The Forbidden by Beverly Lewis

Author:Beverly Lewis [Lewis, Beverly]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2008-04-30T22:00:00+00:00

“I never thought my own brother would tell my secret!” Rhoda bemoaned her state to Mrs. Kraybill that morning.

She told how she’d bundled up earlier to trudge through knee-deep snow to the very same brother’s house before dawn. “I startled James and Martha but good.”

“And why was that, may I ask?”

Rhoda fought the urge to weep. “I asked to move in over there—they’ve got two spare rooms off the sunroom downstairs.”

Mrs. Kraybill frowned and tapped her well-manicured fingernails on the table. “I assume you’ve given this some thought, Rhoda?”

“All night long I pondered it.”

To think Mamma, Nan, and Nellie Mae were all witnesses to Dat’s words . . . and mine, she thought ruefully, reliving the suppertime feud.

“Mamma made a noble attempt at breakfast . . . asked me to apologize to my father.” She stirred sugar into her black coffee. “But I haven’t changed my mind. Honestly, I’m more than ready to start over somewhere new.”

“Well, I do hope you’ll continue working here—for us.”

Mrs. Kraybill searched Rhoda’s eyes. “You have a car payment now, remember.”

She remembered, all right. It was the main reason she hadn’t asked to stay with the Kraybills, even for a short time. She needed pay, not free room and board. “I’m rather strapped now, ain’t so?”

Nevertheless, she was fond of her beautiful car—a black-and-white four-door Buick LeSabre with under thirty thousand miles on it. It was fully loaded with whitewall tires, a 335 Wildcat engine—whatever that was—power steering and power brakes, and a radio. “The works,” Guy Hagel had told her.

Mrs. Kraybill smiled kindly. “You’re a determined young woman, Rhoda. I believe you’ll do well in your new life.”

It was time to spread her wings, anyway, regardless of Dat’s probing words. Maybe the car purchase was exactly what she’d needed to propel her away.

“Would you mind ever so much helping me move my things to James and Martha’s?” she asked. “I’d be very grateful.”

“I’m happy to help.” Mrs. Kraybill rose to pour herself more coffee. “I do have to ask you—are you still thinking of keeping your car here?”

Rhoda nodded. Was Mrs. Kraybill concerned she could encounter trouble with Dat somehow? “Don’t worry ’bout my father comin’ over here and giving you a tongue-lashing. That won’t happen, I promise you.”

Mrs. Kraybill appeared relieved.

I’m old enough to make up my mind, Rhoda thought, rising to clear the cups and saucers off the table. No mat-ter how hard Nan tried to talk me out of leaving last night. And no matter how sad Mamma and Nellie Mae looked at the breakfast table!

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