Shifted By The Winds by Ginny Dye Read Free Book Online

never seen a time you couldn’t,” Annie snorted.
    “You’re taking Patches?” John said, alarm filling his eyes as Clint took the lead line and turned away.
    “Just over to the barn,” Robert assured him. “We built a special little stall for him. He’ll be waiting for you after you finish breakfast.”
    John nodded reluctantly, his eyes not leaving his new pony as Clint led him away. “Bye, Patches!” he called. “Bye!”
    Moses chuckled, swung him up into his arms, and climbed the stairs. “It’s time to eat.”
     
    John was the first to speak when they sat down. “Fe-Fe, what about you? Where is your pony?”
    Silence fell around the table as Rose waited for her answer. She and Moses had talked about getting Felicia a pony as well, but they weren’t sure she would want one. She hoped they hadn’t made a mistake.
    Felicia smiled. “I don’t want a pony,” she said.
    “Why not?” John asked, his astonishment clearly showing on his face.
    “Because I want to spend my time doing other things,” Felicia answered promptly, a mysterious glint in her eyes.
    Moses and Rose exchanged a look. Felicia had truly become their daughter since the day Moses brought her home after her parents were killed in the Memphis riots, but they were still discovering things about her.
    “Like what?” John persisted.
    Felicia merely smiled. “Other things.”
    Rose new John wouldn’t give up his questioning unless she took charge. She would discover what was truly important to Felicia when it was time. Until then, she simply wanted to create a safe haven where the little girl could heal from all she had been through. Most of the time you wouldn’t guess the laughing child with twinkling eyes had seen both of her parents killed in cold blood, but Rose had learned to recognize the pained numbness that filled Felicia’s eyes at times. She turned to Robert. “I understand Moses talked to you about his idea yesterday?”
    “About duplicating the Tournament and Ball the Blackwells used to host every year on their plantation? He did. I think it’s a wonderful idea.” Just saying the words brought back a flood of memories — meeting Carrie; winning the tournament on Granite; crowning Carrie as his Queen of Love and Light; falling completely in love with her. For a moment, the ache of missing her was a physical pain. He was so proud of her for being in medical school, but there was never a moment he didn’t long for her. Watching her depart four days early to return to Philadelphia had been excruciating. The only thing that made it bearable was knowing she felt the same way.
    Rose smiled. “It will be a Harvest Celebration for everyone. They are all working so hard. They need something to look forward to.” She turned back to Moses. “And you’re sure you’ll be finished with the harvest by the third week in October?”
    “We’d better be,” Moses responded lightly. “Everything is going smoothly,” he assured her. “We have a lot of work to do, but it’s getting done right on schedule.”
    Rose exchanged an excited look with Annie.
    “I already done talked to Polly and June,” Annie said, answering Rose’s question before she could even ask it. “They be just as excited as you are.”
    Moses hesitated. “It will be an awful lot of work, Mama.”
    Annie sniffed. “Ain’t nothin’ I can’t handle, son. When I get too old to do things, I reckon I be tellin’ you about it. That time ain’t come yet. You ain’t got nothin’ to worry about.”
    Moses grinned. “Yes, ma’am,” he said meekly.
    Annie snorted. “There ain’t no meek bone in your body, boy. Now eat that breakfast and get out to the fields. We’s gonna do our part on this side. It be up to you to make sure the harvest be done when you say it will be done.”
    Moses laughed and reached for another biscuit. “You heard her, John. We have work to do. When we’re done, you’re going to get your first riding lesson on Patches.”
    John