Read Online Still House Pond by Jan Watson - Free Book Online Page A

her lips, then blotted them. “Don’t you ever long for something else? somewhere else? maybe even somebody else?”
    â€œManda!”
    Manda turned on the dresser bench to face Cara. “Oh, don’t get exercised. I know you’re true to Dimmert. But don’t you ever get tired of the same old, same old?”
    â€œScoot,” Cara said, sliding onto the bench and sitting shoulder to shoulder with Manda. “The love of a good man is a gift from heaven. You should give Gurney a chance.”
    â€œI want sparks. Shouldn’t there be sparks?”
    Cara laughed. “Has Gurney stolen a kiss yet?”
    Manda rolled her eyes. “Well, no, and he’d better not, either.”
    â€œThen how do you know there won’t be sparks? He just might surprise you.” Cara twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “I didn’t especially warm up to Dimm until that first kiss. His passion for me led to my passion for him.”
    â€œYou’re ruining your hair,” Manda said, smoothing a bit of pomade into Cara’s wispy locks. “Did you ever kiss anybody but Dimmert?”
    â€œNo.” Cara stood and smoothed her skirts. “And I’ve never wanted to.”
    â€œSo you think I should let Gurney kiss me tonight?” Manda asked with a last look in the mirror and a last pat to her hair.
    â€œKisses shouldn’t be planned for. You have to let them come naturally.”
    â€œI don’t know about that. If Gurney had any get-up about him, I believe he would have already tried.”
    Cara smiled and shook her head. “Manda, Manda. Be careful lest you get rain up your nose.”
    Manda answered with more clogging steps. “Let’s go. I’d rather dance than eat fried chicken on Sunday.”
    â€œSpeaking of which,” Cara said, “don’t forget your box supper.”
    * * *
    The thump of dance music met them a mile away. Lilly clapped and snuggled closer to Manda. They were sitting on the back of the wagon with their legs dangling over the edge. Every time the wagon hit a bump, Lilly squealed.
    Cara looked back at them from her place on the wagon’s bench between Dimmert and her little niece Merky. “You hold her tight, Manda.”
    Manda gave Lilly a little shove. “I was thinking of flinging her out onto the roadside.”
    Lilly giggled. “You’re ever so much fun. I’m so glad Mama let me come.”
    â€œJust you remember to stay close to me or Cara. Don’t go wandering off by yourself.”
    â€œMama’s already given me that speech,” Lilly said. “I’ll be watching Merky anyway.”
    â€œThat will keep you out of trouble for sure,” Manda said. “Merky’s a live wire.”
    The wagon hit a hole in the roadbed. Lilly bounced. Manda’s encircling arm kept her safely seated.
    â€œYou know, Manda, I’m good with children.”
    Manda chuckled. Lilly was such a serious child. “You are that.”
    As soon as they got inside the schoolhouse, Manda let the crowd swallow her up. Lilly would be fine with the rest of the Whitt family. Dance and Ace and their passel of kids had come also. She wouldn’t spend much time with them. She and Dance were never close. Dance was way older than Manda, and she never seemed to warm up to Manda. Truthfully, all Manda really liked about her sister was her name. Why couldn’t she have been named Dance instead of Dory?
    The crowd was thick on the dance floor and lined two or three deep along the walls. Box suppers and dances always brought people from all over. It was a good way to meet new folks. Manda’s feet twitched to the music as she elbowed over to the maids’ table with her decorated pasteboard box chock-full of fried chicken, potato salad, and dried apple pie. The table was dubbed the young maids’ table to keep from hurting feelings. Only eligible women participated in the