Stephanie Grace Whitson - [Quilt Chronicles 03] by Message on the Quilt Read Free Book Online Page B

voice wavered and she had to bite her lip to keep from crying again. Because she did care. Even if it wasn’t much, it had been hers. Her name in print.
    “Well, don’t give up,” Bert said. “People everywhere are going to read Emilie Rhodes someday. I just know it.”
    Emilie kissed his cheek. “You are the best friend a girl could ever hope for.”
    Bert pointed up at the moon. “Nice night for a walk.”
    “It is,” Emilie agreed, “but Father laid down the law. And now that my fingers are all prune-y from getting the ink out from beneath my nails, I have to get upstairs and write that farewell column.” She glanced toward the carriage house. “You really should save your leg and ride Royal home. Mother has plans to keep me tied to her apron strings all day tomorrow. I won’t need him.”
    “I have a feeling you’ll think of a way out of it—and wish you had your horse. Besides, like I said, it’s a nice night for a walk.” Bert paused. “You’re sure you’re all right?”
    Emilie thought for a moment, surprised that she could honestly say she was. “Not that I didn’t have a pity party a little while ago, but I’m all cried out.” She took a deep breath. “I’ll be fine. And I’ll see you Thursday evening at the opening ceremonies.”
    “Save me a seat.”
    “I thought the Penner twins had that taken care of.”
    Bert cleared his throat. “Friends do not let friends get hornswaggled by the Penner twins. Save me a seat.” He stepped off the porch and headed into the night, whistling as he walked.
    Back inside, Emilie hurried to pick up after herself in the kitchen and then tiptoed up the back stairs and into her room. Once she’d lit the lamp at her desk, she spread out the assorted bits of paper in the folder Father had handed her earlier: cryptic notes from this member of that committee and that chairman of this board. Ice cream socials, quilting bees, silent auctions, Ladies’ Aid meetings, chorale recitals, and of course the opening exercises for this year’s ten-day Interstate Chautauqua.
    Now that the Ladies’ News wasn’t hers anymore, organizing the bits of paper and rewriting the information made Emilie feel weary. There was so little room for creativity in any of it. Which was probably why she’d charmed Will Gable into showing her more of the “behind the scenes” workings of the paper…and come out of the press room
looking like some hapless immigrant mill girl.
    Father’s words still smarted. She couldn’t think of another time when he’d spoken to her with the harsh tone he’d used today. At least not for an entire portion of a day. He always relented, and he usually gave her what she wanted. Hadn’t April Spring said as much when they were growing up?
Emilie Jane Rhodes, you are so spoiled.
Apparently that season of life was over.
    Thoughts of the Spring Sisters set her mind to whirling once again about the Bee Hive. She had to find a way to join them. She looked down at the announcements submitted for the Ladies’ News. Doing an exemplary job with her farewell column might be a good start:
    The Ladies of the First Methodist Church remind everyone attending the upcoming Chautauqua that Stewart Boarding Hall on the grounds will once again offer fine fare daily. The ladies are organized and ready to assuage the hunger of as many as three hundred diners at each meal. Homemade pie will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis for each luncheon. Cake at the evening meal. Come one, come all, and know that you are supporting a good cause. Proceeds will support various mission efforts at home and abroad.

    Elocutionist Miss Ida Jones will offer daily instruction in the Elocution Room at WCTU Hall located on the grounds of the upcoming Chautauqua. Daily lessons will commence at ten o’clock each morning. Miss Jones will also offer private tutoring sessions in French, German, and elocution, beginning on Thursday, June 24, and continuing through July 12, whereupon