Read Online The Officer and the Traveler by Rose Gordon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rose Gordon
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in need of friends here just like we are. We’ll all get along like sisters. Believe me.”
Michaela nodded. She and Ella hadn’t been so close as children. In fact, they’d been opposite in almost every way. Ella had spent every moment outside that she was allowed to until she was fifteen and Michaela, being four years older, had been kept inside to cook and clean and learn to be a lady. Some days she envied Ella and her carefree spirit that often endeared people to her.
“ When can we talk?” Michaela whispered to her sister when Aunt Lucille got up to get herself a second biscuit.
“ Later, I promise.”
Michaela nodded. It was the best she could hope for. “Good.” She let her eyes travel her sister’s form. “You’re looking rather giddy this morning. Is there any reason?”
“ I expect you’ll know soon enough,” Aunt Lucille said with a little chuckle, sitting back down.
Ella’s cheeks flushed and a grin took her face. Shrugging, she said, “I can’t deny it.” She waved a hand in front of her face. “As I said, we’ll need to talk later.”
Aunt Lucille shook her head. “You can’t say anything I don’t already know. They all have the same parts and I expect they all use them the same way.”
“ I take umbrage with that statement,” came a deep voice from the door. “I’m sure I use mine better than most.” He paused. “But no one other than wife will ever get to know.”
“ I’m glad to hear that,” a woman with auburn hair and brown eyes said, swatting at him. “Don’t mind him. Like all men, Wes, thinks he’s superior in every aspect of his life.”
“ Well, aren’t I?” he asked, the corners of his blue eyes crinkling.
“ Of course you are.” His wife came up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you at lunch?”
He nodded then returned her kiss. “Ladies.” He nodded to where the three of them stood, watching their display.
“ Allison,” Ella said. “I’d like for you to meet my sister, Michaela. Michaela, this is the other officer’s wife I was telling you about, Allison.”
“ Hopefully not all about me,” Allison said with what had to be an overdone frown. “I’d hate for anyone else to know my secret shame.” She dropped her voice to a stage whisper. “I cannot sew even a knapsack.”
A sudden, uncontrollable giggle formed in Michaela’s throat. Ella was right; the three of them would get along wonderfully. “No need to consider that a secret shame where I am concerned. I once was trying to sew my own petticoat and when I held up the cloth band that sits around your waist to make sure it was ready for the netting, Ella asked if I was making Pa a pair of undergarments.”
The ladies in the room all burst out in a round of giggles and the tension that had settled over Michaela the instant she saw her father’s face after he’d walked up on her and Gray kissing yesterday eased a fraction.
“ I’m sure Gray will be very appreciative of that talent since the men out here lack such an item,” Aunt Lucille said dryly, sobering Michaela a touch and reminding her of her purpose. She needed to talk sense into Gray at some point today. And if that didn’t work, she’d hit him on the back of the head with a skillet. Only to help him see sense, of course. She wouldn’t cause him any permanent damage. Just a tap to help him realize the foolishness of a marriage between them.
“ I hope you all don’t mind, but we’ll be going to Sarah’s today,” Aunt Lucille said. She picked up her sewing basket. “General Ridgely stopped by earlier and said that Sarah was feeling ill today.” She handed Allison a large folded piece of cloth with a single needle poking out of the top that had a spool of thread resting around it.
“ My latest project,” Allison murmured to Michaela. “An orange and brown tablecloth for autumn.”
Ella bent down and picked up her basket that had to weigh no less than
Michaela nodded. She and Ella hadn’t been so close as children. In fact, they’d been opposite in almost every way. Ella had spent every moment outside that she was allowed to until she was fifteen and Michaela, being four years older, had been kept inside to cook and clean and learn to be a lady. Some days she envied Ella and her carefree spirit that often endeared people to her.
“ When can we talk?” Michaela whispered to her sister when Aunt Lucille got up to get herself a second biscuit.
“ Later, I promise.”
Michaela nodded. It was the best she could hope for. “Good.” She let her eyes travel her sister’s form. “You’re looking rather giddy this morning. Is there any reason?”
“ I expect you’ll know soon enough,” Aunt Lucille said with a little chuckle, sitting back down.
Ella’s cheeks flushed and a grin took her face. Shrugging, she said, “I can’t deny it.” She waved a hand in front of her face. “As I said, we’ll need to talk later.”
Aunt Lucille shook her head. “You can’t say anything I don’t already know. They all have the same parts and I expect they all use them the same way.”
“ I take umbrage with that statement,” came a deep voice from the door. “I’m sure I use mine better than most.” He paused. “But no one other than wife will ever get to know.”
“ I’m glad to hear that,” a woman with auburn hair and brown eyes said, swatting at him. “Don’t mind him. Like all men, Wes, thinks he’s superior in every aspect of his life.”
“ Well, aren’t I?” he asked, the corners of his blue eyes crinkling.
“ Of course you are.” His wife came up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you at lunch?”
He nodded then returned her kiss. “Ladies.” He nodded to where the three of them stood, watching their display.
“ Allison,” Ella said. “I’d like for you to meet my sister, Michaela. Michaela, this is the other officer’s wife I was telling you about, Allison.”
“ Hopefully not all about me,” Allison said with what had to be an overdone frown. “I’d hate for anyone else to know my secret shame.” She dropped her voice to a stage whisper. “I cannot sew even a knapsack.”
A sudden, uncontrollable giggle formed in Michaela’s throat. Ella was right; the three of them would get along wonderfully. “No need to consider that a secret shame where I am concerned. I once was trying to sew my own petticoat and when I held up the cloth band that sits around your waist to make sure it was ready for the netting, Ella asked if I was making Pa a pair of undergarments.”
The ladies in the room all burst out in a round of giggles and the tension that had settled over Michaela the instant she saw her father’s face after he’d walked up on her and Gray kissing yesterday eased a fraction.
“ I’m sure Gray will be very appreciative of that talent since the men out here lack such an item,” Aunt Lucille said dryly, sobering Michaela a touch and reminding her of her purpose. She needed to talk sense into Gray at some point today. And if that didn’t work, she’d hit him on the back of the head with a skillet. Only to help him see sense, of course. She wouldn’t cause him any permanent damage. Just a tap to help him realize the foolishness of a marriage between them.
“ I hope you all don’t mind, but we’ll be going to Sarah’s today,” Aunt Lucille said. She picked up her sewing basket. “General Ridgely stopped by earlier and said that Sarah was feeling ill today.” She handed Allison a large folded piece of cloth with a single needle poking out of the top that had a spool of thread resting around it.
“ My latest project,” Allison murmured to Michaela. “An orange and brown tablecloth for autumn.”
Ella bent down and picked up her basket that had to weigh no less than
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