Cirak's Daughter by Charlotte MacLeod

Author:Charlotte MacLeod
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781504045070
Publisher: MysteriousPress.com/Open Road
Published: 2017-03-28T04:00:00+00:00

10

“MacRae scares me, Aunt Harriet. I think he knows something.”

The older woman nodded matter-of-factly. “That wouldn’t surprise me a bit. That’s why we’ve got to talk to him one way or another, Jenny.”

“I’m afraid I’ve picked the wrong way. He was going to take my picture just now, for publicity about the sale, or so he said. I didn’t dare let him, so I got nasty.”

“Yes, I saw that touching little tableau out there. Why don’t you change into something a shade more presentable, and we’ll pop over to see what’s happening at the rummage sale?”

“Why can’t I go as I am? We can say we’ve come to help.”

“Not me, young woman. I’ve done my bit, and we don’t want to get stuck there too long anyway. Besides, your boyfriend might decide to take another picture of you helping, and what if there weren’t any more peacock feathers around? Go on, take a quick shower while I make a bit of lunch, and let’s go over there.”

“I’d like to know whether he was really doing it for publicity or just trying to get my goat.”

“Both, maybe. If we get down there in time, we might be able to find out.”

“All right, I can take a hint when somebody hits me over the head with it.”

Jenny rinsed off the grime and got dressed in a bright kingfisher blue sweater and skirt Harriet Compton had insisted on her buying at Louise’s. It was infinitely superior to anything she’d dared pick out for herself so far.

“I just hope the Cirak fortune hasn’t turned back to mice and pumpkins by the time I get the bills for all this stuff I’ve been splurging on,” she remarked as they ate a quick sandwich.

“Think positive,” said Harriet Compton. “That color becomes you, but do me a favor and donate the wig to the rummage sale.”

“You don’t think it’s a good disguse?”

“What I think wouldn’t bear repeating so near a church. Tie a scarf over your head or something if you must. Or borrow MacRae’s mustache. Come on, let’s move. Do you know where this place is?”

“I think so. We can walk it in about three minutes, unless you’re too tired.”

“I’m too tired. Let’s take the car, just in case it turns out you thought wrong.”

But they didn’t have any trouble finding the church. MacRae’s station wagon stood in the yard along with some other cars, and the bouquet of peacock feathers was still sitting beside the door. They went up the walk and in the door, carrying the leftover bits and pieces they’d brought along as an excuse for barging in.

The church hall had the unmistakable odor of poverty and sanctity Jenny had known since her Sunday school days. Too few members of a congregation that had once overflowed the barny American Gothic building every Sunday morning were now struggling to keep the old-time religion alive in a world that hadn’t time to bother with it anymore. The usual dedicated handful were milling around the big,

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.