Harbinger in the Mist (Arms of Serendipity) Read Online Free Page A

notice the nice, high ceilings. Ceilings today are only about eight feet. These are 12-feet so they make the rooms look even bigger, airier. It makes a big difference during the dog days of summer, I tell ya.”
    Lindsey looked up again when the shuffling feet overhead echoed on the upstairs landing.  She turned and looked toward the stairs anticipating Catherine’s appearance.
    “And out here,” Mr. Jones turned and exited the room through a set of French doors. Lindsey and Aimee followed him out onto a large, covered back porch. “This is where all the action used to take place.”
    This porch, while massive, was nowhere near as elegant as the one in front. It was rustic, utilitarian.
    “Animals were prepared for cooking out here and plenty a green bean has been cut out here, too.” The lawyer then pointed to two small houses, each just a little bit smaller than their current little house back in Bremen, which sat almost completely obscured from view beneath the branches of another large live oak. “And over there are the homes that were built for the servants that were lucky enough to be chosen to escort the family out here, away from the boggy rice paddies. They have been used mainly for storage and such, but I reckon they could be fixed up and made into guest houses or even rented out.”
    “Wait. Servants? Do you mean … slaves?” Lindsey asked, suddenly horrified.
    “Well, yes ma’am. Slavery is a rather unfortunate piece of our history down here. But we thought, as did the state, that it would be better to keep the historically significant buildings intact instead of knocking them down, no matter what happened in them so long ago.
    Lindsey didn’t try to hide the disgust on her face.
    “Look at it this way, it’s a way to remember the past, lest we should repeat it.”
    “I understand that. Even the crematories and stuff are still around at Auschwitz, but I can’t imagine living with them in my backyard,” she retorted.
    “Wow. What’s that? A river?” Lindsey’s mom asked, trying to change the topic of conversation.
    Mr. Jones was eager to follow her lead. “Yes, ma’am. That’s part of the ACE Basin. It’s one of the largest undeveloped estuaries on the East Coast. ACE stands for Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto, the three rivers that flow through here. If you’re a fisherwoman, Ms. Foster, get your nets and poles ready. There’s a whole lot of largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, redbreast and bluegill sunfish. Oh, and the catfish! My daddy once pulled in a 50-pounder from there. Sometimes you can even find a crawdad or two.  Be watchful that you don’t leave any lines or nets about though, because there’s also a lot of endangered or threatened species in the Basin – wood storks and even bald eagles call the area home. There are also plenty of otters and beavers to keep you entertained. Keep in mind that gators are plentiful down here. I wouldn’t go swimming in there or let any small pets run around unattended.”
    Despite the little houses on the edge of the property, Lindsey could imagine herself sitting out there in the tall grass, doing homework, reading, or just communing with nature. She imagined the wildlife she would see in and along the sandy banks of the estuary bed. She made a mental note to pick up a book on birds and a pair of binoculars.
    The sound of horses neighing caught Lindsey’s attention as they stood watching the waters ripple gently. She turned to see two girls, just about her age, astride horses in the trees on the other side of the slave houses.
    “Who are they?” she asked.
    “That’s Madison and Michelle Robbins. They live about quarter mile down the road. They ride along the Basin as often as the weather allows. I can’t remember which is which but one of ‘em will be starting over at USC-Salkehatchie this fall and the other will be heading up to Clemson. Their daddy and I have the same barber, you see.”
    The girls glanced their way and waved.