The Touch of Sage by Marcia Lynn McClure Read Free Book Online Page B

Summer rain is warm and ref r eshin ’ . ”
    “ I still can ’ t believe you saw Reb out there, Sage, ” Rose said, fanning herself with the cards in her hand, plucking one out , and tucking it into a new spot in the arrangement. “ How romantic! ”
    “ Romantic? ” Mary growled. “ Stuff and nonsense. ” Leaning toward Sage, Mary lowered her voice and said, “ I could see clean through yer shirtwaist when ya come in, Sage. ” Mary shook her head. “ I ’ m sure Reb Mitchell saw more ’ n the pasture out there today. ” Sage blushed, knowing Mary was probably correct, but hoping she was wrong.              
    “ Oh, it ’ s nothin ’ the boy hasn ’ t seen before, I reckon, ” Eugenia said, rearranging her own hand of cards.
    Mary was aghast. “ What? Why Eugenia Smarthin ’ ! What kinda thing is that to say? ” she exclaimed.
    “ Reb ’ s plenty old enough to have seen a saloon girl or two while walkin’ down the street, Mary, ” Rose told her.
    “ Hmmph, ” Mary grunted. “ He ’ s a - seein ’ one ever ’ time he comes in here. ”
    “ Thank you, Mary, ” Rose said, smiling. “ I ’ m glad to see you can admit I ’ m still attractive. ”
    “ You forgot to discard, Rose , ” Livie interjected.
    “ Oh. Silly me, ” Rose said, laying down a card. “Well, all I know is Eugenia ’ s nephew is the prettiest boy I ’ ve ever seen. ”
    “ Why , thank you, Rose, ” Eugenia said, giggling. “ He is rather pleasin ’ to the old eyes, isn ’ t he? ”
    “Oh my , yes! ” Rose said. “ Don ’ t you think he ’ s the prettiest thing, Sage? ”
    Sag e felt her cheeks begin to pink up. “ Of course, Miss Rose,” she said. But Rose sighed, her shoulders sagging with disappointment.
    “ Oh, come on, Sage. Will you just up and admit it for once? Reb Mitchell is a walking dream! ” Rose said.
    Suddenly, all sets of eyes at the table were intent on Sage. “ Well…well…of course he ’ s…he ’ s handsome, ” she finally stammered.
    “ There it is, Eugenia! ” Livie exclaimed. “ She ’ s admitted it, at last! ”
    “ I ’ ve admitted it before, Miss Livie, ” Sage told her, giggling. “ You four make me admit it every time we sit down to play cards. ”
    “ Well, personally…I spend my time thinkin’ on what kissin ’ him would be like, ” Rose mumbled under her breath.
    “ Rose Applewhite! ” Mary exclaimed. “ That there ’ s just pure nonsense! Not to mention immoral. Reverend Tippetts would drop down dead as a rolled - over rodent if he heard ya sayin ’ such a thing. Yer turn, Sage. ”
    “ I agree with Rose , ” Livie announced, picking up the card Sage discarded. “ Why , if I were Sage ’ s age…I ’ d be at him like a bee to a buttercup! ”
     
    “ Afternoon there, ladies, ” Reb said, stepping into the parlor. He was immediately puzzled, for every woman in the room went pale, their mouths dropping open in astonishment as they looked at him. “ What kind of evil doin ’ s are you girls up to today? ” Reb sat down on a large, soft chair near the fireplace, his mischievous nature aroused. Each woman, especially Sage, looked as if she had just been found gossiping by the preacher, and Reb knew exactly how to find out what was going on.
    “ Miss Mary, ” he said. “ Why does everyone look like they been caught with their knickers around their knees? ” He smiled as Mary straightened in her chair, the perpetual look of disapproval on her tight lips.
    “ Oh, nothin ’ too much to speak of, Reb, ” she said. “ They was all just talkin ’ about kissin ’ on ya. ”
    “ For Pete ’ s sake, Mary! ” Livie scolded. Reb was quite surprised, yet likewise flattered. He knew how picky elderly women could be about handing out compliments. Furthermore, the look of pure mortification on Sage ’ s face was absolutely amusing.
    “ Were they now? ” he chuckled. He liked the old widows who boarded at Willow s’ s. He liked the