Catching Moondrops by Jennifer Erin Valent Read Free Book Online Page B

neither.”
    Despite the fact that my knees were still shaking, I couldn’t help but smile. If Tal Pritchett hadn’t gotten a good taste of what Gemma Teague was made of, he certainly was getting one now.
    Tal sat back on his heels, slipped his hat off, and smiled. “Well, Miss Gemma, I ain’t a man to go fightin’ a woman who knows her mind. I reckon a body’s got the right to do what a body feels the need to.” He took one of her quivering hands in his. “All I ask is you give this another day or two thought; put your mind to prayer over it. It’ll make me feel a right bit better about the whole thing.”
    Gemma pursed her lips and nodded firmly. “I reckon that’s the best way to do anythin’.”
    Meanwhile, the whole scene of those two hand in hand and face-to-face had brought my momma and daddy to a standstill. They had met Tal Pritchett the same day Gemma and I did. Tal had come back by our house that evening to ask Daddy if he’d be all right with Gemma coming to work for him. The way I figured it, he couldn’t have done much better than that to impress my daddy, but I don’t think either Momma or Daddy had bargained on seeing Gemma and Tal get to know each other quite so quickly.
    But the second Momma noticed what was up between the two of them, her fear melted away like candle wax, and she clapped her hands together in front of her face. “Well, I reckon the best medicine here is some fried chicken. Y’all are stayin’ for supper, right?”
    Tal let Gemma’s hand slip away from his and stood up. “Mrs. Lassiter, that’s right kind, but I don’t want to impose.”
    â€œYou’ll be imposin’ if you don’t stay. I always like guests at my table.”
    â€œShe ain’t just bein’ polite, neither,” Luke told him. “She’s had me here most nights for six years, and I’ve only seen her put out when I say I can’t come.”
    â€œWith all due respect, Mrs. Lassiter, I worry my bein’ here might bring y’all trouble.”
    It was Daddy’s turn to speak up this time, and whether he was keen on Tal and Gemma finding friendship so fast or not, I knew the last thing he’d want Tal to think was that he wasn’t welcome. He crossed his arms and stood firm in front of the doorway. “Son, we welcomed Gemma into our house all them years ago, and we’re better for it. I ain’t likely to start changin’ now. Them confounded idiots want to run around here with their robes and torches, it won’t be nothin’ we ain’t seen before.”
    Tal hesitated a second, then walked over to my daddy and firmly gripped his hand. “Mr. Lassiter, I’d be honored to stay for supper.”
    Gemma could hardly hold back the ecstatic smile that was trying to burst out all over her face, so I grabbed her hand and pulled her up off the couch. “Let’s get on upstairs and clean up. I feel like I’ve got dust from head to toe.”
    We rushed through our washing, both of us eager to get back to certain someones but neither of us saying a word about it.
    She finished dressing before I did and flopped down onto her bed. “I feel like your momma does. I’d hoped maybe we’d been done with them Klan boys.”
    â€œLike Daddy says, evil don’t just disappear. Mostly, I guess it hides its head for a while till it seems a good time to pop out again.” I did up the last button on my dress and sat beside her. “Just wish it wouldn’t pop out at us.” I shrugged, then took her hand and squeezed it hard. “Leastways, we still got each other to lean on. I ain’t got any plans on lettin’ nothin’ happen to you.”
    She looked at me then in a hollow way that sent a chill down my spine, like there was something behind those eyes that spoke of worse things to come. “You can’t always