Read Online Touched by Carolyn Haines - Free Book Online Page A

pins in a little sack, she left hers stuck on the line. “I suppose it was all over the picnic.”
    “Janelle.” It was all I needed to say.
    “Well, Dr. Liebermann—he’s a specialist in neurology—said that it was possible something in Duncan’s brain had been damaged by the lightning.” The only indication of her pain and fear was the tremble in her hands as she missed the clothesline trying to put a pin back. “There’s no way to tell. She may regain the use of her legs and her speech.” She shrugged. “She may never walk or talk again.” She took down one of Will’s shirts. Her hands moved over the collar, a gesture she wasn’t even aware of. It was as if she were trying to draw the essence of her husband from the cloth.
    I reached out and took her hand, holding it in mine.
    “I can’t cry out here. Duncan might see.” She let me take the shirt from her and she moved on to another, unpinning and folding it to drop down in the wicker basket that she pushed along in front of her with one foot.
    “The gossip is that Duncan died.” I don’t know where those words came from, but I let fly with them before I even considered what they meant.
    JoHanna never missed a tick as she took down the clothes, her gestures once again perfectly fluid and mechanical. “I know.”
    “What should I say? I told Janelle it was true, because …”
    JoHanna stopped and looked at me, her eyes like some strange, fractured gem that caught the light and shattered it into blue chips.
    “… Because they said that not even Satan would have her, and that he sent her back. So I said no, that it was God who sent her back because He’d given her a chore.” I was on fire with the need to confess what I’d said. What if I’d made it worse for Duncan?
    JoHanna’s laughter rang across the yard, causing Pecos to streak over toward us, his wings lifted in the preamble to attack.
    “Stop it, Pecos.” She flapped a shirttail at the bird before she whirled around and hugged me to her. “Mattie Mills, you are too good to be true.” She started laughing again, this time a conclusion, a softer sound. At last she wiped her eyes and hugged me again. “I’ll bet that old biddy is still trying to get that out of her craw.”
    “You aren’t mad?” I couldn’t believe it.
    “Why would I be mad? It was the perfect answer to gag that old witch. How can she wag her tongue about that without giving Duncan credit for being blessed?” An idea lit her eyes. “You know, there’s a big baptism next Sunday down at Cedar Creek. Some of the girls Duncan’s age are going to be ‘washed in the Spirit.’ “ Her smile widened, and the worry of the last few days lifted. “I think maybe we should go watch. Me and you and Duncan.”
    “Okay.” I agreed, knowing I would do whatever necessary to get away. “And Will?”
    “He’s gone off to Washington to deliver some goods to a few old politicians.”
    I was so astounded by that news that I couldn’t even answer. Will needed to be home instead of halfway around the world.
    “Sunday. I’ll come by to get you about nine o’clock. I can pack us a little picnic.”
    “How?” I looked around. The car was gone.
    “Oh, Duncan and I have been working on this.” She folded the last towel, picked up the basket, and started walking toward a shed in the back. I followed along with Pecos trailing me, his wings held up and out and his movements a sideways skitter as he kept watch over me, just in case I made a desperate move that he needed to punish me for.
    When we got to the shed, JoHanna motioned with her head toward the old red wagon she’d used to haul the gramophone. In it now was a cowhide rocker that had been strapped into the bed of the wagon with two good leather belts. JoHanna put the clothes down and touched the chair, putting it into motion. The straps allowed a bit of rocking, but not much.
    “It’s Duncan’s litter; we will be her bearers.” JoHanna’s smile was delighted and