Read Online Untethered by Marcia Lynn McClure - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Marcia Lynn McClure
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flitting around Pike’s Creek scattering joy to others by means of leaving cookies on porches, dollies on little girls’ window sills, and even apple pies in barns for the widows and widowers in town.
For months and months the girls had enjoyed their shenanigans—and so had anyone and everyone who had been a lucky victim of them. And so, as Cricket pulled on her black stockings in preparation for the shenanigans they had planned for Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Keel, Heathro Thibodaux, and Hudson Oliver, she smiled at the memory of that very first night of mischief. She’d never known such excitement and pure gladness as she knew in making others smile and lightening their hearts—even if only for a moment.
Logically, however, as she pulled her black shirtwaist over her black camisole, her excitement turned to nervous anxiety as she thought again of her chosen task for the evening—Heathro Thibodaux. In truth, she was still silently wondering how in all the wide, wide world she would ever find the courage to do what she’d promised to do! Welcoming him to Pike’s Creek was easy enough—but to kiss him? If Cricket were to be honest with Ann, Vilma, and Marie, she would confess that she wouldn’t be sure whether she could muster the gumption to actually kiss the man until the very moment presented itself! Of course, she couldn’t confide the truth of it in her friends. After all, she was the strong one—the fighter.
Cricket knew, as did her friends, that every one of them was a fighter. There wasn’t one among them who would ever back down from doing right or from pushing on through whatever trial crossed their paths. But the fact remained that Cricket owned the greatest sense of responsibility—felt compelled to defend, protect, encourage, and help the others. And most of the time Cricket was willing. But each and every time she thought about kissing Heathro Thibodaux, not only did her arms and legs break into gooseflesh but her stomach also churned into such chaos that she thought she might vomit!
But there was no time to be fearful. Merry mischief was afoot, and as Cricket finished dressing and quietly crept out of her father’s house by way of her bedroom window, the cool night air and wonderful aroma of burning cedar in warm hearths sent an overwhelming exhilaration riveting through her! Four people would drift to sleep with smiles on their faces—or at least in their hearts—after Cricket and her friends were finished with their shenanigans that night. Well, Mrs. Maloney and Mr. Keel would feel lighter-hearted. Cricket wasn’t so sure about Heathro Thibodaux. Furthermore, she knew that Marie’s confession to Hudson Oliver, accompanied by her plead for him to remain in Pike’s Creek, would no doubt find Hudson Oliver unable to sleep or settle down for that matter. Still, in her soul Cricket knew Hudson would stay—that he already cared deeply for Marie. And so she soothed herself in knowing that at least three of the recipients of their do-gooding would benefit.
The stars were bright, twinkling overhead like tiny beacons, and the moon was beautiful in its brilliance, like a wafer of silver in the night sky, as Cricket made her way to meet Ann, Marie, and Vilma at the old lean-to just outside of town. The soothing aria of the crickets mingled with the gentle summer breeze in the trees seemed the music of heaven, and the fragrance of lilac and honeysuckle wandered on the air like a delicate, feathered perfume.
“There you are, Cricket. Finally!” Cricket heard Vilma whisper as she reached the old lean-to.
“I’m sorry, everyone,” Cricket apologized. “Daddy and Ada were up longer than usual tonight. I had to fib a headache to get away to my room.”
“It’s fine, Cricket,” Marie said. “We were just talkin’ about who we should do first…Mrs. Maloney or Mr. Keel.”
“Mrs. Maloney,” Ann and Vilma chimed in unison. They looked at one another and smiled.
“Ann is still nervous about the
For months and months the girls had enjoyed their shenanigans—and so had anyone and everyone who had been a lucky victim of them. And so, as Cricket pulled on her black stockings in preparation for the shenanigans they had planned for Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Keel, Heathro Thibodaux, and Hudson Oliver, she smiled at the memory of that very first night of mischief. She’d never known such excitement and pure gladness as she knew in making others smile and lightening their hearts—even if only for a moment.
Logically, however, as she pulled her black shirtwaist over her black camisole, her excitement turned to nervous anxiety as she thought again of her chosen task for the evening—Heathro Thibodaux. In truth, she was still silently wondering how in all the wide, wide world she would ever find the courage to do what she’d promised to do! Welcoming him to Pike’s Creek was easy enough—but to kiss him? If Cricket were to be honest with Ann, Vilma, and Marie, she would confess that she wouldn’t be sure whether she could muster the gumption to actually kiss the man until the very moment presented itself! Of course, she couldn’t confide the truth of it in her friends. After all, she was the strong one—the fighter.
Cricket knew, as did her friends, that every one of them was a fighter. There wasn’t one among them who would ever back down from doing right or from pushing on through whatever trial crossed their paths. But the fact remained that Cricket owned the greatest sense of responsibility—felt compelled to defend, protect, encourage, and help the others. And most of the time Cricket was willing. But each and every time she thought about kissing Heathro Thibodaux, not only did her arms and legs break into gooseflesh but her stomach also churned into such chaos that she thought she might vomit!
But there was no time to be fearful. Merry mischief was afoot, and as Cricket finished dressing and quietly crept out of her father’s house by way of her bedroom window, the cool night air and wonderful aroma of burning cedar in warm hearths sent an overwhelming exhilaration riveting through her! Four people would drift to sleep with smiles on their faces—or at least in their hearts—after Cricket and her friends were finished with their shenanigans that night. Well, Mrs. Maloney and Mr. Keel would feel lighter-hearted. Cricket wasn’t so sure about Heathro Thibodaux. Furthermore, she knew that Marie’s confession to Hudson Oliver, accompanied by her plead for him to remain in Pike’s Creek, would no doubt find Hudson Oliver unable to sleep or settle down for that matter. Still, in her soul Cricket knew Hudson would stay—that he already cared deeply for Marie. And so she soothed herself in knowing that at least three of the recipients of their do-gooding would benefit.
The stars were bright, twinkling overhead like tiny beacons, and the moon was beautiful in its brilliance, like a wafer of silver in the night sky, as Cricket made her way to meet Ann, Marie, and Vilma at the old lean-to just outside of town. The soothing aria of the crickets mingled with the gentle summer breeze in the trees seemed the music of heaven, and the fragrance of lilac and honeysuckle wandered on the air like a delicate, feathered perfume.
“There you are, Cricket. Finally!” Cricket heard Vilma whisper as she reached the old lean-to.
“I’m sorry, everyone,” Cricket apologized. “Daddy and Ada were up longer than usual tonight. I had to fib a headache to get away to my room.”
“It’s fine, Cricket,” Marie said. “We were just talkin’ about who we should do first…Mrs. Maloney or Mr. Keel.”
“Mrs. Maloney,” Ann and Vilma chimed in unison. They looked at one another and smiled.
“Ann is still nervous about the
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