Earthly Vows by Patricia Hickman Read Free Book Online Page A

have left her like that. But she shouldn’t have come here counting on someone else to give her the money home.
     I don’t know what she expects to do when she gets back to her place. Bo didn’t pay their last month’s rent and she found that
     out only yesterday.”
    “Maybe there’s work for her in Oklahoma City. I’ll ask around.”
    “I knew you’d help,” she said, and hugged him. “I’m sorry as I can be about her, though. I didn’t expect she’d be so bad off.”
    “I feel bad about leaving you all here with Mrs. Coulter.”
    “I’ll see to everyone, Jeb.”
    “I know. You always do, Angel.” She looked older than her years again. Her childhood slipped away once more when Claudia stepped
     off that bus.

    Donna lugged her suitcases across the lawn, a set of blue baggage, one small case and one large. She was blond like Fern,
     but more deeply bronzed from a summer spent on the course at Dornick Hills. She walked with a wobble, wearing a pair of Grecian-looking
     heels that laced around her ankles. But her head tilted the same as Fern’s, slightly back with her chin and nose up. It was
     a sure bet that they developed that posture as teens when all the Dornick Hills boys were chasing after the Coulter girls.
     She was pretty too, nearly as pretty as Fern.
    “Let’s split this joint!” she yelled. When she saw Jeb, her smile widened, showing off her teeth, and they were perfect little
     pearls.
    Angel walked with Fern, following Donna and helping to carry one of Fern’s bags. “Stop looking so sick with worry,” she told
     Jeb.
    “We’ll come back Sunday instead of Monday,” said Jeb.
    “Not on my watch,” said Donna. “I’ve got our rooms through Sunday night and Brian says they’re the last two available rooms.”
    “It’s up to Jeb,” said Fern. She handed her luggage to him. “Donna, this is my fiancée, Jeb.”
    Donna extended her hand to him. He clasped it. He felt a fool to kiss a woman’s hand. But she was standing there holding it
     out like everyone was a hand kisser.
    Fern said, “I’ve heard the hotel has chilled air.”
    “It has everything. We’re going to live like kings for three days straight. So when are you two tying the knot?” Donna asked.
    “Soon. When Fern’s ready,” said Jeb.
    “I thought I was waiting on you,” said Fern.
    “Why not marry here at the farm?” asked Donna.
    Jeb turned and found Fern smiling. “Donna has a good idea. Want to marry here at your mother’s place?” he asked.
    “Why not?” She surprised the dickens out of him.
    Angel’s mouth fell open. “No, you mean it? When you get back from Oklahoma City?” She was waving her hands around, excited.
    “Isn’t the dress you’re wearing tonight new?” Donna helped load the luggage into the trunk.
    Jeb said, “Fern, we can do it Tuesday, here in your mother’s parlor.”
    “So what are we saying, that we’re going to just up and do it?” There was a pause. “Donna, I’m getting married next week!”
     said Fern.
    Donna squealed.
    Fern threw her arms around Jeb. “This is so spur of the moment! We’re nuts!”
    “Not a moment too soon for me, Fern. I don’t think I could wait a minute past Tuesday,” said Jeb.
    Abigail came out on the back porch. She opened the screen door, asking what in the world was going on.
    “Can we do a wedding by Tuesday?” asked Fern.
    “Jeb, she’s joking, isn’t she?” Abigail looked at Jeb.
    “They’re serious,” said Angel.
    Abigail met them out by the car. She kept saying that this was all a joke until she started crying.

    The Skirvin Hotel was a crowned jewel in Oklahoma City’s downtown apex. The two towers boasted 525 rooms, a cabaret club,
     a drugstore, a handful of retail stores, a rooftop garden, and the prestigious Venetian Room. An air-chilling system cooled
     a coffee café.
    A red-coated valet waiting under one of the hotel’s overhangs offered to park the Packard. Jeb handed him the key. Fern tipped
     the