A Touch of Grace by Lauraine Snelling Read Free Book Online

either.”
    “Have you talked with Penny?”
    “Only a bit. I stopped at the store and left our order.”
    “I thought you might have done that.” Sophie looked around. “I feel so left out of everything.” She gave herself a bit of a shake. “No, enough about me. Tell me how Penny looked.”
    Grace stared at her sister. Was this a new Sophie?
    “She is sad, not like herself.”
    “The whole town is sad.” Sophie waved off a loose fly from above the babies. “I know it’s sad to say good-bye, but it can be interesting too to start a new life in a new place. Maybe Penny will be happier in Bismarck.”
    Away from all her family and friends? Seems to me you’re talking about yourself again .
    Grace took a good swallow of her drink and helped herself to a lemon cookie. Where are these thoughts coming from? Why is Sophie’s attitude bothering me? “Any other news?”
    “Mr.Wiste’s house is nearly finished, and Rebecca’s ice cream parlor should open on the Fourth of July, just like she hoped.”
    “Who is going to make her ice cream?”
    “I forget. She’s going to carry some of the new kinds of candy too. Hershey bars, just think.”
    “How do you know?” Grace asked.
    “She came by and showed me pictures from a catalog where she ordered tables and chairs and a refrigerated chest, something like they use on the trains.” Sophie stroked Joy’s back as she began to wiggle a little. “We are getting telephones here in Blessing soon.”
    “Telephones?”
    “Like they have in Grand Forks and Grafton. They are looking for someone to be the operator. Penny was going to let them put the board up in her store, but now if she is going to sell the store …” The words hung on the air, broken only by the sparrows chittering up in the cottonwood tree.
    “Are you going to have one here at the boardinghouse?”
    “Of course. People will be able to call for reservations like in a hotel.”
    “Maybe I should apply for the position of operator.” Grace paused, waiting for her sister’s reaction.
    “Grace, you can’t—” Sophie gave a hoot. “You are so funny.” She stopped and stared at Grace. “Oh, how I wish you could. Do you ever dream of hearing real sounds?”
    “I used to but not anymore.” She set her glass on the tray. “I’m sure Penny has the order ready. If you’d like, I could come and help you awhile tomorrow.”
    Ask her if she’s seen Toby. I can’t. Sure you can. Be casual . The two sides of her thoughts engaged in fisticuffs while she talked. I want to see Toby, and when I do, I shall just ask him flat-out what is going on . With that firm resolution she stood and smiled at Mrs. Sam and Lily Mae. “Thank you.”
    Mrs. Sam fanned herself with her apron. “Cooler weather sure would be a big help.”
    “I know.” Grace stopped at her sister’s side. “You behave now.”
    “What choice do I have?” Sophie looked up at her sister. “I want to give them everything I can.”
    “Oh, Sophie, you are.” Grace leaned down and hugged her sister. “I’ll tell them one day about your summer of the double Bs.”
    Sophie gave her a confused look.
    “You know, bench and bed.” Grateful at the bark of laughter from Sophie, Grace headed back to the store, made sure all of her supplies were loaded, and climbed up in the buggy to back the horses. While tempted to drive by the flour mill construction, instead she took the road past the schoolhouse and on toward home.
    Samuel and Mr. Gould—she still couldn’t call him Jonathan, it was not proper—met her at the barn to remove the parts from the rear of the buggy and rode with her to the house to unload the kitchen supplies. “Mange takk,” she answered when they offered to take the buggy back and unhitch it. She could feel eyes studying her back as she made her way up the steps to the house, the packet with sewing notions and flannel for more diapers to hem under one arm.
    You weren’t very friendly , one voice reminded her. You