Beyond The Threshold 1 - There and Now by Linda Lael Miller

Author:Linda Lael Miller
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 1992-09-24T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Elisabeth was pleasantly surprised to learn that the Founder’s Day picnic was to be held in one of her favorite places—the grassy area beside the creek, next to the covered bridge. All that sunny Saturday morning, while she and Trista were frying chicken and making a version of potato salad, wagons and buggies rattled past on the road.

When Jonathan returned from his morning rounds, the three of them walked through the orchard to the creek, Jonathan carrying the food in a big wicker basket. Elisabeth, wearing a demure blue-and-white checked gingham she’d found in one of the attic trunks, was at his side. Though her chin was at a slightly obstinate angle, there was no hiding her nervousness.

There were rigs lining the road on both sides of the bridge, and dozens of blankets had been spread out on the ground alongside the creek. Boys in caps and short pants chased each other, pursued in turn by little girls with huge bows in their hair. The ladies sat gracefully on their spreads, their skirts arranged in modest fashion. Some used ruffle-trimmed parasols to shelter their complexions from the sun, while others, clad in calico, seemed to relish the light as much as the children did.

Most of the men wore plain trousers and either flannel or cotton shirts, and Jonathan was the only one without a hat. They stood in clusters, talking among themselves and smoking, but when the Fortner household arrived, it seemed they all turned to look, as did the women.

Elisabeth was profoundly aware of the differences between herself and these people and, for one terrible moment, she had to struggle to keep from turning and running back to the shelter of the house.

Vera came over, a tiny emissary with flowing brown hair and freckles, and looked solemnly up into Elisabeth’s face. “You don’t look like a witch to me,” she remarked forthrightly.

“Does this mean they won’t burn me at the stake?” Elisabeth whispered to Jonathan, who chuckled.

“She’s not a witch,” Trista said, arms akimbo, her gray gaze sweeping the crowd and daring any detractor to step forward. Her youthful voice rang with conviction. “Elisabeth is my friend.”

Jonathan set the picnic basket down and began unfolding the blanket he’d been carrying under one arm, while Elisabeth waited, staring tensely at the population of Pine River, her smile wobbling on her mouth.

Finally, one of the women in calico came forward, returning Elisabeth’s smile and offering her hand. “I’m Clara Piedmont,” she said. “Vera’s mother.”

“Lizzie McCartney,” Jonathan said, making the false introduction smoothly, just a moment after Trista and Vera had run off to join the other kids, “my wife’s sister.”

“How do you do?” Clara asked as a shiver went down Elisabeth’s back. As long as she lived, which might not be very long at all, she would never get used to being called Lizzie.

This show of acceptance reassured her, though, and her smile was firm on her lips, no longer threatening to come unpinned and fall off. She murmured a polite response.

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.