Talisman by S.E. Akers Read Free Book Online Page A

Daddy kept looking at me suspiciously.  He could tell I wanted to ask him something and of course, he was right.
    “What’s on your mind, Shi?  You’re never this quiet.”
    “ Well ,” I started, “I was thinking that maybe …I would stop by the mine to see you …before you start your shift tonight.”
    “I’m off tonight, but I have to go in for a couple of hours this afternoon.”  He looked at me with a curious grin. “Your ‘wanting to stop by to see me’ wouldn’t have anything to do with the meeting at 3 o’clock, now would it? ”
    I aimed for cool and casual.  “Maybe a little .”
    Daddy’s brow arched higher than a cat’s back.
    “Well yeah, a lot ,” I confirmed as I crossed my arms.  “I’m just worried, Daddy.”
    “It sounds more like impatience to me, but I don’t mind,” Daddy grinned.  “Heck, I bet half the town shows up.  I’ll tell Bea you’ll be stopping by.”
    “Thanks, Daddy.  I’ll bring a book to read while I wait.  Tell Ms. Sutherland that I promise not to bother her,” I insisted.
    “You know…Bea Sutherland thinks the world of you,” Daddy remarked.  “She asks about you all the time.”
    “ Really?   I hate I haven’t seen her in a while.  She’s such a sweet lady.”
    Daddy nodded in agreement, unable to talk through his heaping scoop of apple crisp.
    “Daddy…” I began, “do you know how she lost her eyesight?”  The details about Ms. Beatrix Sutherland’s blindness had always been a complete mystery to me.  I’d never asked her myself because I didn’t want to seem rude, but I was still curious.
    “ Umm …I’m not really sure when it happened exactly, but she hasn’t had the use of her eyes for as long as I’ve known her.  It doesn’t stop her one bit.  She’s the best secretary anyone could ever want.  It’s never hindered her around the office.”
    “It’ll be nice to see her,” I said.  “You know, she sure has a lot of pretty rings on her fingers.  I’ve always thought that it was a shame she couldn’t see them.”
    In fact, the best I could remember, she had at least one on every finger .  It would have looked kind of tacky on most people, but somehow it worked for her.  My favorite was a round golden topaz set in a dainty band of gold that she wore on the ring finger of her left hand.  The stone was rather small compared to her other rings, but there was something about it that dazzled me — probably because it was my birthstone .
    Secretly, I’d always wanted one.  The only ring I owned was my Welch High School class ring.  I’d planned on going the traditional route and having my birthstone set in it, but at the last minute I opted for a diamond — a faux one.  Most likely because I’d always admired Katie’s real diamond pendant, which I’d seen dangling around her neck ever since she got it for her birthday when she turned thirteen.  That had a lot to do with my decision.  After all, both gemstones were fakes.  As long as it was clear and shiny like a real diamond, I could live with that.  I figured I could always buy a golden topaz ring later on.  It would definitely be more affordable than a genuine diamond.
    The rest of breakfast was relatively quiet.  A faint “thump” on the front porch announced the arrival of the morning paper.
    “Don’t get up,” I instructed Daddy.  “I’ll get it.”
    I glanced at the antique grandfather clock as I hurried to the front porch.  It’s already a quarter to seven .  After unlocking all three deadbolts, I opened the creaky door and grabbed the Bluefield Daily Telegraph .  A blast of chilly morning air prompted me to shut it immediately.  I slipped the paper out of its orange plastic bag and whipped it open as I walked slowly back to the kitchen.  The headline on the front page said it all.  It read:
     
    FATE  OF  LOCAL  MINE
    TO  BE  UNVEILED  TODAY
     
    Well, our little town’s dilemma made today’s top story .  I scanned