Morning Glory by Carolyn Brown Read Free Book Online Page B

didn't miss a beat; scarcely even breathed.
"Gossip that she is, I figure she's the very one who
started the rumor. I told her was wrong. You were fine
and dandy at breakfast this morning. Just because you
didn't show up in town sure don't mean you'd passed
on. You can change your routine doings on a whim, like
all women can."
    "What do you mean by housecleaning fever? Is it
contagious?" Olivia asked.
    "I was cleaning the attic. Nellie, do you think the
rumor has been corrected? Mercy me, I wouldn't want
people to start bringing food in here," Clara said.
    Olivia snarled her nose. "Yuck, I hate housecleaning.
You could afford a maid, Clara. Why don't you hire
one?"
    "I'm capable of doing my own housework. Just
because I don't cook, doesn't mean I can't clean,"
Clara answered her shortly.
    "I imagine the gossip fires have been quenched.
Besides, if folks bring food, you just be the one to
answer the door. That should stop them in their tracks.
They'll think they're bringing vittles to a ghost," Nellie
said.

    Briar enjoyed pork chops, biscuits and gravy, green
beans, and candied yams and made a mental list of
what he'd learned. Olivia didn't like to clean. Clara
couldn't cook, which explained Dulcie. Olivia made
Tucker nervous with all those blatant advances toward
him. Nellie was more than a little sassy. The two B's
were quiet, but getting a kick out of the dinner conversation. It was much, much better than living in the hotel
and taking his meals wherever he could find a cafe with
an empty chair.
    Bessie finally chuckled down deep in her chest.
"Why, I bet it's been two weeks since I went to town.
Needed some cotton thread to crochet with and walked
up to the general store. Wonder why Inez didn't tell
everyone I was dead. Not a soul brought food. I'm disappointed. Someone could have at least toted in a pecan
pie."
    "Bessie, everyone thinks us two old dinosaurs died
years ago. Most of our generation has already given up
the ghost. Clara needs to let go of that quirk she's got
of going to town every day for the mail at the same
time. Then people won't be thinking she's kicked the
bucket and joined us in the hereafter," Beulah said.
    "Let's change the subject," Clara said. "I'm not dead
and it's a morbid supper topic. Tucker, what brought
you into town for supper tonight? Not that I'm fussin'
one bit. We always love to have your company"
    Tucker piled a few more yams on his plate. "Figured
I'd better come see if you killed Briar or if he killed you, havin' to stay the same house. Got to admit it did
give me a start when I heard you'd passed on. I knew
any kind of fever wouldn't kill you, though. If you had
died, it would be of sheer stubbornness."

    "Well, we're glad you're here, Tucker. We don't even
care what made you leave the farm and come to town.
It's so nice to have a fresh face at the table, especially
yours," Olivia said, sugar syrup oozing from her voice.
    Tucker didn't return the smile, barely nodded at the
woman, afraid to give her an inch of encouragement for
fear she'd be packed and in his car by the time he swallowed his last bite.
    Clara shot her cousin a mean look down the length
of the long dining room table. "Me, stubborn? How can
you say that?"
    "You are and you know it," Tucker said.
    "What makes me so stubborn? I'd say you and Tilly
could outdo me any day of the week."
    "You're stubborn because you insist on working for
a living. You know you could come out to either of the
farms and live with me or Tilly, but you stay right here,
running a boarding house," Tucker said.
    "You against a woman working?" Briar asked.
    "Yes, I am. A woman's place is in the home. What's
your opinion?" Tucker asked.
    "Don't know that I've got one," Briar answered.
    "Don't get Tucker started on that issue," Clara said.
"He'll stay on the soap box all through supper if you do."
    Nellie raised an eyebrow halfway to heaven. "Oh, no. Not only do I want to hear his opinion, I want