A Place Called Rainwater by Dorothy Garlock

Author:Dorothy Garlock [Garlock, Dorothy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
ISBN: 9780446611466
Publisher: Warner
Published: 2003-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

LAURA WAS NERVOUS ABOUT THE EVENING AHEAD. She had been scolding herself all day for not being more forceful and telling Hunter Westfall not to come back.

Her mother was upset with her and rightfully so.

“What were you thinking of? He's coming here for one reason only. He knows we're as poor as Job's turkey and he thinks to buy his way into your bed.”

“Then he'll be disappointed.”

“That murdered woman had been staying with him. No decent single man has a woman who isn't a relative come stay with him. Some say she was a whore. It's what folks will think of you if you're seen with him.”

“I'll know it isn't true and so will you.”

“It'll hurt your chances of getting a decent man.”

“I don't want a man, Mama. I've told you that.”

“It isn't natural for a woman to live her life alone.”

“I'm not alone. I have you and Mary Pat.”

“I worry about what will happen to you when I'm gone. I won't always be here.”

“None of us will, Mama. I hope to live long enough to see Mary Pat on her own. It's all I ask.”

“I don't want him in the house.”

“I'll talk to him on the porch and tell him not to come back.”

“Lordy mercy. There are times when I wish you were ugly as a mud fence.”

Laura laughed, stretched her mouth with her thumbs, crossed her eyes and wiggled her fingers. “Like this? ”

Mrs. Cole couldn't help but smile at her daughter's antics. “Jill's brother is a nice-looking man. He's kind and as sweet as he can be. He carried Mrs. Byers to the kitchen so she could visit with Radna while she worked. He would know how to treat a decent girl. Why don't you set your cap for him? Laws honey, you could have any man in this town. All you'd have to do is beckon.”

“Are you trying to get rid of me? ”

“No. You've got to be careful and not make the same mistake you made with Bradley.”

“He raped me, Mama. But I'm not sorry. I got Mary Pat out of it.”

“I know, honey. I'm sorry I brought it up. I'm worried about Hunter Westfall coming here. He's not a marrying man, just takes his pleasure from women and doesn't give a hoot and a holler about any of them. Every single woman in town and some of the married ones have been after him.”

“Not me and not Jill.”

“She walked off with him Saturday night.”

“Radna said she did it to prove to Thad she'd do as she pleased.” Laura giggled like the young girl she was. “Radna thinks Jill's in love with Thad.”

“It was nice of him to fix the pen and a sand pile for Mary Pat.”

“Mary Pat's stuck on him and squeals every time she sees him.”

“You like him, don't you? You could beat Jill's time with him if you set your mind to it.”

“I wouldn't do such a thing, Mama! Heavens! You wouldn't want me to.”

“You're right, honey, I wouldn't.” Mrs. Cole hung the wet dish towel on the handle of the oven door.

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