Read Online The Romancing of Evangeline Ipswich by Marcia Lynn McClure - Free Book Online Page B

“And looks to me like it would take a man the likes of Lawson Ipswich to reel himself in a woman like this.”
    “Evangeline’s stepmother is a gypsy!” Jennie offered.
    “So I’ve been told once before,” Hutch said. He looked to Evangeline.
    “Now show him little Shay,” Jennie prodded.
    Drawing the cabinet card photograph of Shay from the pile, Evangeline handed it to Jennie.
    “What a little angel,” Jennie sighed. “Those eyes! They just capture a body’s very soul somehow.”
    Jennie handed the photograph of Shay to Hutch, and he chuckled. “So this is your little sister then, hmmm? The one that drags her cat around on a leash?”
    Evangeline giggled. “Oh, there’s no dragging Molly anywhere she doesn’t want to go. Shay has leash-trained her.”
    “Well, she’s a pretty little thing, isn’t she?” Hutch commented. “I’m sure she’ll be breaking a lot of boys’ hearts along the way.” His smile broadened. “And am I correct in assuming that this is the infamous leash-trained cat she’s holding?”
    Evangeline laughed, just as she did most times when she looked at the photograph of Shay, holding Molly around the waist while the cat drooped lackadaisically to one side.
    “Yep! That’s Molly, the feline with the patience of Job,” Evangeline confirmed.
    “Now Amoretta and Brake,” Jennie whispered.
    Handing another cabinet card to Jennie, Evangeline explained to Hutch, “And this is the one that should confirm to you that we really are all grown up. This is Amoretta and her husband, Brake, on their wedding day.”
    Jennie handed the photograph to Hutch, and Evangeline grinned when his eyebrows arched in astonishment.
    “This is little Amoretta?” he asked. He shook his head and smiled. “It’s hard to believe. Time travels fast, doesn’t it?”
    “It definitely does,” Jennie agreed.
    “Daddy and Amoretta were married the same day, but I didn’t bring the large photograph of the whole group,” Evangeline said.
    “Oh, I wish you would’ve,” Jennie sighed. “I would love to have seen everyone all together.”
    “I’ll bring it next time,” Evangeline told her friend.
    Jennie smiled and nodded. “Now the Tom Thumb wedding, Evie,” Jennie instructed.
    Evangeline giggled, pleased that Jennie was enjoying herself so much.
    “Now this,” Evangeline began, “is a photograph of the entire cast of the Tom Thumb wedding Calliope orchestrated for Meadowlark Lake.”
    “You helped too,” Jennie reminded.
    “Yes, but it was all Calliope’s idea.” Evangeline handed the large panel card directly to Hutch.
    “Aw, yes!” he exclaimed. “I fell victim to having to play the groom in one these damn things when I was about eight.”
    “Don’t swear in front of Evie, Hutch,” Jennie scolded in a whisper.
    But Evangeline laughed, remembering how unwilling the groom in the Meadowlark Lake Tom Thumb wedding had been at first.
    “Warren Ackerman, our groom, probably would’ve sworn if he thought he could’ve gotten away with it,” Evangeline admitted.
    “But your pretty little sister was the bride,” Hutch noted. “And I’m assuming that made everything all right with your groom in the end?”
    Evangeline laughed. “Yes. Shay won him over, and Warren made it through admirably.”
    “And Calliope got married that very day!” Jennie exclaimed. “Right after the Tom Thumb wedding.” Overwrought with excitement, Jennie snatched the last cabinet card photograph from Evangeline’s lap, handing it to Hutch. “Can you believe this is little Calliope?”
    Hutch again shook his head. “It’s kind of hard to take in, all these little girls I once knew, grown up and married.”
    All but one , Evangeline thought to herself.
    She watched as Hutch carefully shuffled the photographs, settling once more on the one of Evangeline’s father and Kizzy.
    “So your daddy’s wife is really a gypsy?” he asked.
    Evangeline exchanged amused glances with Jennie.
    “Yes,” she