Wind Over Marshdale by Tracy Krauss Read Free Book Online Page B

Rachel's heart. It helped reaffirm her identity and alleviate some of the self-doubt that sometimes plagued her.
    On this first day, many of the parents wanted to linger. It was a more difficult adjustment for them than for the children. She wondered if Whisper’s father would accompany her today.
    Her attention was soon taken elsewhere as an older looking couple entered the room with a little girl in tow.
    â€œHello,” the man said, shaking Rachel’s hand vigorously. He looked to be in his mid-fifties, although still muscular in build with a graying fringe of hair. “I’m Ivor McKinley and this is my wife Betty.” He turned and smiled indulgently at the little girl. “And this is our Lisa.”
    â€œHello, Lisa,” Rachel said. “Welcome to kindergarten.”
    â€œIt’s been a while since we had a child in kindergarten,” Betty McKinley offered by way of explanation. She had a round face, somewhat reddened by the elements, and sandy-colored hair that bounced around her chin in a straight bob.
    â€œLisa was a bit of a surprise,” Ivor grinned. “We thought we were through.”
    â€œYou have other children?” Rachel asked.
    â€œOur eldest, Chad, is away at university,” Betty explained. “Then there’s Bonita and Tyson. They both go to the high school here.”
    â€œCan I put my stuff away now?” Lisa asked.
    â€œCertainly. Let’s go find your cubby,” Rachel responded, ready to steer the child in the direction of the storage cubbies.
    â€œOh, before we forget," Betty interjected, “Ivor’s brother will be picking Lisa up from school, so make sure she doesn’t get on the bus.”
    â€œYay! Uncle Con’s picking me up!” Lisa sang out happily. “He’s my favorite-ist uncle. He gives me pop and chips and lets me stay up late when we watch movies at his house.”
    The adults laughed. “Betty and I have an appointment in the city and the other kids have things going on after school,” Ivor explained.
    â€œCan I go over to Uncle Con’s place tonight?” Lisa asked with only a slight note of pleading in her voice.
    â€œNo, sweetheart,” Betty replied. “The men are very busy right now with harvest.”
    â€œAw…”
    â€œShe does love her Uncle Con,” Ivor noted half apologetically. “He kind of spoils her a bit, I guess, but then that’s to be expected since he has no kids of his own. He’s a bachelor.
    â€œI see," Rachel said. It must be nice to have such a close, loving family. People who truly cared. Lisa was lucky.
    â€œWell, I guess we should be going now," Betty said.
    â€œYou be good, Pumpkin,” Ivor said to the little girl, squatting low enough to plant a kiss on the top of her head. “I’m sure we’ll be seeing you around,” he directed to Rachel as he stood to his full height again. “I’m on the school board,” he added and winked.
    Rachel wasn’t quite sure what to make of that last remark, but she had little time to ponder as more students and their parents started arriving.
    She was engaged with an equally clingy mother and daughter combination when a familiar pair arrived. Butterflies instantly took to fluttering in her stomach. She excused herself and made her way to the doorway where Whisper and her father stood somewhat uncertainly. She’d checked the register again after seeing them in the restaurant. Whisper Lone Wolf. What kind of a name was that, anyway? Obviously the last name was aboriginal, but Whisper? Were her parents on some kind of back to nature hippy trip when they named her? And speaking of parents, she didn’t notice a mother figure at the restaurant. Of course, that didn’t mean anything. The mother could be at work, or out of town shopping for that matter. What difference did it make anyway?
    The difference was, she felt a thrill of attraction upon seeing