Cora's Deception (9781476398280) Read Online Free Page A

approving look toward her
youngest daughter. “That’s exactly what we’re going to do. Let’s
give Cora a hand with the meal. If those men are as hungry as I am,
they’ll want plenty.”
    No one seemed to notice the lack of
seasoning as they dug into their meal until Ben looked up. “Where’s
the meat?”
    Mother shook her head. “We’ve eaten it
all.”
    “Don’t we have any meat at all?”
    “No.”
    “What about tonight? What are we eating for
supper?”
    Mother shrugged. “We could have beans
again.”
    Ben turned to Father. “I could take the gun
and scare up something for supper. If you don’t need me this
afternoon, that is.”
    Father slanted a look toward John. “We could
get along by ourselves, couldn’t we?”
    John grinned at Ben. “Sure, wouldn’t even
miss the runt.”
    Ben frowned. “Hey, watch what you say about
me. Who cut down the most trees?”
    John laughed. “Your father did.”
    “All right, but he doesn’t count.” Ben
grinned toward Father before turning back to John. “I mean between
the two of us.”
    John held his head up and crossed his arms.
“Hey, I finally got that one tree down.”
    “Yeah, and it almost got you too.”
    Vickie’s head jerked up. “What do you mean
by that?”
    “Nothing.” Father sent a frown to the other
men. “No damage done. John’s tree got caught in another tree when
it fell. It twisted and came toward him, but he got out of the way
in plenty of time.”
    It sounded exciting to Cora. Her morning had
been dreadfully dull. She stood when Ben did. “Ben, I’m going with
you.”
    “Cordella Jane Jackson. You’ll do no such
thing.” Mother’s brows drew together.
    “Why not?”
    “Young ladies do not go traipsing off in the
woods with a gun.”
    “Why would you even want to?” Eliza stared
at Cora.
    Cora almost answered the truth—she was bored
beyond endurance—but she stopped in time. Mother said idle hands
were the devil’s workshop. She’d be sure to find something horribly
dull for her to do.
    “To spend time with Ben and see Father’s
land. Maybe I can find some wild greens or nuts.” She turned toward
Father, knowing his weakness for nuts. “Didn’t you say pecans grow
around here?”
    His eyes twinkled as if he understood. “Yes,
there’s a chance you may find pecans on the ground now.”
    “But a young lady—”
    “I’ll take care of her, Mother.” Ben stood
back watching. “A pecan pie or something baked with walnuts sounds
good.”
    Father grinned and patted his stomach.
    Mother sighed. “I still don’t think a young
lady should go on a hunting trip.”
    “Please, Mother. This isn’t Boston. Surely
you can see it’s different here. It isn’t even Saint Louis. If
we’re going to survive in this wilderness, we’ll have to go out and
look for food. It isn’t as if the neighbors will see me.” Cora
tried to keep the sarcasm from her voice. “Please, let me go with
Ben.”
    Again, Mother sighed. “All right. I suppose
you’re right. Stay close to Ben and be sure you’re home before
dark. As cloudy as it is, you won’t be able to tell time so start
back early.”
    Cora hugged Mother. “Thank you, and don’t
worry. We’ll be back before you know it. You won’t be sorry. I’ll
go get something to carry the nuts.”
    Cora ran to find a basket while her heart
lifted in song. A walk through the woods with Ben would be
wonderful. She lifted her eyes to the line of trees at the edge of
the woods. Surely they held many exciting secrets. She smiled in
anticipation.
     
     

Chapter 3
     
    “Y ou’ll have to be quiet if you want any meat for supper.”
Ben’s voice carried in the forest.
    Cora nodded.
    “There might be some pecans over that way.”
Ben pointed. “They like water. The creek is just beyond. We cut
trees over there.”
    Cora turned the direction he pointed and saw
stumps poking from the ground. Again she nodded and headed toward
the creek. Ben’s voice followed her. “Don’t get