Before the Dawn (Truly Yours Digital Editions) Read Online Free

if Aunt Hattie hadn’t gotten ill? What if Karen had been here when the accident occurred? Would it have made any difference? What if David didn’t change his mind? What would she do? Without David, Aunt Hattie was the only family she had left. Her thoughts scampered like squirrels in an oak tree while everyone transferred to the parlor.
    Sam dropped onto the settee and plonked his boots onto the table. At his mother’s frown, he eased his feet back, a sheepish grin twisting his mouth.
    Jesse took up his post by the mantel, hands behind his back, staring into the flames.
    Buckford carried in a silver tray of coffee cups and poured the fragrant drink.
    “Did you get the lamp cleaned up?” Sam took a cup. “I’m sorry about the mess. I got Dave riled up.”
    The houseman nodded. “Everything is tidy now. He’s resting, though he didn’t eat much of the meal I took to him.” Buckford’s brows descended and he shook his graying head.
    Matilda cleared her throat and smoothed her skirts. “We’ve accommodated David, hoping the bitterness would pass, and now that we can see it’s lingering, we haven’t changed our ways.”
    “What do you plan to do?” Karen pressed her lips together to stop their trembling.
    Matilda’s chin came up. For the first time that day, Karen felt like smiling. The fighting glint had returned to the older woman’s eyes. If anyone could right this ship, it was Matilda Mackenzie. “The first thing we have to do is stop showing pity. Feel sorry for him, cry for him if you must, but never in his presence. David must learn to live with his blindness, and so must we. We’ll find ways to help him be more independent, and we won’t take no for an answer.”
    At her words, Jesse came to stand behind her, his hands blanketing her shoulders and squeezing.
    She looked up at him, the affection between them evident even after all their years of marriage. “This will be difficult and, knowing David, will take more than enough patience from all of us, but I refuse to let him shut himself away from the rest of the world forever.”
    Karen cradled her coffee, trying to warm her fingers. Sleet pinged against the windowpanes, and the wind whistled under the eaves. “Do you think he’ll change his mind about the wedding?”
    No one spoke for a moment. Then Matilda leaned forward. “Karen, you must make very sure that David is still what you want. You do realize the blindness won’t go away? You can’t marry him and then decide in a few months or even years that you don’t want all that goes along with being married to a blind man.”
    Jesse frowned and harrumphed.
    Matilda tucked her lower lip in for a moment, her eyes tensing. “Well, she has to be sure.”
    Karen glanced from Jesse to Matilda, then at Sam, who put his cup down and contemplated the crown molding. A strange undercurrent flowed through the room and around Karen. She frowned and set her cup down to clench her hands in her lap. “I’m sure. I love David, and I know he loves me.” Her glance flicked back to Sam whose mouth quirked. He nodded encouragement to Karen. “David, blind or not, is what I want, and I’m willing to fight for him. I’m willing to do whatever I can to assure him of my love.”
    Matilda leaned forward and patted Karen’s arm. “Good. Then the changes for David will begin in the morning. It will take all of us together to bring this about. He’s gotten a fair dose of stubbornness from each of his parents. If you are certain, then I think I have a plan that will at least wake him out of his malaise.” She glanced over her shoulder at her husband. “Jesse and I have discussed this, and we’re in complete agreement.” Jesse returned his hand to her shoulder. “Sam, you will need to ride to town early with a message for Josiah Fuller.” She outlined the bare bones, and Karen could hardly believe what she’d come up with.
    When she finished, Sam picked up one of the chess pieces from the table beside him