Just as I Am Read Online Free Page B

strings tied tight to emphasize her curves, and a flirtatious grin on her heart-shaped face sashayed toward them. Her skirts swirled with the deliberate sway of her hips as she moved directly to Robby’s side. She grabbed his arm with both hands, hugging his elbow against her rib cage. Daisy might have been invisible for all the attention she received from the lovely girl.
    “I thought you’d left me.” She gave his shoulder a light slap with her palm, then slipped her fingers around his arm again.
    A lopsided smile formed on Robby’s lips. “Sorry, Cassandra.”
    Daisy wanted to shrink as she watched Cassandra work her wiles on Robby. Head tipped just so, lashes fluttering, full lips pursed into a beguiling pout, the girl knew her own prettiness and how to use it. Daisy quickly grabbed her hat and tugged it over her hair. She wished she could pull it all the way to her shoulders to hide her face, too.
    “You said you’d walk me home today in case that big dog is out of the fence again.” Cassandra’s voice was singsong, wheedling, feminine. Daisy’s stomach began to writhe but not out of hunger.
    “I did?” Robby grimaced. “I guess I forgot.”
    “How could you forget about me, Rob?”
    Daisy couldn’t imagine anyone forgetting Cassandra. Even in a rumpled apron, with silky strands of dark hair escaping the cap to fall in perspiration-dampened spirals around her face, she was beautiful. And now that Robby had seen Daisy side by side with Cassandra, he’d be a fool not to go off with the other girl. Who would choose a gawky turkey buzzard over a graceful swan?
    She scuttled over to the bench where she’d left her valise and took a firm grip on the handle. Robby called her name, but she ignored him and took off at a clumsy trot in the direction of the trolley.

Chapter 5
    R ob tried to remove his elbow from Cassandra’s grip, but she held fast. He’d never met a more pushy girl. And since he’d come to Sinclair, he’d encountered plenty of girls, girls hunting for a beau. Cassandra was the most insistent of the entire lot. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but he had eyes for only one girl, and she was running off like someone had lit a stick of dynamite under her feet.
    He twisted his arm and hollered out once more, “Daisy, wait!” She didn’t even pause.
    Cassandra’s fingers bit into his elbow. “Who is that unprepossessing girl?”
    Rob didn’t know what unprepossessing meant, but he suspected it wasn’t a compliment. Irritation chased away the manners he’d learned from the Jonnsons. “She’s my girl,” he said. He gave his arm a sharp wrench, finally shaking loose of Cassandra’s hold, and sidestepped in the direction Daisy had escaped. “You’re gonna have to walk on by yourself, Cass. I gotta—” And he took off at a full run.
    In spite of carrying a bag and dealing with her skirt, Daisy had managed to make it all the way to the trolley stop before he caught up with her. Thankfully, though, a trolley hadn’t rattled by yet, so she was pacing near the waiting bench. When he thundered up behind her, she spun around and shot a wide-eyed look of surprise at him.
    He came to a heaving stop before her and bent forward, resting his palms on his knees to catch his breath. After working all day he was tuckered. He’d rather sit than go chasing after girls. But Daisy was worth it. “Why’d you run off like that?” His words huffed out between gasps of air.
    She stuck her nose in the air, acting an awful lot like Cassandra. “It seemed you were busy. I didn’t want to intrude.”
    The trolley bell jangled as the car approached. She stepped toward it, lifting her hand, but Rob leaped forward and caught her wrist. He tugged her hand downward, turning her toward him at the same time. He shook his head, confused and more than a little heartsore. “Cornbread and crickets, Daisy, what’s put a bee in your bonnet?”
    “Cornbread and crickets?” She arched her brows and peeked at