Mark (In the Company of Snipers Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

Mark with them. Boston ferns hung from the ceiling, their long straggly fronds draping over and around the white wicker furniture. The Clifton porch wrapped the entire house in white-rails and screens, all open to invite the evening breeze.
    Mark took his place with Jerry on the stoop. The weatherman said it was going to rain. That meant Jerry would have to hurry and get the latest crop of grass hay baled and in the barn. Mark deliberated extending his visit to help with the chore. Tossing hay bales would be a nice change from soldiering. He could work with Jerry in the field and maybe catch sight of Libby while he did. That might be nice.
    Rosemary, Faith, and Marie discussed the food they needed to prepare for the meal after the funeral, where they would have to store it, and the logistics of moving all that food from their place to the hall at the church. Libby sat by herself in a white peacock chair in the corner. Surrounded by family, she still seemed alone, listening to the conversations whirl around her, but not partaking in any of them. Mark noticed how quiet she was, and that she watched him.
    When the sun began to lower in the western sky, he stood to leave. Fireflies sparkled at the edge of the ditch bank by the road. He thanked Rosemary for her kindness, especially for preparing a meal that must have taken all day to cook. Faith and Marie both gave him an extra long hug. He had seen their furtive glances in his direction at the dinner table, especially Faith’s. Each of them was as beautiful as the other, and would make some man a great girlfriend or wife. That man just wasn’t him.
    With a blush, Faith handed him a box of stationary with a book of stamps taped to the lid and her address written carefully below it. She shrugged when she put it in his hands. “Just in case you need a pen pal.”
    “You never know. Sometimes a guy gets pretty lonely.” That was probably the wrong thing, but what was a guy supposed to say when a pretty girl hands him a gift?
    When he shook Jerry’s hand, Libby was suddenly at his side.
    “We’re going for a drive, Dad.” She kissed her father’s cheek even as he looked at the two of them in surprise.
    “You are?” Again he asked his question the same time as Mark asked, “We are?”
    Jerry thumped him on the back with a chuckle. “I guess us guys don’t know a whole lot, do we? Seems the women in our lives got our schedules all planned out for us. Well, you kids run along now. Don’t be out too late, and remember. Dinner tomorrow. 5 PM. Sharp.” He waved as he turned to go inside.
    Libby looked at Mark. “Do you mind if we take your car?”
    “Where to?” Mark walked down the steps to his rental and unlocked the doors. His heart pounded with this sudden shift in the evening.
    “The lake.” She rolled her window down the minute he pulled out of the driveway. “I need to get out of the house for awhile. I hope you don’t mind.”
    “No, ma’am.” He set the radio on a local station that played soft music. Night settled dark and quiet through the countryside as he drove through the small town of Spencer and headed west to Lake Wissota. It was a good hour’s drive. He waited for her to talk, but she didn’t say anything.
    Mark glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. The summer air filled the car, tossing her hair in a blond stream of curls behind her. She held one arm out the window, letting it undulate in the passing wind the way little kids liked to do. Libby riding shotgun in his car – what a sweet sight.
    They passed through the little towns of Colby, Thorp, Stanley, and Cadott. Before long, they were bumping along the gravel road that led to the Clifton cottage.
    “You missed it.” She pointed to a spot behind them. “Back up. It’s over there.”
    “I can’t see it.” Her open window invited all the dust of the country road inside. He put the car in reverse and his arm over the back of the seat as he followed her directions. A patch of