Paradise Falls by Ruth Ryan Langan Read Free Book Online Page A

enough to have her muscles protesting.
    Once outside, it felt good to be in the sunlight. She walked a short distance to a stream and knelt on the banks, plunging her hands up to her elbows, before splashing water over her face and drinking deeply. With a sigh of pure pleasure she remained there, enjoying the cool water and the whisper of breeze that ruffled her hair. It would be so easy to stay here just this way for the rest of the day. Instead she found a shady spot beneath a tall oak and unwrapped the linen towel Rose had prepared the night before. Inside were several hard-boiled eggs, thick slabs of bread slathered with blackberry preserves, and an apple. Just looking at all that food, Fiona realized she was ravenous.
    She walked around to the front of the schoolhouse, where Will was prying the last of the steps away. “It’s time for some lunch, Will.”
    He shook his head. “I didn’t think to bring any, Miss Downey.”
    “That’s all right. Mrs. Haydn made enough for both of us. Come along.”
    She led him to the shady spot and divided the food. For a moment the boy looked at it as though he couldn’t believe his eyes. Then, with a shy smile, he tucked into his food, and Fiona did the same.
    “How old are you, Will?” Fiona watched as he bit into an egg.
    “Fourteen, come winter.”
    “So young to know so much about fixing things.”
    He flushed. “My pa could fix anything. He let me work alongside him and taught me all he could.”
    “Is your father busy today?”
    “My pa’s dead. And my ma. I live with my uncle.” He said the words so matter-of-factly, she caught her breath.
    “I’m sorry, Will.” She looked away, wondering if she would ever be able to speak of her father’s passing with an equal lack of passion.
    When at last Fiona sat back, she gave a sigh of pure contentment. “I can’t remember when such simple food tasted so grand.” She drank from the jug, then passed it to Will.
    “It was good.” The boy wiped his mouth with his sleeve and took a long drink of water. “Thank you, Ma’am.”
    He returned to his work while Fiona folded the linen towel and carried the jug to the stream to fill it.
    Hearing the sound of a horse she turned, expecting to see Gray. Instead she saw Flem just climbing down from the seat of a wagon.
    “What’s this?” He flashed her a brilliant smile. “I came here expecting to see the new teacher, Miss Downey. Instead I find some poor, filthy creature who looks like she’s been mucking stalls.”
    His smile was so infectious Fiona couldn’t resist returning his with one of her own. “Oh, Flem, it’s just been the grandest day. Will here has repaired the roof and door and is now replacing the steps and porch. Look at the fine work he’s done.”
    The boy beamed at her words of praise.
    “And what of that?” With a look of derision Flem pointed to the toppled outhouse. “Anyone with half a brain would’ve made that the first order of business.”
    Stung by his words, Will hung his head.
    “Well, it is important, of course.” Fiona knew her cheeks were bright pink, but it couldn’t be helped. After all, an outhouse was an indelicate subject. Besides, he’d made it sound as if Will had made a terrible error in judgment. She could see that the boy felt ashamed. “There’s still time to have it in order before the students start school next week. I think Will made a wise choice to start on the schoolhouse before dealing with that.”
    Flem’s easy smile returned with a quick shrug of his shoulders. “Whatever you say, teacher. Isn’t that right, Will?”
    The boy flushed and returned his attention to the wood he was nailing to the porch.
    Flem caught her elbow. “Come on.”
    She tried to pull back, but he had a firm grasp on her. “Where are we going?”
    “Just through the woods a bit. There’s something there I think you’ll like.”
    “But the work—”
    “Will still be here when you get back. Besides, you can’t get inside your