Read Online Ride the Rainbow Home by Susan Aylworth - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Susan Aylworth
Tags: Romance, Love Story, Marriage, American Southwest, native american culture, debbie macomber, committment, navajo culture, wholesome romance, overcoming fears
Ads: Link
circle continued as Meg helped herself to roast onions and carrots, fresh broccoli, brown gravy, and—
"Is this beef?" she asked, surprised.
"A nice roast," Kate answered. "Why?"
"It's just... I guess I expected pork." Her comment drew several amused chuckles.
"We're pretty versatile around here," Jim said. "We even have lamb or fish once in a while."
"And I often cook vegetarian," Chris added, taking Meg's hand and smiling warmly. "You ought to come to dinner when I'm cooking, Meg. This Wednesday will be great."
"Meg and I have plans for Wednesday," Jim cut in, taking her other hand. Meg gave him a quizzical look; she hadn't heard about plans, not for Wednesday or any other time. She was beginning to feel like the rope in a tug-of- war.
"Perhaps next week," she told Chris, casually withdrawing both her hands. Joan, who had watched the whole exchange, laughed loudly, drawing an imperious look from her mother.
Dinner conversation began with a review of everyone's week. Jim talked about his last buying trip and, in a couple of quick minutes, Meg learned more about his work than she'd heard so far. Kurt, a videographer, told of shooting one wedding and scheduling another. Chris mentioned there were four sows due soon and enlisted his brothers' help to move them after dinner. Bob talked about his accounting office in Holbrook and Joan told of a change she'd made at her day-care center. Meg noticed how Kate included everyone in the report, even the children.
After dinner each person, except little Tyler, rose from the table and carried his own dishes into the kitchen, rinsing them and stacking them in the dishwasher. Kurt started the machine while the others put food away and Chris wiped the table, and then the McAllisters all migrated into the room Kate called her parlor, a delightful creation of Victorian lace and antique oak. Kate settled at the piano, saying, "What shall we start with today?"
There followed one of the most charming afternoons Meg had ever spent as she joined in a family sing-along. Jim pulled out a guitar and strummed the chords as Kate, or sometimes Joan, played the piano and the family sang. Selections ranged from folk songs to hymns, spirituals, and country hits. When Alice suggested "Frosty the Snowman," Kate barely hesitated before launching in. After that it was open season on Christmas as the family worked their way through "Jingle Bells" and a series of favorite carols.
"So what if it's July?" Kate asked, cheerfully relinquishing the piano to Joan as Jim handed his guitar around the room.
"This sing-along is wonderful," Meg said during a lemonade break. "Do you do this every Sunday?"
"It's a tradition," he answered. "Mom and Dad started it when we were kids."
"Even before Kurt and Chris were born," Joan added, walking up to them. "Jim and I started singing before we went to school."
"Mom didn't want us to spend Sunday afternoons watching television or lollygagging," Jim said.
"Lollygagging was one of Dad's words," Joan added.
Jim nodded. "They thought we might as well learn to sing."
Meg stared at Jim. "I've never once heard you sing," she said aloud, silently adding, and I thought we were so close, I knew everything about you. How wrong I was.
Joan poked her brother in the ribs. "He's pretty shy outside the family. He has a beautiful voice, though."
Meg agreed heartily. Everything about Jim was beautiful, she decided as she watched him pick up the guitar. He was aril wearing the blue pin-striped suit he'd worn to church. His hair flowed around him like a golden cloud, held back from his face by dark glasses he'd used when driving and now wore propped atop his head. She watched as he began a country ballad, noting the line of his body as he caressed the strings, the motion in his jaw and throat as he sang. Again she had the sense of his elemental nature, of something beyond this place and time.
"How about some barbershop?" Kate suggested as Jim's solo ended. "You boys harmonize
"Is this beef?" she asked, surprised.
"A nice roast," Kate answered. "Why?"
"It's just... I guess I expected pork." Her comment drew several amused chuckles.
"We're pretty versatile around here," Jim said. "We even have lamb or fish once in a while."
"And I often cook vegetarian," Chris added, taking Meg's hand and smiling warmly. "You ought to come to dinner when I'm cooking, Meg. This Wednesday will be great."
"Meg and I have plans for Wednesday," Jim cut in, taking her other hand. Meg gave him a quizzical look; she hadn't heard about plans, not for Wednesday or any other time. She was beginning to feel like the rope in a tug-of- war.
"Perhaps next week," she told Chris, casually withdrawing both her hands. Joan, who had watched the whole exchange, laughed loudly, drawing an imperious look from her mother.
Dinner conversation began with a review of everyone's week. Jim talked about his last buying trip and, in a couple of quick minutes, Meg learned more about his work than she'd heard so far. Kurt, a videographer, told of shooting one wedding and scheduling another. Chris mentioned there were four sows due soon and enlisted his brothers' help to move them after dinner. Bob talked about his accounting office in Holbrook and Joan told of a change she'd made at her day-care center. Meg noticed how Kate included everyone in the report, even the children.
After dinner each person, except little Tyler, rose from the table and carried his own dishes into the kitchen, rinsing them and stacking them in the dishwasher. Kurt started the machine while the others put food away and Chris wiped the table, and then the McAllisters all migrated into the room Kate called her parlor, a delightful creation of Victorian lace and antique oak. Kate settled at the piano, saying, "What shall we start with today?"
There followed one of the most charming afternoons Meg had ever spent as she joined in a family sing-along. Jim pulled out a guitar and strummed the chords as Kate, or sometimes Joan, played the piano and the family sang. Selections ranged from folk songs to hymns, spirituals, and country hits. When Alice suggested "Frosty the Snowman," Kate barely hesitated before launching in. After that it was open season on Christmas as the family worked their way through "Jingle Bells" and a series of favorite carols.
"So what if it's July?" Kate asked, cheerfully relinquishing the piano to Joan as Jim handed his guitar around the room.
"This sing-along is wonderful," Meg said during a lemonade break. "Do you do this every Sunday?"
"It's a tradition," he answered. "Mom and Dad started it when we were kids."
"Even before Kurt and Chris were born," Joan added, walking up to them. "Jim and I started singing before we went to school."
"Mom didn't want us to spend Sunday afternoons watching television or lollygagging," Jim said.
"Lollygagging was one of Dad's words," Joan added.
Jim nodded. "They thought we might as well learn to sing."
Meg stared at Jim. "I've never once heard you sing," she said aloud, silently adding, and I thought we were so close, I knew everything about you. How wrong I was.
Joan poked her brother in the ribs. "He's pretty shy outside the family. He has a beautiful voice, though."
Meg agreed heartily. Everything about Jim was beautiful, she decided as she watched him pick up the guitar. He was aril wearing the blue pin-striped suit he'd worn to church. His hair flowed around him like a golden cloud, held back from his face by dark glasses he'd used when driving and now wore propped atop his head. She watched as he began a country ballad, noting the line of his body as he caressed the strings, the motion in his jaw and throat as he sang. Again she had the sense of his elemental nature, of something beyond this place and time.
"How about some barbershop?" Kate suggested as Jim's solo ended. "You boys harmonize
Similar Books
