Wings of a Dove by Elaine Barbieri

Author:Elaine Barbieri [Barbieri, Elaine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, General
ISBN: 9780505523235
Google: WDwEAAAACAAJ
Amazon: B001U0VER2
Publisher: Jove Books
Published: 1990-05-14T16:00:00+00:00

Emerging into the hallway just as Allie's fair head disappeared around the bend in the staircase, Margaret felt the rush of emotion that touched James at the sight of her. Her heart ached for her son. But this would work out for the best. She knew it would, and Allie would remain in the bosom of their family forever.

The lights from the Farmers' Meeting Hall at the far end of the town blinked brightly in the darkness of the clear fall night, calling him, but Delaney's determination remained firm. Turning, he seated himself at his desk.

Ignoring the affair about to commence in the well-lit hall, he had walked to the News office earlier in the evening, silently acknowledging that this was the final test. He had no doubt the entire Case family was in attendance. He knew the importance Jacob Case put upon the dance. He had heard that Margaret Case had again rallied from her illness, and he knew that as long as she had the strength to pull herself to her feet, she would be at her husband's side. Now an hour later and countless aborted attempts to work behind him, he was still determined to maintain his resolve. Picking up another sheet of copy, he attempted to concentrate on the words as music echoed on the mild evening air.

The last three weeks had been hell. Had he not given Max a promise to remain until the end of the month, he would have packed his belongings and left the first time Allie came to town with the family. It was then that he had first realized several things about himself.

The first realization was that he despised the sight of Allie seated at James's side. The second was that he despised the weakness within him that allowed his mind to taunt him with images of James's hands on Allie's waist as he lifted her from the wagon, of his proprietary stance beside her, and most cutting of all of Allie's eyes turned up to James with unspoken confidence as they had so often looked into his.

Pushing back his chair, Delaney returned to the window to stare in the direction of the hall. The third realization, which had been the most difficult to accept, was that the love Allie had given him so freely had made him vulnerable. It was a defect in the wall he had so carefully erected around his emotions, and it was a hindrance to the future he had mapped out for himself so long ago. By avoiding Allie since he had left the farm, he had strengthened that part of himself, and he had no intention of allowing himself to weaken by seeing her tonight.

He could not afford to say goodbye.

Keeping that thought foremost in his mind, Delaney turned back to his desk. He gave a low, disgusted snort. It would be a long time before the new man, Bart Malone, would be able to give Max the help he needed. The fellow was one step up from an idiot, but Max had been desperate.

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.