Kentucky Sunrise by Fern Michaels Read Free Book Online Page B

the porch. Do you remember?”
    â€œYes,” Emmie mumbled. “Mr. Frances slid down the ladder on a job and broke his hip. He said he’d get out here when he could. I didn’t want to call anyone else since you said he’d worked for you for years and years. I didn’t want to take the job away from him. I guess that was wrong, too.” She started to walk away, knowing she was going to cry any second. Not so much with frustration with her mother but with the pain that was engulfing her body. She needed more aspirin. How many aspirin could one person take? Would her stomach start to bleed? Maybe she needed to eat something so the aspirin wouldn’t irritate her stomach. What was happening to her?
    Her mother was relentless, though. “Just a minute, young lady. Who told you to take over my bedroom? That room is mine, not yours. You have your own room.”
    Emmie spun around on her heel and eyeballed her mother. “You know what, Mom, you can take this job, this farm, and you can shove it up your ass. I can’t do anything right. No matter what I do, I can’t please you. Nick was the only one who could please you. Well, guess what, Nick doesn’t want this place or this job. That’s the only reason you gave it to me to run. I must have been really stupid to think I wanted it. You won’t have to throw me out this time, I’ll walk out on my own. I hate it, and I hate you when you do this to me. I’m not you. I’m me. Keep your damn bedroom, keep the whole damn place. Stupid flowers, stupid paint, stupid junk. I knew this was going to happen the minute you said you were coming back here. And, another thing, Mother, I didn’t take over your room. I’ve been having trouble with my back, and your mattress is harder than mine. All my things are still in my room. I never used your bathroom either, if that’s the next question. Yes, I should have bought a new mattress, but I didn’t, so add that to your list, too. I’ll be out of here as soon as Gabby gets home.”
    â€œThat won’t be necessary, Emmie. Hatch and I will be staying in town. I apologize. Do what you want. Call me when the family arrives.” Nealy’s throat closed so tight she couldn’t have uttered another word if her life depended on it. She set the flat of flowers down, dusted her hands, and walked toward the rental Hatch had picked up at the airport.
    Her hands jammed into her pockets, Emmie watched the Lincoln Town Car until it was out of sight. She had just experienced one of the mystical wonders of the world. Her mother had backed down. She didn’t feel elated at all. In her mother’s eyes she was a failure. Like hell! She struggled to take a deep breath as waves of pain engulfed her.
    Emmie stomped her way up the steps and into the kitchen, where she bellowed at the top of her lungs, “Everyone in the kitchen! Now!”
    The three office girls, whose names she could never remember, Agnes Beakman, the office manager, and Gertie, the housekeeper, came from all directions. Agnes folded her hands in front of her, her expression saying, “This better be good,” while the three young office girls twitched nervously. Gertie just looked puzzled.
    â€œLadies, things are going to change around here starting right this minute. For a long time my family had loyal, friendly help here in the house. You ladies are not loyal; nor are you friendly. I’ve decided I don’t much care for your attitudes. If you like working here, and if you like the generous salaries I pay you and want to keep working for me, things have to change. We’re talking about initiative here. Gertie, the front porch is a disgrace. It’s dirty, the flowers are half-dead and haven’t been watered in weeks. Our family is arriving this weekend, and I want this place spruced up. Big-time.”
    Emmie fixed her gaze on the three young women. “From now on, you