Read Online Spirit of the Valley by Jane Shoup - Free Book Online Page A

going to be Elizabeth Anne Greenway Carter. It was the chance, the gift of a lifetime. “Lizzie,” she mouthed. She would dream up a whole new life story. She would keep the best of her former life, of Pauline’s life—Rebecca and Jake—and recreate everything else. This would be a loving home and they would be happy here. Happy and safe. She didn’t want or need anything else.
    â€œHey, hey,” April May called from the other room. “I just found a picture of Lionel.”
    Pauline started from the room with a light step. She felt much freer as Lizzie Greenway Carter.
    â€œI bet Cessie doesn’t know this is here,” April May said as she handed it over. “It’s an old one, but that’s him, a young him, with that same ol’ devilish smile.”
    The image was of Lionel as a young man, standing against a rock ledge with a pickax in his hand. Although it was faded, its edges frayed and slightly torn, Lizzie recognized the face. This was the father from her dreams. Her breath caught as she stared at it.
    â€œHe was originally from South Carolina,” April May said as she looked at the photograph over Lizzie’s shoulder. “Then, as a young man, he went to California after gold. Found a little, lost a lot of time is what he said.”
    â€œI want to know all about him.”
    â€œHe traveled a lot of places in the world, a lot more than most. Did a stint as a merchant marine, was in the war, went to the Orient, saw Paris. Cessie loved his stories. The two of them were special friends, so she got a lot more of them than I did. She’d be happy to share them if you want to hear.”
    â€œOh, I do!”
    April May took a few steps away before turning back. “He was a good man and I’m glad I knew him. You know, maybe, in the end, that’s all any of us can hope to have said about us.”
    Pauline nodded slowly.
    â€œTell you what else, this place is not in as bad a shape as I feared. It’s going to take a lot of work but—”
    â€œIt’s going to be wonderful,” Lizzie declared. “It’s going to be a new life for us. I thought it wouldn’t be real. That it couldn’t be, but . . . I feel it, now that I’m here. That it’s meant to be somehow.” Her moisture-filled eyes glistened.
    April May cocked her head and looked at Lizzie curiously.
    â€œWhat?” Lizzie laughingly asked.
    â€œI don’t know. Maybe it’s just the light in here—”
    â€œWhat is it?”
    â€œYou look different. No fooling. You look a little bit different.”
    â€œReally? I’m not. I’m the same ol’ Lizzie I always was.”
    April May guffawed and slapped her thigh. “That’s the spirit!”
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    The two of them made their way back home along a path through the woods and it occurred to Lizzie how much more alive everything seemed here. The greens were so varied and intense in color, the chirping of birds louder. The air was hot and humid, but even that felt good. When the sun hit the tree trunks and limbs just right, the bark glowed golden and the green of the leaves was almost blinding. “Cessie mentioned John yesterday,” Lizzie said. “To Rebecca. I hope my daughter wasn’t prying.”
    â€œCessie isn’t going to talk about anything she doesn’t want to.”
    â€œShe also said Lionel was her second love.”
    â€œAnd so he was. I was so grateful to that man.” It was a strange enough statement that Lizzie didn’t know how to respond. April May glanced at her and must have seen the question in her expression because she stopped and turned to face her. “I don’t know what all was said, so I’ll just tell you if you want to know.”
    Lizzie nodded, wanting very much to know.
    â€œJohn Yardley was Cessie’s sweetheart from the time they weren’t but knee-high to grasshoppers,” April May