over her chest she watched as Fiona opened the door and stood aside for Gray. Satisfied that they would leave the door open until Gray had finished his chore, Rose returned to the table.
    Seeing the way Flem was grinning she lowered her voice. “I expect a certain behavior from anyone who comes here to teach our young. After all, what do we really know about this woman?”
    He caught her hands in his and lifted