Cottonwood Whispers by Jennifer Erin Valent Read Free Book Online Page B

daddy’s known adversity before and got through it just fine.”
    “I s’pose.”
    “Not to mention that we don’t know for sure that Elmer Poe’s right with his predictin’. Besides, you remember what I said about bein’ in God’s hand. He’ll watch out for you all right.”
    “Maybe so, but I got to find me some work. It ain’t right to be sittin’ around doin’ nothin’ all summer when my daddy’s workin’ so hard.”
    “Your daddy won’t like you takin’ work in town, Jessilyn. I can near about guarantee that.”
    “But we need money.”
    “You think he’d have your momma go out and get work?”
    “No, ma’am!”
    “Well then, he ain’t gonna want you goin’ out for work, neither.”
    “But he let Gemma.”
    “Gemma’s a woman of nineteen. And besides that, no matter how much you feel like family, Gemma’s not blood kin. He likely figures she’s got a right to make her own choice.”
    I stirred my sweet tea with a spoon to corral a berry and plop it in my mouth. “Momma’s got all sorts of things to do around the house. I ain’t got nothin’ to do all summer. And Gemma, she’s workin’ so much I barely ever see her. She didn’t get home last night until midnight. My daddy was near fit to be tied. I swear I won’t see her this summer at all, and I’ll be bored as can be.”
    “You help your momma, don’t you?”
    “Yes’m. But that don’t fill my time up much. She insists on doin’ most of it. I expect she thinks I can’t do some things as well as she can.”
    “Just stuck in her ways, I reckon. A body can get that way after years of doin’ things themselves.” She refilled my glass. “You know, I don’t think your daddy would take money from you, anyhow. Even if he did let you get work . . . which he wouldn’t.”
    “Well, I want some work. Even if Daddy won’t let me give him the money I make, I can at least buy things that I need so he won’t feel like he needs to buy them for me.”
    Miss Cleta just sat there in her chair, tapping the table, deep in thought. I ate two more cookies to fill the silence before she spoke up.
    “What would you say to workin’ for me?”
    “What’s that?”
    “I said you might like to work for me. I ain’t no spring chicken anymore. Could use some help with chores. Dustin’ and gardenin’ and such. You know how my arthritis has been actin’ up lately. I could use an extra pair of hands maybe two or three days a week. My dear husband left me settled for a long life, and I could pay you the same as you would make moppin’ floors at the grocery or some other such work.”
    “Do you mean that, Miss Cleta?” I exclaimed. “I could work for you?”
    “So long as your daddy and momma agree it’s fine.” She folded her hands, a self-satisfied grin spreading across her face. “Yes ma’am. I do believe I’ve come up with a fine idea. I can say it’s been too quiet around here these days. This place could use some livenin’ up. And Lord knows you can liven a place up, Miss Jessilyn.”
    “I don’t know I’d feel right takin’ money from you, Miss Cleta. Bein’ neighbors, I ought to be lendin’ you a hand without expectin’ a return for it. I figure Daddy’ll feel the same.”
    Miss Cleta set her glass down so hard my iced tea spoon clattered from the vibration. “Now you see here, Jessilyn Lassiter, I ain’t accustomed to takin’ work for nothin’. A neighborly favor is borrowin’ sugar now and again. It ain’t cleanin’ dusty tables and pullin’ weeds.” She crossed her arms emphatically. “No ma’am. If I want some help around this here house, I’m payin’ for it. And you can tell your daddythat if need be. I’m his elder, after all, so he’ll have to take notice of what I’m sayin’.”
    My eyebrows were arched high in surprise, and I sat dead still, not sure how to react.
    Miss Cleta took a good look at my face and broke out in that hooting laugh of hers. “Land’s sake, child, you look as if