Mysterious Signal by Lois Walfrid Johnson

Author:Lois Walfrid Johnson [Johnson, Lois Walfrid]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-8024-8655-4
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Published: 2013-08-28T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

Quincy Fugitive

Meeting Annika’s gaze, Libby smiled—the smile she had practiced on the boys in Chicago. Without fail it had worked whenever she wanted to get her own way. “Annika, I should tell you about my pa,” Libby began. “He’s really nice—a good Christian man.”

When a flash of interest entered Annika’s eyes, Libby hurried on. “He’s very handsome. Tall, black hair, with just a bit of gray right here.” Libby touched her fingers to the part of her hair in front of her ears. “Just enough gray to look distinguished. He’s not really old.”

Libby’s words tumbled out as she made sure Pa sounded attractive. “And he runs a good ship. Why, the woman who marries him—”

A grim schoolteacher’s look crossed Annika’s face. “Just what are you trying to tell me?”

But Libby paid no attention. “I know the perfect solution,” she said. “Aunt Vi says I need a woman’s influence. That I need to live with her again. But I could stay on the Christina if you married Pa.”

“My young friend,” Annika said in a voice that not even Libby could ignore. “My really young friend—”

Annika’s eyes sparked with anger. As her soft white skin flushed red, Libby finally understood. Annika was not only angry. She was offended.

“I came west for two reasons. The Lord led me here, and I wanted to see the country.” Annika’s voice had a sound Libby had not heard before. “I did not come west to see if I could find a husband!”

As Annika stood up and started toward the exit, Libby had no choice but to follow. She had only one thought. I made everything even worse!

When Libby and Annika stepped down from the train, Caleb and Peter stood near Pa on the long platform. Pa was talking with Aunt Vi, but glancing around, as if searching for Libby. With his black hair and captain’s uniform, Pa looked tall and distinguished.

Libby’s heart leaped. Not until she saw Pa did she realize how lonesome she had been. For a moment his gaze rested on Libby, as if making sure it was her. Then he raised his arm in a wave and broke away, leaving Aunt Vi behind.

As Pa hurried across the platform, Libby raced toward him. When his arms closed around her, he lifted Libby off her feet. His hug was so tight she could barely breathe.

Then Libby giggled, and Pa set her down. His voice was husky as he said, “I’m glad you’re home, Libby.”

Libby looked up into his eyes and saw that they were wet with tears. He, too, had felt lonely, Libby was sure.

“My dear Libby,” he said. “It seems like a year since I saw you last.”

Filled with the knowledge of her aunt’s threat, Libby said, “Pa, don’t ever let me go.”

Right there on the platform Pa hugged her again. “Of course I won’t let you go. Even when you’re so grown up that you leave home, you’ll always be right here.” Pa touched his heart.

For a moment he searched her face, as though knowing something difficult had happened.

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