A Touch of Autumn by Frances Devine

Author:Frances Devine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-09-09T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

“Pa!” Livvy let the screen door slam behind her and ran to the wagon. “Pa, are you all right?”

The smell of smoke and burned wood clung to Father and Jake as they drove the wagon to the barn after midnight.

Pa ran a hand over his eyes then glanced down at her from the wagon seat. “I’m fine, daughter.” A smile crossed his face. “You haven’t called me Pa in ten years. I like it.”

Relief washed over Livvy. If Pa was joking, he was all right. “I like it, too. I’ve no idea why I started saying Father. That sounds too formal.” Her voice shook. What if something had happened to her father?

She glanced at Jake. “How about you, Jake?”

“I’m just fine, Miss Livvy. Don’t go worrying about me.” He groaned and stretched his arm above his shoulders. “Mighty tired, though. Think I’ll unhitch the mules and go to bed.”

“Wouldn’t you like a bite to eat?”

“No, thanks.”

Pa climbed down from the wagon. “Let’s go inside, Livvy. I could use a cup of coffee, if there’s any in the pot.”

“Yes, sir. Mama insisted on keeping it hot. She’s getting food on the table for you now. Chicken soup and hot bread.”

“That sounds wonderful.”

Livvy swallowed. “Pa, is everyone else all right?”

“Yes, we got the fire under control before it could reach the Jenkins’s house, but it was close.” Pa cut her a sideways look. “Everyone else is fine as can be. Just tired. He said to tell you, he’ll be over after classes tomorrow.”

Warmth rushed to Livvy’s cheeks. But she flashed a grin at her father. “Can’t fool you, can I?”

A laugh rumbled from his throat. “I don’t know when you two young people are going to realize you’re in love and get on with the business of romance.”

“Now, Pa. I’m just a friend to Charles.” She sighed. “That’s all I’ve ever been.”

“You think so? Well, if you could see the way he looks at you and hear the way he speaks of you when you’re not around, you might think otherwise.”

Livvy tried to resist the hope that rose in her at Pa’s words, but her stomach jumped with excitement.

“Stop dawdling, Livvy.” Ma stood in the doorway, her eyes glued to Pa. “Your father needs to get something hot into his stomach and get some rest. It’s well after midnight and he’s had a hard night.”

Pa stepped inside and placed a gentle kiss on Ma’s cheek. “You’re right, dear. I’m just going to get cleaned up a little first.”

Livvy lay in bed for a long time, her father’s words about Charles playing in her mind. Was Pa right? Livvy had noticed a change in Charles’s attitude toward her lately, but thought she was only imagining things.

Finally, she sank into a peaceful sleep, waking to sunlight streaming through her window and the faint smell of smoke and charred wood in the air.

Ma had two baskets of food ready to take to the Jenkinses’. “I don’t imagine Maude will have much time for cooking today with cleaning up the smoke and ash.

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