Moonlight on the Millpond by Lori Wick Read Free Book Online Page A

way.
    â€œHow long will you stay?” Jace asked before he thought that she might not think it his business.
    â€œAs long as I’m needed.”
    Jace nodded, his heart torn. In no way did he want Doyle to be in ill health, but if he was back in the store, Maddie would leave. Jace didn’t let this fact panic him, but he did know one thing: No matter when she left Tucker Mills, she wouldn’t go without knowing how he felt.

    â€œYou’ve been grinning since we arrived home,” Woody teased Jace much later that day.
    â€œHave I?”
    â€œYes. Something tells me you won’t be hanging around on this farm most evenings.”
    â€œWell,” Jace replied logically, “if I’m going to marry the girl, I can’t sit out here all the time.”
    â€œMarry her, huh? That bad, is it?”
    â€œNot bad at all,” Jace said with a smile. “And I’ll do my best to see that you’re there for the wedding.”
    Woody’s head went back when he laughed, and Jace felt himself relax, realizing that his uncle’s approval on this subject meant quite a bit to him. Not until much later did he wonder what Eden would think, and then he told himself he didn’t care.

    On Monday morning, Alison Muldoon realized she needed lard. She added that to her list for Shephard Store and saw that the list was getting rather long. She was ready to leave Hillary at home with her brothers and do some shopping, but when Hillary asked to go, Alison took them all along.
    The store was quiet when they arrived, and because Alison knew Cathy, she went directly to her. Maddie was across the store, restocking bolts of cloth and cleaning the counter, fixing and straightening items from the morning business. She saw Alison come in, the boys behind her, and then she spotted Hillary.
    â€œPaige!” Maddie said without thinking.
    Hillary Muldoon heard her and stopped.
    â€œExcuse me?”
    Maddie shook her head and apologized. “I’m sorry, but you so remind me of a girl I know named Paige, that her name just slipped out.”
    Hillary smiled kindly, aware that Maddie still studied her.
    â€œI’m Maddie Shephard,” that lady said, remembering her manners and beginning the formality.
    â€œI’m Hillary Muldoon.”
    â€œIt’s nice to meet you, Hillary. Would you be about 16?”
    â€œOnly just.”
    â€œAnd those are your brothers with your mother?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œNot in school right now?”
    â€œOur teacher grew ill, and now most kids are needed in the fields, so we closed early this year.”
    â€œYou don’t live on a farm?”
    â€œNo, my father is a pastor.”
    â€œWhere is he a pastor?”
    â€œIn our home,” Hillary explained. “We don’t have a meetinghouse yet.”
    â€œWhere do you live?”
    â€œIn the yellow house down the way.”
    â€œI know the one.”
    Hillary smiled at her, liking this woman who seemed young and making her curious about Maddie’s age.
    â€œI just realized that I have some mittens that your mother made,” Maddie said. “She trades them here at the store, doesn’t she?”
    â€œYes,” Hillary said with a bit of pride. “She does beautiful mittens, caps, and scarves.”
    â€œAnd do you knit as well?”
    â€œNot like Mother does, but I’m learning.”
    â€œI’m sure you’ll be following in her footsteps in no time.”
    Hillary had no more thanked her when Martin needed some attention. She walked away from Maddie, hoping they would visit again soon.

Four
    Doyle was being foolish and knew it, but he didn’t want to stop. He had gone across the yard and slipped into the door that led to the office. He then sat on the stairs that led up to storage, giving his ears the opportunity to hear almost everything going on in the store. And he’d been enjoying himself, right up until the moment he heard