Teresa Bodwell Read Online Free Page A

wasn’t long before he wanted to hold him. He was fascinated with everything from feeding to changing.” Clarisse let out a long sigh. “Our family has been truly blessed. And now havin’ you back home will make everything even better. I know Mercy will be glad of your help. And I’ll be glad to have another woman close. Females are scarce around these parts, and we need each other to help make the town a little more civilized.”
    Miranda sipped her tea. She liked Clarisse, but she didn’t want to make any promises about staying here.
    “Good experience for you, too—helpin’ your sister with Jonathan and the baby. I reckon you’ll be a wife and mama before too long.”
    Miranda focused on the leaves settling at the bottom of her cup. She’d heard of people with a gift for reading the future in tea leaves—though perhaps knowing what was to come wasn’t always a gift. “They’re happy together, then.” Once the words slipped out she couldn’t take them back. She lifted her eyes to Clarisse’s face, trying to judge her response.
    “Your sister and Thad?” Clarisse rubbed her hand over the golden fuzz on Hal’s head, but her eyes were focused in the distance. “If ever two people were meant to be together, it is Mercy and Thad. Of course, I’m a mite biased since I love them both dearly. I’m so grateful they found each other.”
    Hal turned to face Miranda, milk dribbling from his lips as he cooed at her. “Oh, you.” Clarisse lifted him to her shoulder, covering her exposed breast. “I thought you were hungry.” She chuckled. “Sorry, he’s easily distracted these days.” She rubbed his back, then settled him on her lap as she fastened the buttons on her shirt. “Here I’ve been going on and on. You must tell me how you’ve been. What was it like living in Philadelphia? After all my years in the West, I can’t imagine being in a large Eastern city again—”
    “Mama.” Robert burst into the room, saving Miranda from answering the questions she wanted so desperately to avoid.
    “Excuse yourself, son. You are interrupting.”
    “I’m sorry, Mama.” He appeared to have trouble catching his breath. “I mean, excuse me, Mama, Aunt Miranda.” He made a little bow to each of them. “There’s a gentleman who wishes to speak to you, Mama. He says his name is Lansing.”
    “Lansing?” Clarisse hissed.
    “Yes, Mama.”
    Miranda’s stomach plummeted to her ankles.
    Clarisse glanced at Miranda, then back to Robert. “What . . . What does he want?”
    “He has some questions about Aunt Mercy and Uncle Thad.”
    Clarisse stood, moving as though she were swimming through molasses. “Oh dear.”
    She held the baby out to Miranda, who pulled the infant tight against her chest as his mother walked out to the store.
    “Hello baby . . . Hal.” Miranda patted the small bottom as he squirmed and tried to reach for his mother. “You don’t suppose this Lansing could be the same one . . . ?” She tiptoed close to the door, trying to hear the conversation in the shop.
    Although Clarisse had said he never gave a warning, Hal was making little noises that sounded like he was getting ready for a loud cry. She walked across the kitchen to the window, knelt, set the infant in his cradle, and rocked. “Shh, shh, baby. You don’t want to worry your mama now, do you?”
    Miranda turned toward the door, wishing she could hear what was going on. It had to be the Lansing she’d met in Denver. Damn. She should have asked him a few questions. Found out why he was coming.
    Hal turned bright red and let out a yell far larger than his tiny body ought to be able to produce. She snatched him back up and renewed her patting.
    “Fine, fine. You wanna be held.” She walked around in a little circle, continuing to rub and pat the infant’s back. “You’ll be thinkin’ I’ve never held a baby. Truth is, I love babies.” She pulled him closer, rocking him in her arms as she paced the room.
    She frowned.