Read Online The Glenmore's: Caught by Susan Horsnell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Susan Horsnell
Ads: Link
and so much cruelty. Guess people are the same everywhere” she sighed again.
“There will always be someone who’ll say somethin’ nasty Justine but give Gold Springs a chance. Most of us are good people” Ben assured her.
“I’m tryin’ real hard Ben and I’ve only been here a short time. I have to give people a chance to get used to my ugliness I guess”
“Ya not ugly Justine” Ben all but shouted startling everyone. “You’ve had some misfortune but there’s people with scars just as bad, why look at Jen….” Ben trailed off when he saw the look on Virginia’s face. “Sorry ma. Jenny will tell ya her story if and when she’s ready Justine. It ain’t my place” Ben apologised.
Justine was curious now and resolved to take Jenny up on her invitation for tea and a chat real soon.
“I understand Ben” Justine stood to excuse herself. “I must be goin’ it’s gettin’ late and I should be helpin’ Josh with the afternoon chores. Thank you all so much for everythin’. I’ll see ya the day after tomorrow”
“I’ll walk ya out” Ben placed his hand in the small of her back and Justine felt her legs turn to jelly. It took all of her strength to place one foot in front of the other as he walked her to her horse.
As Justine was about to mount up Ben swung her around to face him. “You’re not ugly Justine; you really are quite beautiful” Before she could protest he kissed the top of her head and boosted her onto her horse. “I just hope we can be friends” Ben said as he walked away.
Justine coaxed Minx into a canter and Ben watched as they disappeared down the driveway. “I will be ya friend Justine, whether ya want it or not” Ben muttered as he headed for the barn.
Justine rode home with tears in her eyes. “I cain’t be ya friend Ben. I cain’t be any man’s friend unless he’s married” she told herself and the tears began flowing. Justine knew if the man was married there was no risk of her being hurt but even if Ben married she knew she’d never be his friend, she cared too much for him to settle for that. No, she had to keep clear of Mr Ben Glenmore, she told herself.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The following day was Christmas Eve and Justine was busy decorating the gifts she’d bought ready for the next day. She had an embroidered wash cloth and a bar of rose soap for the ladies, a tin whistle and toy soldiers for Caleb and rag dolls for Linda and Lucy. For the men she had leather tobacco pouches for those who smoked and for those who didn’t smoke she’d bought pocket knives. She’d been kept very busy selecting so many gifts and she hoped she chosen well. She’d put an extra ten dollars each into her ranch hands wages as well as their gifts and fifty dollars extra for Millie and Josh on top of their gifts. She was excited about Christmas as it was the first one in two years that she’d be surrounded by friends and be able to celebrate.
Justine was having the ranch hands in for breakfast so she could give them their wages and gifts and then she would be spending lunch at the Glenmore’s ranch. Josh had found them a tree and Millie and Justine had decorated it with popcorn and ribbons before asking Josh to place an angel on top. They’d then hung mistletoe throughout the house and Josh took great delight in catching one of the girls under it. Justine hadn’t laughed so much for a long time.
Justine was finished and she began taking the gifts out and placing them under the tree with some that were already there.
“I cain’t wait for tomorrow Millie. The past two Christmases I’ve spent alone at school so it will be so good to spend this one with all of you”
Millie laughed. “You’ve certainly brightened the season for us this year. I’d forgotten what it was like to have an excited young person around at this time of year”
“It’ll be even better tomorrow Millie with Caleb and the twins”
“It certainly will be. What are ya gonna do now darlin’?”
“There will always be someone who’ll say somethin’ nasty Justine but give Gold Springs a chance. Most of us are good people” Ben assured her.
“I’m tryin’ real hard Ben and I’ve only been here a short time. I have to give people a chance to get used to my ugliness I guess”
“Ya not ugly Justine” Ben all but shouted startling everyone. “You’ve had some misfortune but there’s people with scars just as bad, why look at Jen….” Ben trailed off when he saw the look on Virginia’s face. “Sorry ma. Jenny will tell ya her story if and when she’s ready Justine. It ain’t my place” Ben apologised.
Justine was curious now and resolved to take Jenny up on her invitation for tea and a chat real soon.
“I understand Ben” Justine stood to excuse herself. “I must be goin’ it’s gettin’ late and I should be helpin’ Josh with the afternoon chores. Thank you all so much for everythin’. I’ll see ya the day after tomorrow”
“I’ll walk ya out” Ben placed his hand in the small of her back and Justine felt her legs turn to jelly. It took all of her strength to place one foot in front of the other as he walked her to her horse.
As Justine was about to mount up Ben swung her around to face him. “You’re not ugly Justine; you really are quite beautiful” Before she could protest he kissed the top of her head and boosted her onto her horse. “I just hope we can be friends” Ben said as he walked away.
Justine coaxed Minx into a canter and Ben watched as they disappeared down the driveway. “I will be ya friend Justine, whether ya want it or not” Ben muttered as he headed for the barn.
Justine rode home with tears in her eyes. “I cain’t be ya friend Ben. I cain’t be any man’s friend unless he’s married” she told herself and the tears began flowing. Justine knew if the man was married there was no risk of her being hurt but even if Ben married she knew she’d never be his friend, she cared too much for him to settle for that. No, she had to keep clear of Mr Ben Glenmore, she told herself.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The following day was Christmas Eve and Justine was busy decorating the gifts she’d bought ready for the next day. She had an embroidered wash cloth and a bar of rose soap for the ladies, a tin whistle and toy soldiers for Caleb and rag dolls for Linda and Lucy. For the men she had leather tobacco pouches for those who smoked and for those who didn’t smoke she’d bought pocket knives. She’d been kept very busy selecting so many gifts and she hoped she chosen well. She’d put an extra ten dollars each into her ranch hands wages as well as their gifts and fifty dollars extra for Millie and Josh on top of their gifts. She was excited about Christmas as it was the first one in two years that she’d be surrounded by friends and be able to celebrate.
Justine was having the ranch hands in for breakfast so she could give them their wages and gifts and then she would be spending lunch at the Glenmore’s ranch. Josh had found them a tree and Millie and Justine had decorated it with popcorn and ribbons before asking Josh to place an angel on top. They’d then hung mistletoe throughout the house and Josh took great delight in catching one of the girls under it. Justine hadn’t laughed so much for a long time.
Justine was finished and she began taking the gifts out and placing them under the tree with some that were already there.
“I cain’t wait for tomorrow Millie. The past two Christmases I’ve spent alone at school so it will be so good to spend this one with all of you”
Millie laughed. “You’ve certainly brightened the season for us this year. I’d forgotten what it was like to have an excited young person around at this time of year”
“It’ll be even better tomorrow Millie with Caleb and the twins”
“It certainly will be. What are ya gonna do now darlin’?”
Similar Books
