Boy Re-Meets Girl by Patricia Hagan

Author:Patricia Hagan [Patricia Hagan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459281127
Publisher: Harlequin

10

Missy and Lisa sifted pan after pan of tiny rocks from the rushing mountain stream but found no treasures.

Robert and Kelly were baffled by how disappointed they were.

Lisa explained, “We wanted to find a big stone and have it broken in two so we could each have half.”

“It would be a special souvenir,” Missy added.

“You have souvenirs, honey,” Kelly patiently reminded her. “A T-shirt from Chimney Rock and a little stuffed bear. And Mr. Brooks just bought us both the nice moccasins, and don’t forget your woven basket. You’ve plenty of things to remind you of this trip.”

Missy’s lower lip jutted in the pout Kelly knew so well. “But nothing so special as finding a pretty rock.”

“I’m afraid it’s my fault,” Robert explained. “On the way from Atlanta, I told Lisa about reading in the paper a few months ago that a little boy found an emerald worth thirty or forty thousand dollars, and she got it in her head that she could find one, too.”

Lisa was quick to clarify, “I didn’t want one to sell. I wanted something to share with Missy.”

Kelly and Robert exchanged a look that said Kids. Go figure.

Robert then reminded everyone it was getting late. “You girls go wash up. Your hands are really dirty.”

But Kelly had an idea and pointed to the souvenir stand, which offered settings for any gems found, as well as finished rings. “Since it means so much to them, we could buy them each a little ring. Maybe their birthstones if they have them.”

Lisa and Kelly, tightly holding hands, looked from Kelly to Robert, hope mirrored on their faces.

But Robert shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think that’s a good idea. Lisa knows why.”

“Well, I don’t.” Kelly saw how the girls’ expression changed to one of disappointment.

Robert told them to go wash up, and after they were gone, he explained to Kelly how he did not want Lisa growing up thinking money could solve all her problems in life. “She wanted to work and find a stone, and that was good. Not finding one is a disappointment, true, but if I go buy her a ring, that’s the same thing as saying if you’ve got money, there’s nothing to work for. You can have anything you want.”

“I’m not sure I agree with that.”

“Okay, I’ll put it this way. If we want to buy them a ring, but we don’t have the money, what does that mean?”

She laughed. “Why, it means you don’t get the ring, of course.”

“And what does that prove?”

She was feeling a trifle annoyed at his riddles. “That you have no money. Get to the point, Robert.”

“I’m trying to.” He smiled down at her indulgently. “It proves that sometimes in life you can’t buy your way out of failure and disappointment, that you have to keep trying or save your money to get what you want. Now, if she hadn’t been trying to find a gem and had asked me to buy her one for a souvenir, I probably would have.

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