Read Online Sweetwater (Birdsong Series) by Alice Addy - Free Book Online

playing hooky from school.”
She grinned a mischievous smile. “What do you suppose happened last night,
after the dance?”
    Cassie giggled at the thought of the two older people
romancing under the stars. “Oh, Patty. That’s too unthinkable. They’re old.”
    Patty laughed. “And you’re young! It would be the most
wonderful thing in the world if those two sweet and lovable people found
happiness with one another. I’d be so pleased for them. No one should live
their life alone, especially when one’s heart is as big as the two of theirs.”
    “I guess you could be right. They probably do get lonely,
huh?”
    Laughing, Patty agreed. “You’ll find out, someday. We all
need someone with whom to share our lives.”
    “What about you, Patty? You never mention anyone special.
You never seem to want to have any fun. Don’t you get lonely?”
    Patty’s eyes slowly misted over, as she thought back, many
years. “I had my one chance at love, Cassie, and I threw it all away to please
others. I’ll never know that kind of love again. His name was Andre, and I
shall continue to carry him in my heart until the day I die.”
    Cassie had never known Patty to speak of her past. She was
a very private person, and this revelation of her lost love, surprised her.
She didn’t know what to say. As the young woman stood there, trying to think
of a proper response, Dr. Donovan walked swiftly, into the room.
    “Morning, ladies. Have either one of you seen or spoken
with Emily this morning? After her traumatic evening, I’m somewhat worried
about her.”
    Dora entered from the dining room and stopped suddenly when
she saw the look of concern on the young doc’s face. “Traumatic? What
happened to her, Doc?” Dora had arrived back from the dance, quite late, and
retired to her room without waking anyone. This was her first chance to talk
about the events of the night before.
    “Please, don’t be alarmed, but it is a puzzlement, to be
sure. Last evening, as I was walking her back to the hotel, a couple of drunks
stumbled out of the Dollar Saloon. One man fell against Emmie, practically
knocking her to the ground. She wasn’t hurt, but the look on her face was
daunting. Emmie looked as if she recognized the bum, and she was terrified of
him. He was dirty and vile, but he didn’t really hurt her. She wasn’t herself
after that. I think it was simply a state of shock, but she was extremely
upset by the encounter. I need to discover his identity. Unfortunately, I was
too concerned with her welfare to get a good look at his face. If he walked in
here, right now, I doubt I’d recognize him.”
    Cassie was intrigued. With eyes, as round as saucers, she
asked, “You want me to run upstairs and see if she’s awake?”
    Patty placed her hand on Cassie’s shoulder, to calm the
young woman, and addressed Blake. “Dora can fix up a breakfast tray, and you
can carry it up to Emily. Being a doctor and all,” she grinned, “you can check
her out for yourself.”
    He nodded. “Good. That’s a good idea. Thanks, Patty.”
    Blake knocked on Emily’s door—for the third time.
Still, she didn’t answer. Balancing the food tray on one hand, he tried the
latch, allowing the door to swing open.
    “Emmie? Wake up, sleepy head,” he said with feigned
frivolity. “I’ve brought you some of Dora’s finest. Got some good, strong
coffee to sweep those cobwebs away, too. Emmie?”
    He set the tray down on the bureau and turned toward the
bed. She was wrapped in her spread, under several quilts. That was odd, as
the weather was quite mild for this time of year.
    “Emmie?” An unsettled feeling overcame Blake, as he stepped
closer to the pile of bed linens. He knew the truth before he pulled them
back, exposing an empty bed. There was no indentation in the soft mattress.
She had never slept there, last evening.
    He rummaged through the drawers and the wardrobe. What did
she take with her, he wondered? It appeared that most of her