Foxfire Light by Janet Dailey Read Free Book Online

variety of sizes and poses, bright-eyed imps that had timeless appeal.
    Wandering further into the shop, Joanna realized that nearly every kind of doll imaginable was there—rag dolls, corn-shuck dolls, china dolls. They were all represented. It was a little girl’s dream world, and an adult’s fantasy of toyland.
    Absorbed by the collection of dolls, she wasn’t aware she had become separated from her uncle until she noticed him standing at a counter ahead of her. He was just greeting one of the store clerks, an attractive and mature woman with light brown hair. The woman’s slimness and her erect carriage gave the impression of height although she wasn’t as tall as Reece. Her uncle turned, his gaze quickly locating her.
    â€œJoanna, come here,” he summoned her with a smile and a motioning wave of his hand. “I’d like you to meet the proprietor of this shop.”
    The information renewed Joanna’s interest in the woman, since she was so impressed with the quality of the shop. Age had begun to etch the lines of maturity about the woman’s mouth and blue eyes, but not unattractively. Her smile was warm, yet polite, friendly yet with a trace of reserve. Joanna liked the air of quiet dignity the woman possessed.
    â€œThis is my niece, Joanna Morgan.” Reeceintroduced her first to the woman. “Joanna, I’d like you to meet Mrs. Rachel Parmelee.”
    â€œWelcome to the Ozarks, Miss Morgan.” The hand she extended to Joanna was slim and smooth.
    â€œThank you.” She smiled, liking the woman immediately. “I know you have probably heard it before but you have a lovely shop, Mrs. Parmelee.” Where had she heard that name before? It sounded so familiar to her.
    â€œYou’re very kind.” The woman returned the smile, then inquired, “Is this your first visit to our area?”
    â€œYes,” Joanna admitted.
    â€œJoanna only arrived yesterday,” her uncle elaborated on her answer. “I’m afraid her first impression of the Ozarks wasn’t very favorable. Now I have the task of correcting it.”
    â€œI hope you enjoy your stay,” Rachel Parmelee murmured.
    Something had happened to change the woman’s attitude. Joanna could sense it. There was a coolness in her voice and her expression that hadn’t been there before. She was puzzled by it because it seemed to have happened when Reece joined the conversation, and he had said nothing offensive, nothing remotely personal that could have been misinterpreted. She glanced at her uncle and realized that he had noticed it, too. His expression had altered, a certain stiffness entering it that wasn’t natural for him.
    â€œWe are keeping you from your customers.” His remark appeared to offer an excuse for her sudden coolness toward them. “We won’t take any more of your time.”
    There was a disturbing darkness to his gaze, an intensity that could almost be measured. Joanna watched the woman drop her glance to avoid it.
    She took her lead from Reece. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Mrs. Parmelee.”
    The instant she said the woman’s name a second time, she recalled where she had first heard it. The man at the service station had mentioned it. What was it he had said? Something about her uncle being sweet on the Widow Parmelee, she remembered. With new eyes, she studied her uncle and the woman.
    â€œHave a good day.” Rachel included both of them in the comment.
    â€œPerhaps we’ll see each other again soon,” her uncle said. It was almost a question but it received no answer as the woman smiled politely and moved along the counter to a customer looking at a selection of dolls in a glass case.
    Reece turned to Joanna. “Did you wish to look around a little longer?” he inquired.
    â€œAnother time, perhaps,” she said, because she guessed that he wanted to leave.
    â€œYes, another time.” The