Eddie’s Prize Read Online Free Page A

“It is 2064. Think about it. Does this seem like 2014? Mr. Gray taught us what it was like in the Times Before. There were lots of women. They could go anywhere they wanted, even by themselves, and sometimes they didn’t even get married. There were so many people that some cities had a million people living in them. And houses had things we don’t have, like lights that didn’t need oil or candles, and furnaces that didn’t need wood or chips to burn to make heat. You could wash clothes without any work, and you could run a car to travel to far off places, and you could talk on a sail fun to people a thousand miles away. Right? That’s what Mr. Gray says, and he lived back then.”
    Sail fun? “You mean a cell phone?” Lisa said.
    “Yes. When you were walking, did you see anything like that? Were there lots of people everywhere you looked? Lots of women? Cars?”
    Lisa exchanged a look with Carla. The singer looked more stunned than angry. She said weakly, “It’s impossible.”
    “You don’t need to worry.” Bree patted her arm comfortingly. “Honest. My dad will take care of everything. He’s busy right now doing what needs to be done. Later, you can talk to Eddie. He loves to fiddle with the things from the Times Before. He can tell you lots more. Come on, get into bed and take a rest.”
    “But what about doctors?” Carla said more strongly. “Are there doctors to take care of the injured at the plane?”
    “Of course we have doctors. We have two doctors besides the midwife and the veterinarian. Two vets, if you count Eddie. He’s studied animal doctoring with Dex Entilt since he was twelve years old. Really, it’s going to be okay. You just sleep now. I’ll call you for supper.”
    Lisa got into the bed as Bree tiptoed out. The mattress sagged as Carla sat down. “Do you think it could be true?”
    “Of course not,” said Carla stoutly. “Planes don’t jump fifty years into the future when they crash.”
    “Should we leave?” Lisa asked hesitantly. “Try to find someone else?”
    “Not without our clothes,” Carla replied grimly, plucking at the collar of the granny nightgown.
    Good point. Lisa tried to sleep, but so many thoughts were whirling around her head that she couldn’t. Except she did, and dreamed of a four year old boy who looked a lot like Eddie smiling up at her as he died.

Chapter 3
    Eddie followed his father out to the yard where several of his father’s men waited for them. Steve Herrick straightened up from his lean against the barn and came forward alertly.
    “So what’s with the women, Ray?”
    Eddie watched his father closely. The mayor took in a deep breath, puffing his chest out importantly. “Gentlemen, we will be hosting a Bride Fight to see who will have the honor of making these two ladies their wives.”
    “Dad,” said Eddie. “Lisa—Miss Anton, I mean—I want to marry her.”
    The mayor peered at Eddie consideringly. “Well, I could see you was took with her. No reason you shouldn’t enter the Bride Fight, I reckon. We’ll talk to your mother, see what she says.”
    “Dad,” he began again.
    But his father cut him off, voice stern. “If you want Miss Anton to be your wife, you’ll enter the Bride Fight and win her, fair and square, just like any other fella.”
    Eddie nodded and stepped back, considering who was likely to enter the Bride Fight. He could beat them all. Maybe it wasn’t fair, all things considered, but he wanted Lisa. She had the most delicate, beautiful face he’d ever seen, but she was so skinny most men would prefer the other woman, Carla. On the other hand, there were close to two thousand men in need of a wife in a fifty mile radius. They might think the way he did—a few months of hearty meals would put some meat on her bones. They could think that if they wanted, but Lisa was his. Something about her made his primitive side want to roar.
    “Okay?” his dad said to the six men crowded around. “The entry fee will be