Josephine by Beverly Jenkins Read Free Book Online Page A

crutches, too, so she went to his aid.
    As Jo neared, however, she realized that she knew him. Although she hadn’t seen him since she was thirteen, Jo was ready to bet every hair iron she owned that the golden-skinned man with the golden brown eyes was her brother’s friend Adam Morgan. Happiness and surprise filled her. What was he doing here?
    “Hello, beautiful.”
    Jo stopped, then stared up into the handsome, sculpted face of Adam Morgan. Beautiful? When she was young, her brother and his friends called her nothing but “Pest.”
    Adam regained her attention by adding, “I lived in Whittaker for ten years. I don’t remember ever seeing you back then.”
    Jo blinked. He didn’t recognize her? She almost burst into laughter but decided to play along. She’d tease him later. “I’ve lived here all of my life.”
    “Really? I would remember someone as lovely as you.”
    “I bet you say that to all of the girls.”
    He clutched his heart. “You wound me, mademoiselle. Weren’t the Rebs enough?”
    Jo giggled in spite of herself. He was as silly as ever.
    He then introduced himself. “I’m Adam Morgan.”
    “Pleased to meet you, Adam.”
    Silence.
    “Now you’re supposed to give me your name,” he pointed out.
    Jo replied with sparkling eyes, “I don’t think I will.”
    “Ah, a woman of mystery. I like intrigue.”
    “Do you?”
    His voice softened. “I do.”
    Jo felt something come over her that she’d never felt before. George made her flutter, but this feeling was deeper, stronger somehow. It was like comparing the wind from the wings of a butterfly to that from the mighty wings of a red-tailed hawk.
    “How old are you?” he asked.
    It took Jo a moment to answer. “Seventeen.”
    “You’ve a mama nearby, I’m betting?”
    Jo nodded. “Yes.”
    “Does she let you have dinner with soldiers?”
    “No.”
    “Smart woman,” he offered in tandem with his heart-melting smile.
    As an adolescent, Jo never understood why girls swooned every time Adam or his brother, Jeremiah, walked by. Now she did. Shaking herself free of his spell, she said, “I came to help you with your bag.”
    “Thanks.”
    Jo picked up the valise. It was heavy, but not so much so that she couldn’t lug it the short distance to the porch. When they reached the door, Jo set it down. “I’ll go and find Mrs. Oswald for you.”
    His eyes were all she could see. She seemed to be drowning in them. It was an oddly pleasant feeling. Then remembering that this was Adam Morgan, she shook herself free again. “Nice meeting you, Adam.”
    “Nice meeting you, as well, beautiful. You aren’t going to tell me your name.” It was a statement, not a question.
    Jo smiled secretively. “No, but I’m certain you’ll learn it soon.”
    Trudy had apparently come looking for Jo, because she suddenly appeared at Jo’s side. Jo sensed Trudy was about to say something, but upon seeing the man Jo was talking with, Trudy offered nothing but a look of utter surprise. Jo assumed Trudy recognized him, too. He didn’t seem to recognize Trudy though, if the polite but distant nod he sent Trudy’s way was any indication. Jo supposed she and Trudy did look different from the short, skinny, ringlet-wearing adolescents they’d been the last time he’d seen them. They were both taller and no longer skinny. Trudy was a bit more round than Jo, but they were young women now.
    Before Trudy could open her mouth and ruin Jo’s game, Jo told Adam, “You go on inside and take a seat. I’ll fetch Mrs. Oswald. That is who you’re here to see?”
    “Yes, the hospital in Detroit recommended I stay here until I recover.” But he seemed more intent upon Jo, and she could feel the interest as well as she could feel the breeze on her cheeks. She grabbed the still-staring Trudy’s arm. “Come on. Let’s get Mrs. Oswald.”
    Once they got around to the back of the house, Trudy finally found her voice, “Jojo, that was Adam Morgan!”
    “I