Read Online Summer In Iron Springs by Margie Broschinsky - Free Book Online Page A

outer edge. Each loop was decorated in its center with a marquis diamond. At the top, a delicate bow was beautifully adorned with sparkling emeralds. The cameo was of a young woman gazing thoughtfully into the distance. Carved into her long wavy hair was an island flower. Phoebe guessed that the cameo was opal. It was milky white with pink, blue, and yellow undertones. As Phoebe studied the brooch, she felt that there was something familiar about it. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but somewhere, somehow, she had seen that brooch before. But where? It simply wasn’t possible.
    After admiring the brooch for a few minutes, she glanced at her watch. “We better hurry or we’ll be late.”
    They headed back out onto Park Street and walked to the Village Candy Shop. Jenna was already in line so they joined her and, after a quick glance at the choices, they ordered their ice cream and settled into a small booth in the corner of the shop. As they ate, Billy did impersonations of the snooty salesman from the gallery and Jenna laughed so loud everyone in the place turned to stare at them.
    Before she left, Jenna made Phoebe promise to hang out with her the following week. Billy drove Phoebe back to Anna’s and, after turning off the truck’s engine, he walked around to the passenger side and opened Phoebe’s door. Then, giving her his hand, he helped her to the ground—something Jaxon had never thought of doing.
    “That was fun,” Billy said, standing in front of her in the gravel driveway.
    Phoebe nodded, her eyes meeting his. “Yeah, it was. I’m glad you decided to stalk me.”
    Billy’s eyes sparkled when he laughed. “So am I.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Four
     
    “Wake up, wake up, wake up! Morning comes mighty early out here!” Phoebe was sure she was having a very bad dream when Norm’s voice echoed through the house. “Come on little lady, time to get out of bed!” With one eye squinted shut, she peeked out from beneath the blankets to discover that it was five thirty in the morning. It had been less than six hours since she’d fallen into bed and unless the house was on fire, there was no way she’d be getting up any time soon. She pulled the covers over her head and sunk back into the covers.
                  “Get up, get up, get up! It’s time to go to work!”
    After a long, much needed stretch she sat up, rolled out of bed and shuffled across the room. She pulled the door open just enough to see Norm’s smiling face. Who smiles at five thirty in the morning and what is he so happy about? She gave him a blank stare. “What’s up?”
    “Time to go to work!” was Norm’s unapologetic reply. “Get dressed, and get downstairs. We leave in ten minutes.” And with that cheery bit of news, Norm was gone.
    Phoebe returned to her bed, plopped down, relaxed her feet and let her slippers fall to the floor. “They could have warned me I’d be starting work in the middle of the night.” She raised her arms above her head and stretched again. Then, she stood up and staggered to the bathroom. After brushing her teeth and getting dressed, she glanced in the mirror—her hair was a mess and she had dark circles under her eyes. There was no time for her to do anything about her appearance so she grabbed a hair tie and pulled her tangled hair into a ponytail. Then she made her way groggily downstairs.
    “Here ya go,” Norm said handing Phoebe two pieces of dry toast. “If you want breakfast you’re gonna have to get up earlier from now on.”
    She followed Norm outside and climbed into the cab of his truck. In moments, they were on the highway and after a long uncomfortable ride; the truck came to a stop at the orchard.
    “Alrightee, let’s put you to work,” Norm said handing Phoebe a pair of gloves. “This’ll be as easy as puttin’ socks on a rooster.”
    What the heck does that mean? Phoebe rolled her eyes and followed Norm into the trees. For someone as big