Echoes From The Past (Women of Character) by Grace Brannigan Read Free Book Online

placed her in the bed
shaped like a pumpkin coach. He leaned down to turn off the lamp, his glance
falling on the small picture beside Hannah’s bed. Judith, Hannah and him in
happier times. They had gone to an old-fashioned country fair in town. It had
been a great day. Decisively, he switched off the light.
    "The covers, Daddy,"
Hannah murmured. "I like the covers tucked all around me." It was a ritual
they’d started from the first, and Garrett continued, trying to keep her on an
even keel, though at times it seemed nearly impossible.
    "There you go," he said
gruffly, touching his finger to her nose. "Warm and tucked in."
    Her eyes opened. "I’m still
your girl, Daddy?"
    Garrett pushed the hair from her
cheek, thankful that there were still these tender moments. He leaned down and
dropped a kiss on her smooth forehead. "You’ll always be my girl,
sweetheart."
    "I’m sorry, Daddy, for not
listening today." Her lower lip trembled ever so slightly. "I try to
be good, but I don’t seem to have the knack of it."
    Garrett couldn’t help but smile,
recognizing Ruth’s words in that statement. "You just forget sometimes.
Let’s hope the knack will grow on you."
    "I like the tire swing you
put up for me." She pressed her fingers into the soft pile of the blanket.
"And I’m glad you don’t make me wear dresses all the time."
    "Honey, there’s nothing wrong
with dresses. All little girls should dress up from time to time. Your mom
loved to dress up."
    "I know Daddy, but I don’t
always want to stay clean." Her small fingers gripped his. "One more
thing. I saw Albert sunning himself on a rock by the road and I was afraid he
would run away. When I saw that truck I was really scared. It felt like my feet
were stuck and I couldn’t move or anything." She drew a deep, heartfelt
sigh. "I always seem to get in trouble. I won’t touch the geese pen
anymore or Uncle Randy’s pigeon cage either. I’m sorry for being so bad, Daddy."
    "You’re not bad,
sweetheart."
    "Then why do you get so
mad?"
    "I worry because I want to
keep you safe."
    "Then you won’t send me
away?"
    Garrett’s heart felt like it was
being squeezed. He sat down on the side of her bed and pulled her up into his
arms, covers and all. "I’ll never send you away. You’re mine," he
whispered fervently. "My little girl. Now go to sleep."
    When Garrett straightened and
turned to leave, he saw Christie standing in the hallway. She wore a dark
T-shirt and light jeans and her feet were bare. He noticed her dark hair was
damp, tendrils clinging to the side of her neck. Caught off guard, he wondered
how soft her neck would be if he buried his lips there. Something warm and
sympathetic shone in her eyes. Garrett took a deep breath and walked across the
shadowed room to where Christie stood in the hallway. The least he could do was
say goodnight to his new employee. Carefully, he pulled his daughter’s bedroom
door half closed and walked toward Christie.
    ###
    Christie knew she should have
moved on and given Garrett the private moment with his daughter. How tenderly
he’d placed Hannah in her bed, then smoothed the covers and stood back,
watching her. She had to wonder what went through his mind, his hard mouth
curved in a slight smile.
    "I wonder if little girls
know how lucky they are to have their dads?" she asked with a smile.
    "I’m the lucky one,"
Garrett said simply.
    Christie swallowed. How could she
be envious of a father’s love for his child? "I wish I’d had a father like
you," she said softly. But her past could never be unwritten. "How
fortunate Judith must have felt to have you and Hannah in her life."
    An almost painful expression
crossed Garrett’s face.
    "I’m sorry," she said.
"Sorry for intruding. You have a right to privacy with your
daughter." She pushed her hands into her jeans pockets. "I just
happened to see you on my way to the kitchen. She looks sweet lying there. What
a unique bed."
    Garrett smiled at her, and some of
her tension