Daughters of the Heart by Caryl Mcadoo Read Free Book Online Page B

rescue. Standing, he escorted her and her sisters to the surrey. He did keep the dessert, though.
    Once Gwen got the horse out of earshot, she turned on Bonnie, but the mean words didn’t bother her at all. Elijah loved her, she was sure of it. Otherwise, why would he keep winking at her?
    And come to her rescue like he did?
    Somehow she needed to convince him to wait. She’d be thirteen in December. It’d only be five years after that. Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and counted it as nothing, like it was only a few days.
    And maybe she and Mama could convince Daddy that fifteen was old enough to get married. That would only be two and a half years away.
    Judy Goldthwaite got married at fourteen, and hers seemed like a fine little family.
    “Are you paying me any mind?”
    Bonnie closed one eye and studied on Gwen, but couldn’t recall what she’d been talking about. “Sorry, what?”
    “I’ve been telling you how the cow ate the cabbage for at least half a mile now. Have you been daydreaming all this time?”
    She wouldn’t lie, but wasn’t about to tell either of her sisters what she’d just figured out. Let them fight over Clay and Braxton. Elijah Eversole was hers.
    “Bonnie, you need to respect your elders.”
    She pursed her lips and looked off. They both needed her and that was that.
     

     
    Cecelia rolled over then pulled her second pillow in tight, but her eyes refused to stay closed. Dinner had gone well, except Miss Smarty Bloomers had to cut it short.
    She sighed. Supper had been a complete disaster, as if Elijah entered in to some kind of contest with Clay over Gwen. Cecelia’s true love had hardly looked at her the whole meal.
    Then after the dishes were done and put away, while Mama May let them visit over milk and cookies in the parlor, he hardly said two words to her.
    It was all her daddy’s fault! Him and his stupid, pigheaded, unfair rules! That had to be it. Elijah was afraid of her father, too, but then what sane man wasn’t?
    Everyone knew about all the men he’d killed over the years. The last one right there in the hall when those idiots tried to steal Rose and Charley and take them back to Bold Eagle. What a scary night that had been!
    Especially at only twelve years old, Bonnie’s age now. But it did warm her heart to know no one could get past Henry Buckmeyer.
    Then that was the problem, too.
    She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. It hit her. Her daddy was gone! Looking at timberland with Braxton Hightower. Tonight was her one chance.
    Now who was being the idiot?
    Her heart boomed in her chest. Could she? Should she? It really was her only chance. He’d hear her for sure once he got home.
    It was now or never.
    Elijah had said only another two weeks, three at the most, and he’d have the new steam engine working. Before she knew it, he’d be gone back to California.
    Maybe she could go back with him for a visit? No. Daddy would never allow that.
    She rolled out of bed, lit the oil lamp, then threw on her housecoat and pulled her hair out from under it. She glanced in her looking glass, fluffed her locks, and pinched her cheeks. Probably couldn’t even get through the scuttle hole anymore.
    It’d been what? Three years since the last time she and Charley were in the attic?
    She missed that little booger. She grinned. Forever trying to get her into something. Shame Levi and Rose decided to build their own home. She liked it better when they all lived together.
    Lifting and carrying her vanity chair into her water closet, she placed it right under the hole then went for the broom in the corner. Using it, she pushed the trapdoor out of its square frame.
    It made too loud a scraping noise, and for a moment her heart stopped. She held her breath, but heard nothing more.
    Then the booming in her chest doubled. She swallowed.
    No, she wasn’t doing anything wrong. Right? She just needed a private word with Elijah. She had to let him know waiting for her would