The Outer Edge of Heaven Read Online Free Page A

"You're a girl."
    She smiled. "I know that. I've been this way for twenty three years now."
    Fo whacked her teasingly. "Quit being a smart aleck. He's tired. He's been getting the oxen out of the spring wheat mire all night. Give him a break."
    Luke smiled quietly and then said, "No, I just expected a guy. A wimpy, city slicker guy like Fo. I've been trying to figure out where I needed a wimp and now I have to find a place for a girl." He smiled again.
    "Careful Luke, she's practically engaged to an attorney named Elroy. You could be sued for sexist comments like that."
    Luke gave her that same mellow smile. "Elroy? You’re marrying a guy named Elroy?"
    Fo laughed and teased, "Elroy the divorce litigator. Who marries a divorce attorney? That’s gotta be the stupidest thing ever."
    Luke looked surprised. "You're marrying a divorce attorney?
    Charlie gave Fo a disgusted look. "No! I am not marrying an attorney of any kind. Stop it, Forest. He's going to think I'm a nut." She turned back to Luke. "Is finding a place for a girl going to be a problem? Because I can look somewhere else if it is."
    He shook his head. "No. It's not a problem. I just don't dare put you into a bunch of guys. Work would come to a grinding halt I expect. We don't typically have ranch hands that look like you."
    Charlie sat upright. "I don't know the first thing about being a ranch hand Luke, but I've certainly never been accused of not doing my fair share of the work."
    Fo laughed. "I don't think that's what he's inferring, Charlie. It's the other guys who would quit working to see a pretty girl. I think he was giving you a compliment in a round about way."
    "Oh." She made a perfect circle with her lips. "Well. I really doubt I would have enough of an effect on men to be a problem, Luke. But I'll be happy to do whatever you'd like me to try."
    Luke sighed. "What I truly need around here right now is hard to hire. What I really need is a mother for my little brothers and sisters. Angela doesn't do motherly, and Dad and I aren't cutting it I'm afraid."
    "What do you mean? What do you need that's hard to hire?"
    He hesitated for a minute, lost in thought. "You know all the things moms do? From Band-Aids to making you practice piano and teaching you how to make pie crusts. These kids have stuff, and they have a clean house and they're loved, but that mother factor is entirely missing except for what Madge manages."
    Charlie nodded in understanding. "Unfortunately, I was raised by a tough old bird, but the good part of that is I know exactly what you mean. Norma didn't do motherly either. If that's what you truly need, I'll give it a shot. I may have to learn as I go, but I know what I wished I'd had as a child. I can do that. But what will your dad think?"
    He smiled tiredly. "My dad is the first person who will tell you there's a problem. He tries, but this is a pretty big operation. Even with me taking over a lot of the load, there's something missing. He'd love some help with the kids. All of the kids. I'm sorry to admit to you that you'll have to spend a portion of your time dodging Chase."
    Fo chuckled. "She already knows that. She told him this afternoon, as soon as she met him that she'd rather die an old maid than be his true love. It was great!"
    Luke turned to look at her with a laugh. "You told him that? Right up front?" He laughed again. "I wish I'd been there to see that. Good for you.” More seriously, he said, “Hopefully, he’ll behave himself. If not, let me know."
    He finished his dinner and went to the sink and rinsed his plate. Then he dug in a cupboard, produced a package of Oreos and brought milk out of the fridge. He put the cookies and milk on the coffee table and turned back to go get glasses. "Anyone for an Oreo?" Before he had even asked, Fo had one stuffed in his mouth. Luke laughed when he turned to look at them. "I'll take that as a yes. What about you, Charlie?"
    "Yes, please. I'd love one. They are the fifth food group,