Far Away Home by Susan Denning Read Free Book Online Page B

afford a house.”
    Aislynn
brightened when she heard the word “house.” She wanted a home. However, with or
without a house, she did not want to marry Johnny, and she did not feel he
understood. Before she could respond, he said, “Let’s just wait and see what
happens.”
    She nodded,
believing the longer they waited the more time she would have to find a way to
convince Johnny and her father this was not a good match.
    Johnny rose and
pulled her to her feet. “Let’s say a prayer before we leave.”
    He knelt at the
altar. Aislynn sank to her knees next to him. She looked up and saw the last
light of day floating through the stained glass window depicting the Holy
Family. The Blessed Virgin, glowing in the pale light, was smiling at her
infant son while her adoring husband gazed down on them. How serene and
secure she appears. She had no idea what heartbreak awaited her . Praying the
Virgin and her Son would watch over her family and keep everyone safe and
healthy, the Mahers included, she made a particular plea to God to keep Tim
warm through the notoriously cold Utah winter.
    When she crossed
herself, Johnny asked, “Where’s the ring?”
    “In my apron.”
    “Let me have
it.”
    Aislynn was
reluctant to return such a precious gift, but she dug in her pocket and
extracted the ring. Johnny took her right hand in his and placed the ring on
her finger with the heart pointing away from her heart, symbolizing the ring
was given in friendship. He said, “When you’re ready, you can turn it around.”
With the heart pointing toward hers, the ring would signify engagement. She was
sure he expected her to move it to her left hand on their wedding day.
    Aislynn accepted
his gesture and thought, for now, she could live with the arrangement. He stood
and helped her up from the kneeler. Johnny lifted her hands and released them
around his neck. Quickly, he reached around her back and pulled her close.
“Have you ever been kissed?” he grinned.
    “Of course not,”
she whispered. “Who would kiss me with you threatening any boy who ever spoke
to me?”
    “Ah,” Johnny
smiled, “my plan worked.”
    Aislynn twisted
her mouth and stuck her nose in the air.
    “Well, I’m goin’
to kiss you.”
    Aislynn thought
kissing Johnny might be exciting and educational. When she saw Tim again, she
thought it would be advantageous to know how to kiss. Aislynn puckered her lips
tightly as Johnny’s came down on hers.
    He pulled back
and shook his head.
    “What’s wrong?”
she asked.
    “That wasn’t
very good.”
    Furious, her
hands slipped to his shoulders, and she tried to push him away. Johnny
tightened his grip, as she demanded, “What did you expect? Unlike you, I
haven’t been practicing all over the neighborhood with the likes of Patty Downs
and Linda Gallagher.”
    Johnny laughed,
“Aislynn, a man needs some experience, and someday you’ll be grateful I’ve had
it.”
    “As though I’m
interested in anything you’ll ever know.” She pushed him again.
    “Just relax your
mouth; don’t try so hard.” Acquiescing, she allowed Johnny to kiss her.
    “That was much
better, but you’ll need to practice,” he coaxed. Johnny’s hand slipped into her
hair as his lips moved slowly over hers. His other hand pressed on her back
until her breasts were crushed against his chest. In her heavy coat, Aislynn
began to feel warm and uncomfortable. When he lifted his mouth, she squirmed in
his arms saying, “That’s enough.”
    “I’ve got at
least a million more.”
    Aislynn’s
curiosity was roused. She lowered her eyes and tilting her head to one side,
peered at him. “Save them,” she suggested in a voice that carried an
invitation.
    It soon became
Johnny’s habit to keep company with Aislynn each evening after her family
finished eating dinner and went on their way to Quigley’s Pub. While Aislynn
washed dishes, ironed, mended, sewed or knitted, they talked or Johnny read
aloud. On rare evenings when her