Alias, Mary Smith by Rachel Druten

Author:Rachel Druten
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2012-12-12T00:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

Nothing Mary accomplished all morning seemed to matter in light of the disaster. And here she was again, pacing the kitchen, struggling to control her rage.

That man, that John Aubrey, had ruined everything with his carelessness and his indifference.

All those ladies visiting her cottage the day after tomorrow, expecting perfection—and what would they get? An entire strip of barren ground, a bleak wasteland!

Viewing it once more out her kitchen window, she couldn’t hold back the tears. She had staked so much on this party, invested so much. She’d given it her very best.

She had every right to be angry. Who wouldn’t be?

She hiccuped and wiped her eyes.

So why do I also feel so guilty?

She plopped down and folded her hands on the table.

Timmy was the reason.

It was catching sight of Timmy that had brought her up short, that poor little boy, crying and quaking behind his father.

In fairness, she hadn’t known Timmy was there.

Where else would she expect him to be?

She buried her head in her hands.

Not to mention that she had demeaned John Aubrey in front of his son with her ranting censure. Regardless of what she thought of the man or how much he deserved it, attacking him in front of his boy was wrong. And it was not the first time, she thought, with guilty remembrance. She’d done as much when she had found Timmy running toward the woods two months ago.

Had it only been that long?

As she sat there, considering the damage her temper had done, weighed against the damage done to her garden, things took on a different perspective.

If the truth be told, what really interested the garden club ladies was seeing the inside of old Mrs. Armitage’s cottage. Her garden was just the excuse. If she deftly guided where they walked, they probably wouldn’t even notice the missing flowers on the side of the house.

What was important was that she had said some really hurtful things to John Aubrey, which he probably would never forgive and which could seriously jeopardize her relationship with Timmy.

She couldn’t let that happen. The child had become too precious to her. For Timmy’s sake, if for no other, she had to apologize to John Aubrey.

Which did seem a bit ironic, given that the man’s goat had started it all.

By the time she had mustered up her courage, it was near noon. With Nancy in her arms, she trudged across the lot to her neighbor’s house and knocked on the back door, politely.

No answer.

Again.

Still no answer.

Well, who could blame him?

Discouraged, she turned to leave then realized that his horse was missing from the corral. And so was the buckboard.

Somewhat relieved that the nonresponse to her knock could not be construed as a personal rebuff, she plodded home through the trees.

By the time lunch was behind her, she felt so emotionally drained, rehearsing her inevitable encounter with John Aubrey, that she could hardly wait for Nancy’s afternoon nap, more for her own sake than the baby’s.

Wearily she dropped onto her bed next to Nancy’s crib and fell at once to sleep.

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