The Mill River Recluse by Darcie Chan Read Free Book Online Page B

replied. “You know how shy she is, an’ since your father an’ the vet came with you this time--”
    “I was hoping she’d be over it enough to meet my father,” Patrick interrupted, frowning. “I’ve told him what a pleasure it’s been getting to know her these past few months, and I know he wanted to meet her. Would you mind if I went up to the house, to see if I could get her to come down?”
    “Course not,” Mr. Hayes said. “But good luck.”
    Carrying a small bag, Patrick bolted up the footpath to the farmhouse. He was about to knock at the door when Mary opened it, wide-eyed and pale. He stepped through the doorway until he was just inside.
    “Mary, I’m so glad I didn’t miss you,” he said to her. “I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye, and I’ve told my family so much about you. Won’t you come down and meet my father?”
    “I can’t,” Mary said in a hoarse whisper. She was trembling. “I wanted to come down, but I couldn’t.”
    Patrick squelched a dart of frustration as it shot through him. This was not going as planned. He held up the small bag in his hand.
    “Actually, I brought you something, a present. I wanted to get something for you to thank you for your company over the summer.” He reached into the bag, as if to remove the gift, and then hesitated. “It’s fine if you don’t feel comfortable coming down right now,” he continued. “But you must promise me that you’ll come to Rutland to visit me and meet my folks. They know all about you and have been asking to meet you.”
    He pulled his hand out of the bag. In it was something wrapped in a soft cloth. He handed the lump to Mary.
    “Go ahead, unwrap it.”
    Mary took the parcel. It was solid and heavy. She peeled back the cloth and gasped. It was a horse, carved from black marble and polished to a high shine. Mary could only stare at the small version of Ebony in her hands.
    “Do you like it?” Patrick asked, watching her face. “I had it carved for you at the Marbleworks.”
    “It’s beautiful,” she said. Grasping for the words to tell him how much she loved the figurine, she finally looked up at Patrick. He took her face in his hands and kissed her.
    Mary would have dropped the miniature Ebony had it not been pressed tightly between them. After a moment, Patrick pulled away and looked down at her.
    “Mary, you must know that I’ve looked forward to seeing more at this farm than the bay colt,” he said in a low voice. He ran a finger down her cheek. “Just because he’s coming with me now doesn’t mean we can’t continue to see each other. Promise me that you’ll come to Rutland next weekend and have dinner with my family. I’ll drive out in the afternoon to get you. Please, Mary.”
    Mary couldn’t say anything. She was dizzy. The room was spinning. Everything except Patrick standing in front of her was a blur. She so wanted to please him, but to go to a strange place with strange people! His green eyes looked at her, and her mouth tingled where his had touched it only a few seconds before. Mary looked up at Patrick and nodded. He smiled.
    “I’ll be here at five. Don’t worry, it will only be my family, and you’ll be with me,” he said, turning to leave. Halfway down the footpath, he turned and waved at her. Then, he shook hands with her father, climbed into the van with the driver and his father, and was gone.
    ~~~
    “Well, son, you finally have your Morgan. Never did get to meet that girl you were telling us about, though,” Stephen McAllister said as the van strained to pick up speed.
    “She was up at the house, Pop. She wasn’t feeling well. But she’s agreed to have dinner with us next weekend.”
    “Ah, splendid!” Stephen said. “It’s strange--you say she was there the day we first came for the colt, but I can’t remember seeing her. Oh, well. You remember, of course, that your mother has invited the family to the house next Saturday. It would be an excellent time for you