The Mandie Collection by Lois Gladys Leppard Read Free Book Online Page B

Mandie said, rising from the table. She had been hungry, but she didn’t finish her food.
    When someone opened the door to the hallway, Snowball came bounding in, meowing loudly. Mandie looked down at him and said, “Snowball, I don’t think you can go with us.”
    â€œCertainly not, dear,” Mrs. Taft said.
    â€œDon’t worry about him,” Mrs. Woodard spoke up. “I’ll feed him and keep an eye on him. He’ll be all right until y’all return.”
    â€œAre you not going with us?” Mandie asked her.
    â€œNo, dear, you don’t need me, and I’ll just wait here for y’all,” Mrs. Woodard replied.
    â€œDo you think Snowball will stay in the house while I’m gone? Remember he got out the last time I was here,” Mandie told her.
    â€œI’ll see that he doesn’t get out,” Mrs. Woodard promised.
    â€œAmanda, come on and get your wrap. We’ve got to hurry,” Mrs. Taft said as everyone was leaving the room.
    â€œYes, ma’am,” Mandie replied as she hurried to catch up with her grandmother.
    Uncle Ned went with John Shaw to bring the rig up to the door, and they were soon on their way to the courthouse in Bryson City.
    Mandie had not been in Bryson City many times in her young life, even though she had lived most of it just a few miles out of town. She looked at the big white building sitting in the middle of the square and realized that the ownership of her father’s house would be decided in this courthouse by some man she had never seen. And he didn’t know her and how badly she wanted to keep the house.
    John Shaw parked the rig where the horse could reach the watering trough. The October air was cool, so he didn’t have to worry about heat from the sunshine on the animal.
    â€œHere we are,” John said as he stepped down and assisted Mrs. Taft out of the rig. Dr. Woodard and Uncle Ned followed.
    Mandie’s legs didn’t seem to want to move as she and Joe descended from the back of the vehicle. Joe took her hand to help her down and she clung to it. The adults walked ahead to the door of the building.
    â€œCome on, Mandie,” Joe urged as he looked at her. “We have to go inside now.”
    Mandie held tighter to his hand, pulling him to a stop. “Joe, I’m afraid,” she said in a low voice.
    â€œAfraid of what?” Joe asked.
    â€œI’m afraid of what that judge might do about my father’s house,” she almost whispered. Then she quickly added, “Let’s say our verse, Joe.”
    Joe looked at her and replied, “All right, Mandie, if you want to, but I don’t think you should be afraid.”
    â€œJoe,” Mandie said, grasping his hand with both of hers. Joe repeated with her their Bible verse, “ ‘What time I am afraid I will put my trust in Thee.’ ”
    â€œNow we can go inside. Look, everyone is gone,” Joe told her as he tried to urge her toward the front door.
    â€œAll right. I’m ready now,” Mandie said. She felt much better after repeating her favorite verse.
    Joe held the door open, and Mandie walked through into the frontcorridor of the courthouse. The adults were standing before a man at a desk at one side, and John Shaw was asking directions.
    â€œSecond floor, up the stairway over there,” the man was saying as he pointed to the huge staircase. “Top of the steps, second door to your right.”
    John Shaw led the way as they followed the man’s directions. He opened the designated door, and they entered a small courtroom that was filled with long benches divided by a center aisle. A platform for the judge was at the front. The room was empty. He motioned for them to take the front seats on the right.
    Mandie, thinking she should try to look grown-up now, straightened the hat she was wearing, the one she had bought for her journey to Europe earlier that year with her grandmother and