Spirit of the Valley by Jane Shoup Read Free Book Online Page B

here.”
    â€œEven if she had said a name,” Cessie said to April May, “a last name wouldn’t matter. Not a bit. Lizzie could have gotten married.”
    â€œWell, obviously she got married,” April May said. “She has two children, doesn’t she?” She looked at Pauline. “You sure you didn’t say your first name?”
    Pauline nodded frantically. “I’m sure.”
    â€œGood,” April May said. “So, pick a new last name.”
    Pauline suddenly recalled neighbors from her childhood who’d seemed so happy, she’d often wished she was one of them. “Carter?”
    â€œCarter,” Cessie repeated. “You’re now Mrs. Elizabeth Anne Greenway Carter. Does that sound good?”
    Pauline laughed. “It sounds like . . . a miracle.”
    Cessie looked at April May. “You know, we’re the only ones who ever did meet Lizzie here. So, Pauline stakes her claim and we back her up. Who in the world can possibly contest it?”
    â€œIf Pauline wants to, that is,” April May replied.
    If she wanted to? “I do! Oh yes. I do.”
    Cessie pressed a hand to her chest. “Oh, you just know that Lionel is tickled pink right now. Up in Heaven, looking down, tickled pink.”
    April May nodded in agreement. “And now that we’ve solved the world’s problems, you should go get some rest. You look tired enough to drop in your tracks.”
    Even though she suddenly felt wide-awake and full of excitement, Pauline stood. “I will.”
    â€œAnd practice your new name,” April May added. “If you want a new life, Pauline has to be no more. You’ll be Elizabeth Anne Greenway Carter.”
    â€œMaybe we should have an informal baptism,” Cessie suggested playfully.
    â€œYou need to think about this,” April May said earnestly. “Really think . You do this and there’s no turning back.”
    Didn’t they realize how much she wanted this? How much she needed it? “I don’t want to turn back. Not ever. This is a godsend. You,” she said, looking from one sister to the other, “are a godsend.”
    â€œMaybe you’re one for us,” Cessie said tenderly.
    â€œAnd Lionel’s girl, at that,” April May said to her sister with a fond smile.
    Cessie welled up again.
    â€œGet some shut-eye,” April May urged. “We’ll talk more in the morning.”
    â€œGood night, then,” Pauline managed in a thick voice.
    â€œâ€™Night, Pauline,” April May said. “Hey, just think. That may be the last time anyone ever says that to you.”
    Joy bubbled up inside Pauline, and it was only through great restraint that she didn’t laugh out loud.
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    A half hour later, Pauline closed her eyes, hoping for sleep, but it eluded her as always. She was tired to the bone, but anxiety plagued her. Ethan was no longer present, leering, rearing his hand to strike a blow, but he was out there somewhere. He would search for them, and if he ever found them—
    She turned onto her side and curled into a ball, wondering how he could find them when they had run blindly, ending up in a town he’d never heard of, in a state he’d have no reason to consider. But what if he searched every possible avenue she could have taken? What if he went to the depot and the stationmaster remembered seeing them?
    â€œStop it,” she whispered. It was bad enough that he’d made her life a living hell. Why was she continuing to torture herself? If he came after them, if he found them, she’d protect herself. She’d protect Jake and Rebecca. If he came for them, she would kill him. She inhaled and exhaled deeply and purposefully. “Safe,” she whispered. “You’re safe.”
    Her excitement over the cottage had faded, because she’d never had that sort of luck. Something would happen to stop the plan, but she had April