Read Online Promise of Yesterday by S. Dionne Moore - Free Book Online

plight a sad thing, that she felt deeply for the ache of his loss. His late wife had been one of Jenny’s favorite customers.
    The love between the Walcks had been witnessed by the entire town. Just as the sorrow in Aaron’s eyes when she died had been witnessed. Marylu especially recalled his lost look as his wife’s coffin had been lowered into the saturated ground, rain pouring down on the crowd of mourners. Jenny had seemed mesmerized that day by the sight of Aaron’s hair plastered to his head, his coat dripping wet. The palpable grief. Even as others filed away, he had stayed. Dazed. Probably afraid to leave the gaping hole in the ground. It had taken Marylu a full five minutes to coax Jenny away from the graveside and out of the rain.
    Lord, this child’s tender heart deserves to be loved by a man who can love that hard
.

    Chester bounded up the back step, figuring someone inside would know why his knock on Cooper’s cabin door went unanswered. Surely the man hadn’t recovered that quick.
    He smoothed his newly clipped hair down, pleased with the ease with which he could manage it now, and raised his hand to knock. He heard muffled voices and the sound of steps before the door swung inward to reveal Jenny McGreary. Chester’s excitement dwindled a bit, but he nodded at the woman and lowered his gaze. Scents of home cooking with undertones of spice swirled in the air, and he breathed deeply.
    “Please, won’t you come in, Chester?”
    He raised his head and caught Miss Jenny’s smile. He did his best to keep his eyes somewhere other than her face, but when she placed her hand along his arm and tugged him inside, he couldn’t help but gape up into her blue eyes.
    She gave him a soft smile and held up a finger to let him know to wait. She hesitated, looking embarrassed, then laughed. “I forget you can hear just fine. Right?”
    Chester nodded.
    “Marylu’s quite the cook. Would you like something to eat?”
    Chester shook his head and set his slate and pencil on the table. He would never be able to reconcile himself to the idea of a white woman serving him.
    Marylu burst into the room just then. She paused in the doorway to wipe her hands on her apron.
    He basked in her smile and the way it spilled sunshine into the cold corners of his spirit.
    “Sure he wants something to eat. You ever known a single man to turn down cookin’ that ain’t his own?”
    Miss Jenny chuckled and scooted out the bench across from him. She settled her skirts around her and sat down. Marylu made for the stove as Miss Jenny slid the Bible closer and opened it up.
    The women chatted a bit about their days, and Chester listened, content to be in the home and in Marylu’s presence. Before he knew it, she wielded a huge spoon over a hot dish and slipped something with a golden crust and the smell of heaven right in front of him. His stomach rumbled so loudly that Miss Jenny sent him a soft smile. He felt the heat flush into his cheeks and bowed his head.
    “Now eat up,” Marylu said. “I’m going to take this broth to Cooper.”
    Chester shook his head and pointed toward the back door. He pantomimed knocking on Cooper’s door, then shrugged and shook his head.
    Marylu beamed sunshine down on him. “You’re right in that. I brought him inside to keep a good eye on him and so I could get some things done.”
    Chester nodded and picked up his fork. He stole a glance at Miss Jenny. She winked at him and bowed her head. The blessing was short, and the whole idea of his sitting across from her and eating a supper seemed a strange dream that left him feeling both uneasy and confident. She seemed in a world of her own as she worked a carrot onto her fork, and Chester contented himself with cutting his chicken into smaller pieces with the side of his fork. Little bites he could manage, though the whole process of eating took him time.
    Through the open doorway he could hear Marylu’s voice but could not make out what she was saying