Love's Sweet Surrender by Sandy Sullivan Read Free Book Online Page A

they would do fine, but Anne she wasn’t so sure about. That small child needed something more, but she wasn’t sure she would be able to help her.
    I need to talk to Anne’s father. Maybe I can go out to their place this Saturday to speak to him. Or maybe I’ll send a note to him through Johnny, to come into town to talk to me. That would kill two birds with one stone since I wanted to thank him anyway.
    Her mind made up, she quickened her steps as she got closer to her little house. When she had reached it, she was surprised to see Madge sitting on her porch.
    “Madge,” Lily said, smiling at her friend. “It’s nice to see you. What can I do for you?”
    “I need your help, Lily.” The tone of Madge's voice made Lily worry.
    “Help?” Lily took the seat next to her. “What can I do to help you?”
    “I hate to even ask since you’ve only been here in town for a few days.
    Actually, never mind.” Madge started to rise from her place next to Lily until the younger woman grabbed her arm and pushed her back down in the chair.
    “What is it, Madge? I’ll help you any way I can. I hope you know that.
    You’ve been more than kind to me since my arrival here, and I want to repay you somehow.”
    Madge sighed in a rush of air. “Well, you see, it’s my nephew. He’s a good man and all, but he never had a real education. You know, going to school regularly. His parents died when he was just a boy, and then he came to live with me since I'm his only kin. His name is Daniel, and well, I’m not much help to him since I don’t have the patience to teach someone, so I wondered if…” Madge's voice trailed off, and she chewed her lower lip.
    “Wondered if what?” Lily asked even though she was pretty sure she knew what her friend wanted to ask.
    “Can you help him? I mean, learn to read better and do numbers and such? He’s a fast learner. He’s been such a help to me at the boarding house with the repairs and things, but I really want him to be able to better himself, and I don’t think he can do that with his limited education.”
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    Sandy Sullivan
    “Of course. I would be glad to help him if I can, but he has to want to learn it. Many times adults aren’t willing to learn new things.”
    When she remembered the man who had brought the tub to her at the boarding house, she recalled he was a fairly big man, standing taller than she and with handsome features. He had big brown eyes, brown hair, a slim jaw line and a hawk-like nose, and he'd talked very softly. He had pretty much whispered the whole time he had been near her.
    “I’m sure he’ll be delighted to have you help him, but he’s a proud man, so I need to be very careful how I approach him with this. I need him to think it's his idea, if you know what I mean.” Madge winked, and Lily grinned.
    “I know exactly what you mean. You just let me know when he wants to start, and I’ll give it my full attention, but, of course, you understand, the children come first.”
    “Of course, of course,” Madge assured her. “I wouldn’t want it any other way. The children of this town are our future, and we must protect them at all cost.” Madge spoke with such fever that it took Lily by surprise because she knew Madge had said she had no children.
    “Yes, well, I should be getting on inside. I have a lot of work to catch up on this evening before classes tomorrow. I have a notebook full of notes on each child I need to study.” Lily stood, ready to make her way into the house.
    “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken up so much of your time. Thank you for being so willing to help my nephew. I’m sure he’ll be delighted to have you teach him.”
    Madge stepped off the porch and headed back toward the boarding house as Lily watched.

    * * * *

    “Daniel? Can I ask you a question?”
    “Sure, Aunt Madge.” Daniel swung the hammer in his