Aloha Love Read Online Free Page A

was.” She patted Jane’s hand. “We can find out when we get there.”
    When they got there. Oh, she could hardly wait. And she could hardly believe her dad had given his permission and blessing.
    “Matilda, I can’t get over how you can get people do what you want them to. I know why Daddy agreed to send Pilar along.” She laughed. “To help protect me. But Inez was shaking her head with that stiff look on her face. As soon as you talked with her in the kitchen, though, she relented.”
    “Didn’t you notice, dear?” Matilda said with an air of superiority. “She didn’t have much fight left when I reminded her that she and your daddy would be here alone.”
    Jane wasn’t sure she understood.
    Matilda grinned. “Inez used to be very friendly with me. But after your mother died, she seemed to be competing with me for your father’s attention. I think she’s sweet on him.”
    Jane’s mouth opened in surprise. “I never suspected. I don’t think he does, either.”
    Matilda nodded. “She probably tells herself it’s gratitude. The Ashcrofts were never extremely well-off, but they were considered successful and were accepted in society circles. After the bankruptcy and the shame of suicide, that vanished. Inez has, not so graciously, accepted her role as housekeeper and has tried to teach Pilar that she is only working class.”
    “Takes a strong woman to do that, doesn’t it?”
    “Indeed,” Matilda said.
    “Um, Matilda, have you been. . .are you. . .sweet on my daddy?”
    Matilda laughed. “My dear, if I were, don’t you think I’d have had him proposing to me by now?”
    Jane giggled. “Well, yes.” She had no doubt that Matilda could marry any man she wanted to.
    “He’s too much like his brother. So. . .settled, I suppose you could say.”
    “Weren’t you happy with Uncle Wesley?”
    “Oh, yes. I livened him up, and we traveled all over. But you don’t always know what you want or what you’re getting until after you’ve got it.” Her eyebrows lifted. “Don’t you worry about Austin.” She smiled off into the trees. “You’ll liven him up.”
    Realizing she was twisting the ring on her finger, Jane looked down. Traveling to Hawaii and back would take about ten months, at least. They couldn’t just get there and turn around and come right back. Possibly for more than a year, she wouldn’t have to be concerned about planning or even thinking about a wedding. Just as Austin’s travels had settled him, so would hers.
    When she returned, she’d be ready for that. . .surely.
    She dared not look at Matilda. Burning deep inside her and making vivid pictures in her mind was that island of paradise. Like a jewel in the sea on the blue Pacific, it seemed to sparkle in her mind with a brilliance far greater than what she wore on her finger.

Six
    Before Mak could dismount at the mission school, Rev. Russell ran out of his house across the street and rushed up to him. Mak’s first thought was that Pansy had died. But the reverend wore a wide smile, and his eyes were brighter than Mak had seen in a while. Maybe he was going to say one of those phrases like his wife was now in heaven with Jesus. If he did, Mak would turn Big Brown around and have him gallop back to the ranch.
    Although it likely would be true, no man had a right to be glad his wife had died. He braced himself. The reverend waved a pink piece of paper at him. “Mak. Mak. My sister is coming to the island.”
    “Your sister,” Mak repeated for lack of anything more to say.
    “Yes, yes. Come on. Get down from there and look at this.”
    Mak dismounted and took his class materials from his saddlebag. He passed the reins to a schoolboy who ran out to lead the horse out back and tie him in the shade where he could have feed and water. After giving the stallion a farewell stroke, Mak looked down at the pink paper.
    The way Russell was tapping the paper with his finger prevented Mak from reading it, but the man looked up at