Earthly Vows by Patricia Hickman Read Free Book Online

obliquely at Angel.
    “I went to the police, went around the train depot asking if anyone had seen Bo. Finally I saw one of his drinking buddies
     standing in the unemployment line. He told me him and Bo had lost their jobs two weeks before. I guess Bo never had the guts
     to tell me he’d lost his job.”
    “So he left you and the children,” said Jeb. “Claudia, I’m sorry.”
    “Rent’s come due. I was glad I had a little money put back, enough for a bus ticket. I know I should have spent it on the
     rent. But I’ve been so lonely for my family. I had to see you, Angel. Where’s them other two?”
    “Waiting at the Coulters’ house. I’ve missed you too,” said Angel. “I’ve been trying to find you for so long. You must not
     have gotten any of my letters.”
    “We moved around too much for that, I reckon. Aunt Kate says you been living in Nazareth. Small world. That’s where Bo and
     I first lived.”
    “I know. We came there looking for you. But your house was empty. You left this behind.” Angel pulled out a small toy, a cloth
     rabbit.
    Claudia laughed. “That was John’s. Never knew what happened to it. You did find our old place. Aunt Kate told me in a letter
     Daddy sent you all off. I hated that. But Bo wouldn’t hear of taking in family. He said we had enough to contend with. After
     that, we moved twice and I lost touch.”
    “I wondered why you didn’t write to Aunt Kate, let her know where you were. I was worried sick, Claudia.”
    “Bo stopped all that. He was not one to let people into our lives. He brought home the money, wanted me to keep house and
     have babies. I figured I owed him that.”
    Angel came face forward in the front passenger seat, quiet.
    “We’re here,” said Jeb.
    “Would you look at this place? Whose house did you say this is?” asked Claudia.
    “It’s the home of my fiancée’s family, the Coulters,” said Jeb. “They’re fixing up a room for you for the weekend.” He drove
     them under the shade of an oak and parked. “How long did you say you were staying?”
    “In her letter, Mrs. Coulter said you would be here until Tuesday. If Angel can front me some cash, I can leave Tuesday,”
     said Claudia. “I’m not one to overstay my welcome.”
    Angel glanced at Jeb. “I’ll get Claudia’s luggage, Jeb,” she said. She fetched the suitcase and then corralled Thorne, leading
     her up the brick walk to the back porch.
    Claudia kept saying, “You’re doing well for yourself.” She followed Angel into the house.
    Fern came out into the parlor. “Glad you’re all back. I’m Fern. Angel, you can put her things in my room.”
    “I wouldn’t want to take your room, ma’am,” said Claudia.
    “You’ll love my room. It overlooks the pond. Jeb and I are leaving today for Oklahoma City.”
    “I live right outside there, Miss Coulter,” said Claudia. “You heard of Norman?”
    “I have.” She turned to Jeb and said, “Jeb, Donna said she can come with us. She’s glad to get away. A friend of hers works
     at the Skirvin Hotel and he’s getting us two rooms for the weekend.”
    “Fancy place, the Skirvin,” said Claudia. “I heard of that place.”
    “Jeb’s got a dinner there tonight,” said Fern. “We’ve got to get out of here. Jeb, you tried on those trousers Myrna fixed
     for you, didn’t you?”
    Jeb had forgotten. He pursed his lips.
    “They’re laid out on your bed. I’ve packed everything else.”
    “Angel, are you sure you’ll be all right here, don’t mind us leaving?” he asked.
    “Claudia and I have a lot of catching up to do. Don’t worry about us. Are you going upstairs?” she asked.
    Jeb caught a look in her eye that said that they should go upstairs. “To try on my trousers, yes.”
    Angel followed him upstairs. Once they had made it to the upstairs landing, she said, “I don’t have any money to give Claudia.
     How will she get home?”
    “I’ll see she gets a bus ticket home.”
    “Bo shouldn’t