The Missing Book by Lois Gladys Leppard Read Free Book Online Page A

hands. “It is getting cold out there but no sign of snow yet.” He hung up his coat and hat on the peg by the back door.
    â€œWell, maybe it won’t come,” Mrs. Shaw said, measuring a piece of material to make the ruffle for Irene’s dress. “I thought you were going over to work on Mrs. Chapman’s house this morning.”
    â€œWe were supposed to, but John Knight is the one designated as the driver today, and he hasn’t shown up yet,” Mr. Shaw replied.
    Mandie wanted to go with her father if he went to work on Mrs. Chapman’s house, but she knew she would never be allowed to go today. All this ripping and sewing had to be done.
    â€œHe has a long way to come down that mountain, so he probably decided he’d better wait and see if it snows,” Mrs. Shaw replied.
    â€œMaybe so,” Mr. Shaw agreed, and went to put more wood into the cookstove.
    At that moment Mandie heard a wagon come into the backyard. She looked out the window and saw Mr. Lester and Tommy step down from the vehicle. “It’s Mr. Lester and Tommy,” she told her father, who was looking across the room. She noticed Irene’s eyes lighting up.
    Mr. Shaw hurried to open the back door and let them in. “Come in, come in. How about a cup of hot coffee?” he welcomed the visitors.
    â€œThat might thaw me out. It’s cold out there,” Mr. Lester said, removing his hat and turning to Mrs. Shaw. “Morning, ma’am.”
    â€œGood morning, Mr. Lester. Why didn’t you bring Mrs. Lester with you?” Mrs. Shaw asked.
    â€œShe took one look out the window this morning, decided it was going to snow, and declared she was not going outside,” Mr. Lester replied.
    The men and Tommy sat down at the table with coffee.
    â€œI haven’t seen anything of John Knight yet,” Mr. Shaw said.
    â€œThat’s why I’m here,” Mr. Lester replied. “One of his boys came down to the house this morning to say his pa is not feeling well and was afraid it might snow. Since I live nearer to the mountain than you other men, he asked me to inform you all.”
    â€œI suppose we should just forget about doing any work over there today. I don’t believe there’s any hurry now to get things finished. Mrs. Chapman more than likely will be moving to Tellico and won’t even go back to live in the old house,” Mr. Shaw said.
    â€œDid she get the job?” Mandie asked.
    â€œNo, Amanda, she has to go for an interview next week, and then she’ll know whether she got it or not,” Mr. Lester explained. “I came by Miss Abigail’s on the way over here and Mrs. Chapman had just received word to come for the interview.”
    â€œOh,” Mandie said in a disappointed voice.
    â€œMaybe she’ll get the job and then y’all won’t have to finish the work on her house,” Irene said, looking straight at Tommy, even though she was speaking to his father.
    â€œI don’t know about that,” Mr. Lester said.
    â€œNo, Irene, there are things that still need to be done to keep the old house from deteriorating further,” Mr. Shaw said. “We have lots more work to do whether Mrs. Chapman moves away or not.”
    â€œBut if she moves away, what will happen to the house? Will it just stand there empty?” Mr. Lester asked. “I’ve been wondering about that.”
    â€œMaybe she’ll sell it,” Mr. Shaw suggested. “But in the shape it’s in right now, it wouldn’t bring much money.”
    Mandie listened to the conversation and felt she was going to lose her dear friend Faith. She had been hoping Mrs. Chapman wouldn’t get the job, but if the school had asked her to come for an interview, they must be really interested in hiring her. And Faith was the only friend Mandie had who lived near her. There was Joe, of course, but he was a boy. Mandie had been so happy when Faith and