Read Online Where Love Runs Free (Tales from the Upcountry) by Caroline Friday - Free Book Online Page A

accentuated
her brown eyes and slender figure—not to mention her straight, dark hair that
was swept back into a soft chignon and flanked by a pair of delicate pearl
earrings. Angelina was sure Jessie would get her fair share of dances before
the night was through.
    “One thing I know,” Ella said, wrapping an arm around
Angelina’s waist and the other around Jessie’s, “your mama’d be mighty proud of
you girls. Mighty proud—and your daddy too. As pretty as a picture, you two
are,” she said, staring into the full-length mirror with misty eyes. “There’s
not a girl in Laurel Grove who can hold a candle to the Raefords. No, ma’am, not
one. You mark my words. And Miss Jessie, I ’xpect to have you a husband ’fore
all this wedding hoopla is over and done with.”
    “Oh, Ella, you know I’m not the marrying kind.”
    “Humph! We’ll see ’bout that,” she said, drying her cheeks
once more. “Now come on, you two. We need to get the rest of the food out on
the table, and y’all need to greet your guests proper. And that includes Mr.
Edward, you hear me, Miss Angelina?”
    “Yes, ma’am, I hear you fine.”
    “Good. Time’s a wastin’, so let’s get a move on.”
    Ella shooed them toward the mahogany staircase to greet
Edward, whose voice rose from the foyer above the gentle laugh of Ella’s niece,
Clarissa. Angelina was glad it hadn’t taken him but a day to get over the
incident with Ben at the Blue Ridge Hotel. He had been somber and quiet on the
way home but hadn’t mentioned a word about it since. Ben should be ashamed
of himself , she thought, embarrassed at his behavior. Despite what he
thought about Edward, he shouldn’t have treated him with such disrespect, since
it would only tarnish his own reputation. It was wrong of Ben, and Edward had
every right to be angry. She was just thankful Edward was a true gentleman and
knew how to take things in stride.
    Ella cleared her throat and nudged Angelina toward the top
of the staircase, which seemed as high and steep as the edge of a cliff. Turning
away from Clarissa, Edward gazed at Angelina with an expression that made her
blush. He removed his Stetson, and in a grand, sweeping gesture, placed it over
his heart and bowed. She hesitated a moment, forcing a smile, until Jessie
poked her gently in the back. “Go!” she hissed.
    Gathering her skirts in her hands, Angelina floated down the
stairs and greeted her future husband. His sandy hair was slicked back,
revealing the sculpted angles of his tanned face, and his dark brown eyes
flashed with a spark of mischievousness. With his deep brown three-piece suit
and shiny, leather boots, he was more than handsome. Even Angelina had to admit
that.
    “Now I can die and go to heaven,” he said, taking her hand
in his, “’cause I’ve seen a real, true-to-life angel.” He brought her hand to
his mouth and kissed it, leaving a wet, scratchy place that made her stomach
lurch with that familiar wave of nausea. The look in his eye frightened her,
like he could drain the soul right out of her if allowed.
    “Edward—you are sweet. And you look very handsome tonight.”
    “And you, my dear, are a vision.” Offering his arm, he
settled his hat back on his head and smiled. “Shall we?”
    Angelina allowed him to guide her across the marble foyer to
the dining room and front parlor. Ella and Clarissa bustled about, arranging
silver platters, china plates, and crystal bowls full of diced fruit in honey
nectar, sliced beef marinated in their special dill and rosemary herb sauce,
spicy fried chicken, ham biscuits with seasoned mustard, and cabbage stuffed
with rice and creamy beef, to name a few. An enormous floral arrangement
anchored the long, oak dining table, consisting of magnolia blooms, pink and
yellow roses, and fuchsia begonia blossoms, and tall, willowy cat tails that almost
extended to the crystal chandelier. Her mama’s white Irish linens and Belgian
lace runners adorned the main table and