Beloved Physician by Al Lacy Read Free Book Online Page B

the sofa and knelt in front of her aunt. “I’m sorry, Aunt Mabel! Please forgive me!”
    Mabel’s lower lip quivered as she reached out and patted her niece’s cheek. “I forgive you, dear.”
    Cassandra turned her tear-filled eyes on Rosemary. “Will you forgive me, too?”
    “Of course I will.”
    Secretly, Cassandra could not have cared less whether her aunt or Rosemary forgave her, but in order to stay in her aunt’s good graces, she told herself she must play the penitent part.
    Mabel set steady eyes on her niece. “Who else have you told this lie to?”
    Cassandra blinked. “I—I told it to Greg Holton.”
    “Anyone else?” pressed Mabel.
    “No. Just Rosemary and Greg.”
    Rosemary rose from the sofa and moved to Cassandra, who was now standing. She laid a hand on Cassandra’s arm. “You should tell Greg the truth about this next time you talk to him. It is best to clear it up right away so he doesn’t hear it from someone else like Mother and I did from Mrs. Franks and Mrs. Domire at the general store.”
    Cassandra wiped tears. “Yes. You’re right. I’ll tell Greg next time I see him.” In her heart, she dreaded having to come clean with Greg about the lie, but because she most certainly wanted to get to know him better, she would do it.
    Rosemary embraced Cassandra. “Well, I need to get back over to the house. Mother and I have a lot of washing and ironing to do.”
    Both Mabel and Cassandra knew that since Rosemary’s father drove a freight wagon between Central City and Denver, and his income was sometimes sporadic, she and her mother took in washing and ironing from many of the single men who worked in the Holton Coal Mine.
    Mabel left her rocker and moved up to Rosemary. “Thank you, dear, for forgiving Cassandra. I know it hurt you to learn that she had lied to you.”
    Rosemary bit down on her lower lip, looked at Cassandra, then back to Mabel. “It did, Mrs. Downing, but if I remember correctly, your Bible says that a friend loves at all times. I have come to love Cassandra in this short time, and even though she lied to me, I still love her.”
    Cassandra smiled. “Thank you, Rosemary.”
    Mabel stepped closer to Rosemary. “The verse you’re referring to is Proverbs 17:17. In the very next chapter, it says, ‘There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.’ You know who that is?”
    Rosemary grinned. “I’m sure it must be Jesus Christ.”
    “You’re so right, and—”
    “I really do have to go, Mrs. Downing,” Rosemary cut in, heading for the parlor door. “Thanks for the lemonade and the cookies.”
    Mabel and Cassandra walked Rosemary to the front door, and when she had gone, Cassandra said, “Aunt Mabel, why is it you bring up Jesus so often?”
    “Because He is my Saviour, dear. He is my everything. If only you would give Him a chance to be
your
Saviour.”
    Cassandra only looked at her, but did not reply.
    Mabel said, “Well, dear, we need to go to the general store and buy some groceries.”
    “All right.”
    “I’ve made a list. It’s in the kitchen. Anything special you want? I’ll add it to the list.”
    Cassandra made a smile. “Whatever you cook is good, Aunt Mabel. You fix it, I’ll eat it.”
    “Well, that makes me feel good. Let’s go.”
    Together, the aunt and the niece headed for Main Street with Mabel pushing the small cart she used for shopping.
    When they reached Main and headed toward the business district, Cassandra looked up at the big white mansion on the hill.
I hope Greg will come and see me soon. I’m not looking forward to admitting that I lied to him, but I sure want to get closer to him. If I could only think of some reason to ask his help for something, I would do it. So far, I haven’t been able to come up with something that sounds reasonable. I need to concentrate on this
.
    Meanwhile, at the Holton Coal Mine just west of town, assistant foreman Art Berman had written a list of articles to be purchased in town at