BlackWind by Charlotte Boyett-Compo Read Free Book Online Page B

him. “Well?”
    “I went to see him.”
    “And?”
    Dermot put his arm around her. “It's taken care of, DeeDee. We won't be having any more trouble from the Cullen boy.”
    “Are you sure?”
    A fierce gleam entered Dermot McGregor's eyes. “I'm damned sure!”
    * * * *
    Bronwyn slipped out of the house and went to their neighbors, asking to use their phone. When Sean's mother answered, she debated whether to hang up and try again later.
    “Who's there, please?” Mrs. Cullen inquired in her thick brogue.
    “I...is Sean there?”
    “He hasn't come home from work, yet. Is this Bronnie?”
    Bronwyn swallowed. “Yes, Ma'am.”
    “Would you like me to have him call you, dear?”
    “No!” Bronwyn gasped. “I mean, I'm not at our house right now.”
    There was a moment of silence. “I see. Is there something you would like me to tell him?”
    “You know, don't you?” Bronwyn asked, tears forming in her eyes. “About my father going to see him?”
    “Tym told me your Da stopped by the shop and was headed up to Griffin's. I take it he told Seannie he could not see you again.”
    Bronwyn swiped at the tears falling down her cheeks. “I love him, Mrs. Cullen. I'm not going to ever stop loving him, so nothing my parents say makes any difference!”
    “Ah, but it does, dear,” Dorrie sighed. “Until you're of age, you have to do what they say.”
    “They can't stop me from loving him!”
    “I'd imagine not, but they can cause my boy a heap of trouble. Do you want that?”
    Bronwyn's whimper of guilt was all the answer she could give as her tears escalated into deep sobs.
    “Bide your time, Bronnie,” Sean's mother advised. “Let ‘em think they've won. If you and Sean are meant to be together, you will be.”
    Bronwyn listened to Dorrie Cullen's words of encouragement as she warned her son's girlfriend not to endanger Sean's freedom.
    “I won't let them hurt Sean, Mrs. Cullen,” Bronwyn vied.
    “I know you won't, dear. Now run home before your parents come looking for you. I'll tell Seannie we had a good long talk.”
    “Tell him...tell him...” Bronwyn could barely get the words out, for her heart was breaking. “Tell him I love him.”
    “I will do that.”
    Bronwyn hung up and turned to see Mrs. Betty Turner, her neighbor, standing in the doorway.
    “Good luck, Bronwyn,” Mrs. Turner said. “I know exactly how you feel and I wish you better luck than I had.”
    “Did your parents dislike Mr. Turner, too?” Bronwyn asked, accepting the tissue the older woman held out to her. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose.
    Mrs. Turner walked with her to the front door. “My daddy hated my boyfriend with a purple passion, Bronnie. He went to the base commander and had George reassigned to a base overseas.”
    Bronwyn paused at the screen door. “You were in love with someone else?”
    Mrs. Turner's lined face grew wistful. “His name was George Franklin and the sun rose and set in that boy for me.” She sighed. “I've often wondered what happened to him.”
    “I'm sorry, Miss Betty.”
    “So am I, dear,” Mrs. Turner said, her voice breaking.
    “I won't let them keep us apart. Somehow, some way, Sean and I will be together!”
    “From your mouth to God's ear. I would not want you to be as miserable as I've been all these years.”
    As Bronwyn slipped into her parent's home and tiptoed silently down the hallway, she began to think of ways to thwart her parent's plan to tear her from Sean's life.
    * * * *
    Andy Griffin stuffed his bandana into the pocket of his overalls and sat across from Sean at the picnic table by the storage shed. The young man's head was propped in his hands and he was staring at the scarred tabletop.
    “Life can be a bitch sometimes, Seannie.”
    “Why can't they just leave us alone?” From the sound of Sean's voice, the young man had been crying.
    Andy sighed. “Well, it ain't in some people's polography to mind their own bee's wax, son.”
    Sean looked up at the