Read Online Within the Candle's Glow by Karen Campbell Prough - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Karen Campbell Prough
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accepting the warm liquid. A moan escaped his throat. His bottomless, dark eyes fluttered open to search her face.
“You’re here?”
Granny grunted and leaned back in her chair. “Ahh, he speaks.”
“Ella Des … sa?”
She nodded. “Don’t talk. We’ll do that later.”
He took every bit of the steamy broth she offered. His dark eyes never left her face.
Leona stepped to the door. “Most of the families went home, but some waited for word on how the young man is doing. I’ll give the report as I search for Miles.”
“Thank you.” Ella continued to feed Josh until his eyelids closed. “He’s asleep,” she whispered to Granny. “I will slip outside.”
“Go, child, go.” She yawned. “I’ll doze right here.”
Careful not to awaken him, she slipped out of her chair and joined those still lingering near the church. “He took liquid,” she told them.
Jim and Samuel’s mother, Inez McKnapp, gave her a hug. “By running out there to approach that stranger, you were braver than most men. You made my heart turn over. I wanted to scream your name, but I let Samuel do that.” She chuckled. “You gave my son a fright.”
“His name is Josh. He and another man were the ones who foundVelma’s dead husband some years ago.” She tried to smile at the woman. “I wasn’t brave. I was puzzled by his return.”
“It is mysterious. Here comes Peggy. She was looking for you earlier.”
Samuel’s redheaded sister grabbed Ella in a bear hug. “I was terrified when you scurried out in that field and went near the man.”
“I didn’t
scurry
.”
“You got there before the men. I thought I’d faint. Katy Stuart cried buckets of tears. She was sure you went to your death. She tried to cling to Samuel for comfort, but he fought her off and bolted after you.”
“Oh, so Katy used
me
walkin’ into danger as a way to capture your brother.” She had to laugh at her friend’s breathless exaggeration.
“That’s what she did.” Peggy giggled and tossed her bright curls over one shoulder. “Samuel’s been dodging her for at least an hour. He’s sweaty from running.”
Inez patted her daughter’s arm. “Peggy, go find your sister, Anna. Phillip is with your papa. Oh, never mind. Here comes Jim with her in tow. Josie is nearby.”
Peggy nodded. “Yes, she’s begging for another piece of flat bread with honey butter.”
“I don’t see how you keep up with all the brothers an’ sisters. It’s worse than Velma’s batch of young’uns.” Ella turned to scan those still talking in groups near the church steps.
“You need to come visit,” Peggy said. “I’m making a new dress.”
“I’d love to see it.”
Someone touched her shoulder. “Ella?”
She faced the preacher. “Yes?”
“That man at our house insists he speak with you.
Alone
.” Disapproval showed in his tight expression, but curiosity managed to light his eyes.
“Granny said he’s thrashing about. She was tired, so we sent her home.”
“Alone?” She hesitated for a couple seconds, wondering what Josh wanted.
“May I walk you back?”
“Yes.” She turned to Peggy. “One day I’ll come see your dress.”
Chapter 5
“ J osh?” Naomi jiggled his thin shoulder. “Ella Dessa’s here.”
Ella bent close. “Josh?”
His mahogany eyes fluttered open, searched Ella’s face, and came to rest on her lips. “Ella Des … sa,” he whispered. “Must speak with you …
alone
.”
“Ella Dessa, you shouldn’t.” Disquiet showed in Naomi’s eyes.
“For a moment?”
“It’s not
proper
.” The preacher’s wife fiddled with the upsweep coil of her hair and then folded her arms under her generous bosom. “You being unwed and all, it’s not right I leave you with him.”
“Please?”
“Then keep the door open. My husband and I’ll be near the fireplace, should you need us.” The woman shuffled through the doorway with an uncertain glance over her shoulder. The lines around her mouth pulled
“You’re here?”
Granny grunted and leaned back in her chair. “Ahh, he speaks.”
“Ella Des … sa?”
She nodded. “Don’t talk. We’ll do that later.”
He took every bit of the steamy broth she offered. His dark eyes never left her face.
Leona stepped to the door. “Most of the families went home, but some waited for word on how the young man is doing. I’ll give the report as I search for Miles.”
“Thank you.” Ella continued to feed Josh until his eyelids closed. “He’s asleep,” she whispered to Granny. “I will slip outside.”
“Go, child, go.” She yawned. “I’ll doze right here.”
Careful not to awaken him, she slipped out of her chair and joined those still lingering near the church. “He took liquid,” she told them.
Jim and Samuel’s mother, Inez McKnapp, gave her a hug. “By running out there to approach that stranger, you were braver than most men. You made my heart turn over. I wanted to scream your name, but I let Samuel do that.” She chuckled. “You gave my son a fright.”
“His name is Josh. He and another man were the ones who foundVelma’s dead husband some years ago.” She tried to smile at the woman. “I wasn’t brave. I was puzzled by his return.”
“It is mysterious. Here comes Peggy. She was looking for you earlier.”
Samuel’s redheaded sister grabbed Ella in a bear hug. “I was terrified when you scurried out in that field and went near the man.”
“I didn’t
scurry
.”
“You got there before the men. I thought I’d faint. Katy Stuart cried buckets of tears. She was sure you went to your death. She tried to cling to Samuel for comfort, but he fought her off and bolted after you.”
“Oh, so Katy used
me
walkin’ into danger as a way to capture your brother.” She had to laugh at her friend’s breathless exaggeration.
“That’s what she did.” Peggy giggled and tossed her bright curls over one shoulder. “Samuel’s been dodging her for at least an hour. He’s sweaty from running.”
Inez patted her daughter’s arm. “Peggy, go find your sister, Anna. Phillip is with your papa. Oh, never mind. Here comes Jim with her in tow. Josie is nearby.”
Peggy nodded. “Yes, she’s begging for another piece of flat bread with honey butter.”
“I don’t see how you keep up with all the brothers an’ sisters. It’s worse than Velma’s batch of young’uns.” Ella turned to scan those still talking in groups near the church steps.
“You need to come visit,” Peggy said. “I’m making a new dress.”
“I’d love to see it.”
Someone touched her shoulder. “Ella?”
She faced the preacher. “Yes?”
“That man at our house insists he speak with you.
Alone
.” Disapproval showed in his tight expression, but curiosity managed to light his eyes.
“Granny said he’s thrashing about. She was tired, so we sent her home.”
“Alone?” She hesitated for a couple seconds, wondering what Josh wanted.
“May I walk you back?”
“Yes.” She turned to Peggy. “One day I’ll come see your dress.”
Chapter 5
“ J osh?” Naomi jiggled his thin shoulder. “Ella Dessa’s here.”
Ella bent close. “Josh?”
His mahogany eyes fluttered open, searched Ella’s face, and came to rest on her lips. “Ella Des … sa,” he whispered. “Must speak with you …
alone
.”
“Ella Dessa, you shouldn’t.” Disquiet showed in Naomi’s eyes.
“For a moment?”
“It’s not
proper
.” The preacher’s wife fiddled with the upsweep coil of her hair and then folded her arms under her generous bosom. “You being unwed and all, it’s not right I leave you with him.”
“Please?”
“Then keep the door open. My husband and I’ll be near the fireplace, should you need us.” The woman shuffled through the doorway with an uncertain glance over her shoulder. The lines around her mouth pulled
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